Are Essential Oils Safe For Cats
How about we start with the essentials oils bad for cats. Generally, you should try as much as possible to keep your cat away from oils that are rich in phenols, ketones, alpha-pinene and d-limonene.
That goes for both internal and topical application. A cats liver cant metabolize those compounds, particularly if they are highly concentrated.
Applying Eye Drops To Cats
The proper administration of eye medication is critical in helping your cat quickly recover from an eye injury or infection. Gently clean away any debris around your cat’s eyes with warm water and a washcloth. Hold the bottle using the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand with the tip pointed downwards. Use the last two fingers of the same hand to pull back the upper eyelid. Place your remaining fingers under the cat’s jaw to support the head. The lower eyelid will act as a pouch to receive the drops. DO NOT touch the eye’s surface with the applicator. Aiming for the center of the eye, squeeze the desired number of drops onto the eyeball.
Essential Oils For Your Cat: Conclusion
Before using a new product, natural or synthetic, food, or medicine, you should always consult your vet. Essential oils are no exceptions, and you should always make sure they are safe to diffuse around cats. Let your vet or expert cat handler know you are adding or removing something from your felines routine. Even after you begin the essential oil use, look out for unusual behaviors like the ones mentioned above and unusual redness in your felines skin. You should also check for scratching or pawing after their exposure to the oil. If you notice any of the symptoms, move your pet immediately to an open, well-ventilated area. And if symptoms persist even after exposure to fresh air, contact your vet or a poison helpline. Not all cats will not have the same reaction to essential oil or any other scented substance. However, in delicate health or with respiratory conditions such as airborne allergies, asthma, and even those exposed to long-term second-hand smoke, cats with sensitive skin will likely have more severe reactions. With these pets, you want to be exceptionally observant when introducing a new product, e.g., an essential oil into their routine. Or even when considering adding to essential oils to your routine.
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Are Essential Oils Toxic To Cats
Despite that amazing ability to sense scents, felines dont have an enzyme called glucuronyl transferase which protects animals from toxins, like those caused by harmful scents. That leaves them very susceptible to certain plant components. You probably know this already but it wouldnt hurt to mention that essential oils are usually extracted from plants.
Now what happens is that when a cat inhales the scent, its liver may fail to recognize the substances contained in that scent. Usually when that happens the substance is neither metabolized nor expelled, instead it is stored in the body as a toxin. The toxicity can build up over time and eventually lead to illnesses.
Considering how cats are small in size that can take a very short period of time. If the worst comes to the worst you may have to detoxify and treat your pet cat. But first you will need to know whether the illnesses are in fact arising from toxicity.
However Both Eucalyptus And Lavender Are Considered Toxic To Cats Making Them Very Dangerous Plants
There are two things we love deeply in life: A member of the succulent group of plants, this little plant, reminiscent of cacti, originates from south africa and is safe for cats and dogs. Some can even help enhance your outdoor environment, encouraging your cat to stay in your garden. Are eucalyptus plants safe for cats? You may not realize it, but certain scents like tea tree, citrus, and eucalyptus oil can be harmful to your little feline. For indoor plants, cats are likely to ingest the plants. Dried or fresh, eucalyptus is dangerous for your cat. It has small and has striped leaves, occasionally flowers but rarely when kept indoors. Klimas had been diffusing lavender and eucalyptus oils in her bathroom, where dinah frequently slept on a fluffy bath mat the cat had taken a liking to. Make sure to keep all plants out of paws reach. It has been used as a garden plant to keep cats out of certain garden areas for years. The dangerous component of fresh eucalyptus is its essential oils, which are known as eucalyptol. Even the vases could pose a problem.
Many compounds in these fragrances contain toxins that can be fatal if your kitty breathes them in or ingests them. Are eucalyptus plants safe for cats? This plant is commonly used in many oils that we humans use for aromatherapy and skin care products. No, eucalyptus is toxic to cats . According to the aspca, fresh eucalyptus is indeed toxic to cats.
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Is Vinegar A Good Cat Repellent
While the scent of vinegar is not a problem for them physically, they just dont like it. Because of that, vinegar can serve as a natural deterrent if theres an area youd like your cats to avoid when diluted, the smell is much fainter, and vinegar can be a great tool for cleaning without chemicals.
Heres A List Of Tips To Help Keep Your Cat Safe:
Select essential oils from the Safe list whenever possible to support the health and wellness of your family, including your cat. Make sure it is a 100% pure tested grade essential oil, free of fillers, pesticides, heavy metals, microbes, mold spores, fungi, or other harmful ingredients.
