Its a fairly well written piece, but misses the mark when talking about some of the hazards to our cats. Finally, there is risk of your cat getting access to the thieves oil however careful you try to store the diffuser. Therefore, you should not take them on your own. After many months of testing, she found no adverse effects and became more comfortable with diffusing essential oils around the rest of her cats. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases at no cost to you. 3. Allow your cat the freedom to leave the room immediately he expresses agitation, tremors, or drooling. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. I list basic and compliant information on how to use these oils, though these oils have many other possible uses, talk with your veterinarian to find the oils that will work the best for you and your pets. Contact a vet that is experienced with oils and can give you accurate advice and guidance on oils to use. I thought peppermint was also toxic to cats? This gave her the opportunity to help improve the lives of many animals in her community as well as work with the rescue she loved. 4) Got a Norwegian Forest cat? However, their applying is tricky because there is a thin line between a cure and a poison. When captured, they gave up their secret recipe. Better to be safe than sorry. All rights reserved. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA), Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association (CVMA), How Much Do Kittens Sleep? Research reports thatcats lack a liver enzyme that is responsible for assisting the liver to absorb and filter nutrients. Hi! Essential oils can be poisonous to pets. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Kitty Devotees is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Toxicity is a result of applying highly concentrated essential oils, but diluted oils used in small quantities are usually harmless for your furry friend. Plant Therapy vs Young Living: Scared to Switch? Your dog can also start coughing or sneezing profusely upon the inhalation of thieves oil from the diffuser. Hydrosols are also known as flower waters as they consist of the water that remains after steam-distilling flowers or herbs in water, and are less saturated than essential oils. Although hamsters dont really like the smell of thieves oil, you can still expose your hamster to a tiny amount of thieves oil usage but it shouldnt be a frequent exposure. If you like some oils containing chemicals dangerous for your cat, you can solve the problem by diluting them to a 95% rate. Cats are wired very differently from humans so what may be safe for you may impact your cat in a totally different way. It is very important that you only use therapeutic grade essential oils as many of the problems arise when you buy products marketed with high prices but low quality and use them on your cat. I see that citrus oils are a no-go around cats. These are some great ones. Additionally, just like certain smells bother us, they can bother our pets. Mix with a tablespoon of water, gargle and swallow for a sore throat. If your veterinarian suggests other usage, defer to your veterinarian. It is a job for professionals. A carrier oil dilutes the essential oil and protects your pet's skin from possible skin irritation. How much should you use? ), Can Puppies Eat Cantaloupe? All the recipes listed below are based on the use of 100% pure essential oil. The internet is bombarded by articles saying how their cats are killed by essential oils but clarifications are yet to be made. For cat owners, its important to consider where your best healthy practices may conflict with those of your pet. Always remember that difficulty in breathing is characterized by cat crouching low on the ground accompanied by little abdominal movement and no hairball expulsion. The recipes I've included below are based on their products, and I can only vouch for these specific oils. Using essential oils through the diffusionmethod has been one effective way to do so. Essential oils are only safe at highly diluted levels of at least 50:1 . Moreover, using a thieves oil diffuser around your cats can also lead to foreign body pneumonia in your pet and will also result in respiratory problems. Heres what you should know about essential oils and your pets safety. 2. On a quest to feel better and improve my health, I turned to the benefits of essential oils. Mix 1/2 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner to your steam mop. Whether these concentrations would repel or kill fleas I have no idea, but I would suggest not using pennyroyal oil as a pet flea treatment. Accordingly, this is because the thieves oil that you put in your diffuser produces smoke that upon inhaling by your dog can create negative consequences such as irritation allergies, redness, and can also cause lung problems in your dogs. Lemongrass essential oil - You can find in the form of a 100% non-alcoholic hydrosol. Some pets can tolerate hydrosols, but others are more sensitive. A note for our readers: If you have an urgent question and are unable to ask your veterinarian, you can use the Ask a Vet service that will give you access to a veterinarian for 7 days for $1. He's our household ambassador that showers every willing person with love and orange hair. IF you follow these simple 3 rules, then YES, you can use essential oils around dogs: KNOW YOUR PET's HEALTH STATUS - CHECK WITH YOUR VET. The oils can cause some severe liver problems." While the oils that are extracted arent particularly strong, they are then distilled to make them more potent. Allowing the cat to choose will avoid possible dehydration or accidents outside the litter box. . Though there are many cases where certain essential oils have been applied directly to eliminate fleas, heal wounds, and improve joint pain in cats, it is a personal choice best left to the owner and the vet to determine. Lemon oil (Citrus Lemonia) citronella So keep your oils in a closed cabinet or drawer that you are 100% certain your cat cannot break into. Ingestion