What Essential Oils are Safe for Cats?

While some essential oils are a big NO for cats, some can be safe for them. The bad ones can be either mildly annoying to downright dangerous. So, it is good that before turning your home into a lavender-scented paradise, you came here looking for the right answers.

So without further ado, let’s get to it, starting with the basics –

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts like phytochemicals. It takes a lot of plants to make essential oils. For example, 250 pounds of lavender flowers would make only about 1 pound of lavender essential oil. ⁽¹⁾ They are expensive for a reason!

They are used in everything from aromatherapy to natural cleaning products. While they are not a new concept, they’ve become quite popular recently with their wide range of benefits that include – ⁽¹⁾

Are Essential Oils Good for Cats?

The list of benefits of essential oils is long, but those only apply to humans. When it comes to cats, their unique biology makes them highly sensitive to these oils. They lack certain liver enzymes (glucuronyltransferase) that help metabolize compounds like phenols and terpenes found in essential oils. These compounds, even in small quantities, can cause toxicity in cats. ⁽³⁾

With essential oils now being used in our skincare products, cleaning products, and even bug repellents, our felines are exposed to high risks at all times. Hence, it becomes important for us to know if a cat has come in contact with or has ingested it and is showing signs of poisoning.

Signs of Essential Oil Poisoning in Cats

Below are the signs that can indicate a possibility of essential oil poisoning in your cat: ⁽²⁾

What to do if a cat has essential oil poisoning?

If you see any of the above signs, especially if you know your cat was playing near a potpourri, you should call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) immediately.

Do not follow your instinct and try to make them vomit. Another popular alternative that people usually suggest is to give them activated charcoal. But both solutions can worsen your cat’s condition. Just wash off the product from your cat’s skin, if any. You can use a liquid dishwashing detergent. ⁽²⁾

Once done, take your pet straight to the vet. Bring the product that had the oil in a sealed container for the vet to examine.

Cats, being a fan of over-grooming, increase the chance of ingestion if the oil is on their skin. Hence, a quick and aggressive treatment becomes very important.

What does a Vet do in case of Essential Oil Poisoning?

The first step will usually be blood work to check and see if the internal organs, like the kidneys and liver, have been affected. IV fluids may be administered for hydration. In case of chemical burns in the cat’s mouth, a feeding tube may be inserted. ⁽²⁾

Anti-vomiting medication, stomach protectants, pain medications, antibiotics, and other relevant medicines for protecting the liver may follow. As the impact of poisoning will depend on the type of oil contacted or ingested, the treatment can vary accordingly. ⁽²⁾

Can Cats Die of Essential Oil Poisoning?

Yes, there is a chance of death in some cases of essential oil poisoning in cats. Cats can get essential oil poisoning through skin exposure, ingestion, or inhalation, especially if the oil is concentrated. It can cause organ damage, liver failure, seizures, and in extreme cases, death in cats. ⁽⁴⁾

Does that mean all essential oils are equally unsafe for cats?

No, it doesn’t. While all essential oils are bad for cats, there are some that are more toxic than others.

Which are the Worst Essential Oils for Cats?

Others on the list include oils like wintergreen, clove, cinnamon, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, and pennyroyal.

Many promote tea tree oil as a natural flea repellent for pets. But it can cause severe neurological problems for both cats and dogs. ⁽⁵⁾

We know what you’re probably thinking. What about all those ads that promote the benefits of essential oils for cats? Some essential oils can be safe and even beneficial for cats if used in a proper manner.

Which Essential Oils are Safe for Cats?

Below is the list of essential oils that can be safe for cats when diluted properly and used in recommended forms – ⁽⁴⁾

Proper administration is the key here.

How to Apply Essential Oils on Cats?

There are 2 ways to safely apply essential oils on cats – ⁽⁴⁾

Topical

Dilute the oil in your cat’s bathwater. This way, you can prevent fleas on them. A 2-5 minute bath with infused essential oil can provide healthy skin and fur for your cat. Good luck convincing your cat to take a bath, though!

Diffusion

Get a high-quality slow diffuser and let it do its job. Make sure you avoid getting any of the above-mentioned highly toxic oils. Stick to the ones relatively safe for cats. Nowadays, you get different types of diffusers in the market like ultrasonic, heat, reed, evaporative, nebulizing, etc.

Irrespective of what method you choose, it is extremely important to keep your cat away from the concentrated oil bottle. It is also important to limit their exposure to these oils, even with the safe ones.

There’s still a chance that your cat might get into your essential oils despite taking all the measures. At such times, we do not want you to worry about the vet bills and total treatment costs.

With Spot Pet Insurance, you can save up to 90% of covered treatments and related costs for accidental poisoning.

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Cat Insurance helps to provide pet parents with additional financial support and peace of mind when it comes to the health and wellness of their pets. With a Spot plan, pet parents can receive up to 90% cash back on eligible vet bills. This way, pet parents can focus on caring for and supporting their pets. Spot also offers preventive care add-ons at an additional cost, which can help cover the eligible costs of spaying and neutering, dental cleaning, vaccinations, and other routine care services.

Get a quote today!