When diffusing an essential oil from the Safe list, make sure to only diffuse small amounts for limited periods of time, and make sure your cat has the freedom to leave the room if it wants. If you want to inhale an essential oil that is potentially toxic to your cat but would be beneficial to support your respiratory system for instance , try to diffuse in your car using an ultrasonic USB diffuser, at work, use a personal inhaler , or use a room your cat never spends time in. This way you can fully benefit from the inhaled use of essential oils and keep your pet safe. Never diffuse an essential oil that is potentially toxic to your cat in a room it spends time in.
Essential oils are wonderful additions to natural cleaning products but use caution and common sense, making sure your cat does not rubs against the surface you cleaned or licks it, to avoid ingesting essential oils.
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Cats Are Sensitive To Certain Essential Oils
Researchers have identified two major categories of essential oils that are more dangerous to cats than other mammals . The reason these essential oils are more dangerous to cats lies in the physiology of their liver. Cats lack an enzyme that in other animals helps to process and break down certain components of these essential oils. Due to the concentrated nature of essential oils, toxic buildup of these components occurs and can ultimately be fatal.
If youve already used essential oils on/around your cat, dont worry! If your cat hasnt shown any symptoms of toxic buildup, they will likely be alright. Many oils are safe for cats, and even if youve used a toxic one your cat will probably be ok if you discontinue the unsafe use immediately, because it takes time for toxic buildup to occur.
Use Caution With Scents Around Your Pets
Homes and officesand youcan benefit from a little “scent therapy.” After all, the sense of smell is the oldest, most primitive of all the senses and certain scents and smells can trigger strong memories or alter mood and behavior. This is the case with people, as well as with our pets. That said, just because a scent is safe for you, or even a small child, doesn’t mean that it’ll necessarily be safe for, on, or even around your cats or dogs.
As a general rule, cats are often more sensitive to the potentially toxic and other dangerous effects of essential oils and other scents than dogs are, but it very much depends on the scent, the delivery method, and the pet. If you plan to use any of the items listed below, please be aware of the potential problems of doing so and take the necessary precautions so that they don’t wind up sickening or injuring your pets.
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Drive Cats Away With Citronella Oil
Citronella oil is perfect for repelling cats. Citronella oil contains strong scents that last for ages and stick around even after heavy rains. Best of all, we humans love citronella scents, so this option works well for us.
Your garden will smell wonderful, and cats will avoid it at all costs. If you wish, substitute lemongrass oil for citronella oil for a refreshing scent. Repel cats from flowers in your garden by planting citronella or lemongrass on the borders or spray the area with this spray to keep cats out. Either works well toget rid of cats.
- Spray bottle
Mix the oil and water in the spray bottle. Spray around your yard, making sure to coat the borders with the mixture. Wait to see how cats react to the spray, and if needed, add a few more drops of oil to strengthen the solution. Youll need to check back from time to time and respray any areas that need a fresh coating.
Which Essential Oils Are Poisonous To Cats
Most essential oils are toxic to cats, including:
- cinnamon oil
- wintergreen oil
- ylang ylang oil
Essential oils are particularly dangerous to cats if they are neat and undiluted. The essential oils in toiletries, cosmetics, reed diffusers and plugin diffusers are usually diluted, however the carrier oil used to dilute the essential oil in many products can also make your cat ill if they eat it, due to the high levels of fat it contains.
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Take Care Of Your Cat Problem With Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus is a fantastic home remedy. You can use eucalyptus on sunburned skin, and its fresh, pleasant scent soothes your senses, too. Cats cant stand the smell of eucalyptus, though, which makes it an ideal cat repellent ingredient. Mix up a quick DIY cat deterrent with eucalyptus that will do a number on visiting cats.
- Spray bottle
Pour the ingredients in the bottle, and shake it to combine. Spray all borders and garden areas as well as any other spots that cats frequent. You might need to strengthen the solution a bit if it doesnt keep cats away. Reapply to all areas as required.
What Are The Signs Of Toxic Scent Exposure
Cats, especially fuzzy-wuzzy ones, can absorb different oils simply by rubbing their fur up against surfaces coated with the oil – whether that’s your hands, the side of your essential oil diffuser, or even a counter with a stray droplet.
However, cats can also absorb them by inhaling oil droplets that have been diffused and are floating around in the air. Diffused oils can also land on your little friend’s fur which could be ingested while she bathes and cleans herself.
Phenol toxicity can happen over long periods of time or quickly, depending on the level of exposure. The liver is often the organ that is most affected by harmful essential oils since it is where the body tries to process the compounds.
As you can see, essential oil positioning can be a serious threat to your animal. As pet parents, it is your duty to research which essential oils are not safe for cats so you can avoid any kind of toxicity for your four-legged friend.
