Don't ever mistake peppermint for catmint/ catnip! Unlike catmint, peppermint will actually bother your cat's olfaction and other senses rather than please them. Although it's possible for a small number of cats to find peppermint appealing or calming, that's a rarity.
Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
Lavender, which has natural sedative properties, may help soothe an anxious cat. Copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense are also considered safe for cats.
Unfortunately, some cats are attracted to the peppermint plant because it contains Nepetalactone mimicking compounds, the active ingredient in Catnip.
The best essential oils that are safe for cats are rosemary, copaiba, helichrysum, oregano, frankincense and cedarwood essential oil. Cats can also tolerate chamomile, lavender, thyme and valerian essential oils at very diluted concentrations.
Fortunately, there are natural and holistic solutions for alleviating your cat's anxiety, such as calming herbs. Popular options for calming herbs for cats with cat anxiety are catnip, chamomile, hops, valerian root, lemon balm, skullcap, and California poppy (don't worry: it doesn't have any opiates).
What's this all about? A: Menthol is derived from mint leaves, and many cats have a gene that attracts them to mint. Catnip is also a member of the mint family; offer Nala some and enjoy her response. Fortunately, menthol is safe at the small doses Nala ingests when she licks your skin.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
Don't ever mistake peppermint for catmint/ catnip!
They are two completely different plants. Unlike catmint, peppermint will actually bother your cat's olfaction and other senses rather than please them. Although it's possible for a small number of cats to find peppermint appealing or calming, that's a rarity.
Games offer the perfect way to tire out your pet. Encourage your favorite feline to bat a dangling toy at the end of a kitty fishing rod, fetch a small toy, or chase a laser beam. If you're away from home during the day, provide toys that will keep your cat busy.
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Peppermint oil, listed in some products as menthol, is toxic to cats when ingested or inhaled. Of note, some formulations (like wintergreen oil) may contain aspirin derivatives, making them even more dangerous for cats. Birds are also indicated for this toxicity.
How safe are these essential oils for our pets? Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
Mint, wintergreen, and menthol
More smells cats hate include mint and strong mint-related odors, such as wintergreen and menthol. This may be for good reason, as ingesting mint and its relatives can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats.
Lavender. Many cats are attracted to the sweet, soothing smell of lavender. Much like their human counterparts, the scent of lavender can induce feelings of relaxation. Some might even show their approval by rubbing against plants or sitting nearby them.
In a spray bottle, mix 16 ounces (about 500 ml) of warm water with 10 drops of peppermint essential oil or two tablespoons of peppermint extract. Spray all of the areas that you think your cat may have urinated or marked. Within a few hours the scent will be gone.
Anal Glands
This is perfectly normal, and the smell is usually undetectable when the liquid is excreted normally within the poo. However, cats can empty their anal glands when scared, excited or stressed. This results in a small amount of dark brown liquid, and a terribly fishy smell!
While it is not deadly, lavender is toxic for cats. Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which cats cannot process in their livers. This means that consuming too much lavender can lead to liver damage.
Can Cats Sense Anxiety and Anxiety Attacks? Research has demonstrated that cats can sense anxiety and anxiety attacks as well.
Given that catnip can have a calming, soothing effect, it can be used to: help reduce a cat's stress and anxiety when going to the vet, help reduce stress when traveling, help with urinary issues (note that stress is a major contributing factor to urinary obstruction in cats!).
While pet calming sprays may seem to help reduce some select signs of stress and are safe, it's important to note that they do not address the underlying causes of behavioral issues.
Its calming properties come from its nepetalactone and nepetalactone acid compounds. In animal studies, catnip reduces anxiety. While there isn't enough research to determine if this is the case in humans, the nepetalactone in catnip may reduce nervousness, anxiousness, and restlessness.