Some common signs your kitty may have been exposed to harmful scents include:
- Watery nose
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Essential Oils And Cats
Essential oils are volatile, organic constituents of plants that contribute to fragrance and taste. They are extracted from plants via distillation or cold pressing. Essential oils are utilized in a variety of ways: as insecticides, in aromatherapies, personal care products , flavorings, herbal remedies and liquid potpourri.
Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially to cats. They are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. Cats are also very sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds, which can be found in some essential oils. The higher the concentration of the essential oil , the greater the risk to the cat.
Essential oils that are known to cause poisoning in cats include oil of wintergreen, oil of sweet birch, citrus oil , pine oils, Ylang Ylang oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, pennyroyal oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. Symptoms that develop depend on the type of oil involved in the exposure and can include drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia , respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure.
Diffuser Types and Health Hazards
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What Are Essential Oils
Plant-derived compounds are known as essential oils. Distillation is the process of extracting oil from a variety of sources, including steam, water, and mechanical methods like cold pressing . These compounds are usually blended with a carrier oil before being used after they have been extracted. When essential oils are not diluted, they are extremely concentrated. Plants produce essential oils, which are concentrated liquids. As theyve grown in popularity as part of human self-care and aromatherapy routines, or as cleaning product additives, theyve become more widely available in grocery stores in recent years. Even though these products are natural, they may not be suitable for our cats.
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What Essential Oils Are Safe To Diffuse Around Cats
Many feline parents want the best for their kitten. From the best cat foods and cat toys to the safest, natural products to make their fur babys lives easier. Many owners spare no cost when it comes to providing their cat with the very best care. If this sounds like you, youre probably here because youre considering adding essential oils to your cats supplies.
Youve heard and experienced some of the many benefits essential oils offers to humans, and now, you want to know what essential oils are safe to diffuse around cats. In this article, Ill discuss all you should know about essential oils for cats. Ill outline some safety precautions for using an essential oil, the best types that are safe for your feline, and how they can be used safely.
What Should I Do If I Suspect That My Cat Has Been Exposed To Essential Oils Or Liquid Potpourri
Rapid diagnosis and treatment are imperative. If you believe that your cat has ingested or come in contact with essential oils or liquid potpourri, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline , a 24/7 animal poison control center, immediately. The sooner you seek treatment, the better the prognosis and outcome for your cat.
Please note:
- Do not induce vomiting or give activated charcoal to your cat. This may worsen your cats condition.
- Put the product packaging in a sealed container and take it with you to the veterinary clinic.
- If any product is on the skin or fur, quickly wash it off using a liquid dishwashing detergent.
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Why Is My Cat So Itchy No Fleas
The most common causes of itching are parasites, infections, and allergies. There are many skin diseases that do not initially cause itching. However, itching may develop with these diseases due to secondary bacterial or yeast infections. It is possible that by the time itching develops the initial cause is long gone.
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What Causes Eucalyptus To Be Toxic For Cats
Unfortunately for cat owners, having a eucalyptus plant, whether fresh or dried, inside your home is unsafe for your feline friend.
Cats can get poisoned by the eucalyptus plant through inhalation, skin contact, or consumption.
In addition, their inability to metabolize the chemical in the plant makes the eucalyptus plant a dangerous indoor plant to have in a house with a cat.
The plant turns out to be more risky than beneficial for cats.
According to ASPCA, Eucalyptus is considered a poisonous plant for many domestic animals, especially, cats because of eucalyptol.
It is this main element that makes the plant poisonous for cats.
Cats have extremely sensitive sensory and a sniff of the leaves might put your cat at risk.
Unlike humans, cats cannot digest or break down the eucalyptol chemical consumed in their bodies, which affects their internal organs and nervous system.
Therefore, you have to be very careful with having a eucalyptus plant with a cat in the house by either keeping it at a distance where your cat cannot reach it or, better yet, not having one in your house.
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What Should I Do If My Cat Eats Essential Oils
If you know your cat has consumed essential oil or theyre showing signs of poisoning you need to seek help immediately. Take your cat to your nearest veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital or call ASPCA animal poison control . They can tell you what you should do next.
Your vet may perform a physical exam and run a blood test to measure your cats level of toxic ingestion. They will want to see if the poisoning has affected your cats liver. Take the oil product with you to the vet to help them understand what theyre dealing with. They may try to help your cat breathe with oxygen support, insert an IV drip, or otherwise try to remove the toxins. Luckily, the faster you seek treatment, the better your cats chances of recovery.
If you ever have to cope with an emergency like this, it can be priceless to know you have help saying yes to the treatment your cat needs. With a Pumpkin plan, you can have peace of mind.