and topical applications of tea tree oil on cats is more likely to cause issues. The secret is in the right concentration! For balancing, calming and relaxing your cat. Thieves oil is not at all safe for dogs and this is why you should never expose your dog to such essential oil. I would like to buy scented pet odor neutralizing soy candles with essential oil fragrances and no paraffin or petroleum sources. Another way to dilute your oils is to add 3-5 drops of essential oil in a spray bottle filled with water , shake the sprayer then finally, spray gently on your cat. Horseradish (Amoracia rusticana) As a result, concentrated essential oils should never be directly applied to cats. Oral application is generally not given because of cats strong taste aversion, but can be used when needed in extreme cases. Even natural and 100% pure essential oils need to be diluted before using them onfelines. Make sure that you store essential oils properly and unreachable by your cat. The diffuser spreads the molecules everywhere. The more concentrated the oil, the more dangerous! Unfortunately, essential oils can be rapidly absorbed orally or through a cats skin, courtesy of our feline friends grooming habits and sensitive skins. NOTE: There is a lot of controversy about using peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen with cats. Your first resource even states this, as do numerous other places. Thieves oil is not at all safe for cats. Please don't use oils on anyone including your pets without knowing the oil and if it's safe). Knowing the basics about the potential effects of essential oils to your cat is vital. With our voiced recommendations against oral ingestion and topical usage, we want to review the safety protocols when it comes to diffusing an essential oil near your cat. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cats are especially sensitive to essential oils. It's a good . Effective as antiseptic, disinfectant, and anti-inflammatory. Cats lack certain enzymes that provide the ability to properly metabolize the various . Ketones They have calming properties for you, but you should avoid spraying them around if you have a cat. What are the symptoms that would indicate that essential oils have poisoned your cat? So, watching for signs of discomfort is the only way to detect if your use harms or makes your pet uncomfortable. When using thieves oils in your home, taking a cautious approach is highly recommended. Its from orange blossoms instead of the fruit, but I want to make sure before I use it in my room diffuser. I didnt know essential oils could be fatal for cats until after we lost her. please tell me if BAY LAUREL oil is bad for cats If adding essential oil to their drinking water or litter box (via a drop of oil into a jar of baking soda and then sprinkling the baking soda into the litter) always have a second option of water or litter box that does not contain any oil. Unfortunately, cats and most essential oils are not a good mix. Are Essential Oils Unsafe For Cats Yes! The third method, using the oral application, is highly controversial and should be done at your own risk. Children are at risk of poisoning, because they may try to ingest the oils, but pets are also at risk. Limit your pets access to them and their scents to minimize the risk of any health issues. The answer, though, is both a yes and a no.. No, thieves oil is not safe for dogs. Some of the most popular are: Some essential oils are highly beneficial for cats as a remedy. Cats are more sensitive to essential oils compared to dogs due to the fact that they lack certain enzymes in their liver that prevents them from metabolizing them and ridding their bodies of certain toxins. Therefore, you should never use put thieves oil anywhere near your dogs and even when you are using a diffuser, you should be mindful of not using a diffuser around your dog. ESSENTIAL OILS FOR CATS: Uncommon Ways To Safely Use Cat Essential Oils With Natural Cat Remedies For Optimal Health: Aromatherapy For Cats, How to Use Facial Oil In Your Skin Care Routine (Tips for Dry, Sensitive, and Oily Skin Types), Exfoliating Facial Soap Recipe with Shea Butter, 10 Diffuser Blends with Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, 10 Romantic Essential Oil Diffuser Blends. Heres what you need to know before giving your cat thieves oil. Thieves oil is believed to have been formulated by 1413 French Grave robbers to protect themselves from the Bubonic plague. Dilute at a ratio of 50:1 which means you dilute a drop of your essential oil to 50 drops of dilution oil. In nature, your cat would use leaves and pine needles as their kitty litter, so theyd be getting exposed to small amounts of essential oil through contact with this vegetation. And thats how the essential oil recipe got the thieves oil name. These include. You are likely wondering why I am discussing smells and their feel-good and health benefits for humans in an article about pets. In particular, when it comes to cats, it is critical to avoid oils that are high in phenols and salicylates. Alternatively, you can use oil blends that are great at dispelling odours, such as Purification or Di-Gize, or even Lavender. Thanks for this awesome article. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Are dogs allergic to thieves oil? If you intend to put the oil on your pet as a topical application instead of diffusing, you'll need what's called a carrier oil. Essential Oil Acclimation Ylang Ylang Dr. Shelton believes that a lot of the information about the use of essential oils around cats is a result of misinformation and essential oil misuse. Filed Under: Essential Oils For Beginners. This list has been pooled from various sources and is not exhaustive (and it is not presented in any order of toxicity): Wherever you purchase your oils, be sure to carefully examine the source, ingredients, and quality before using them in your home around your pets. Accordingly, if you detect that your dog has eaten thieves oil then you need to make sure to observe your pet dog very carefully. Inhalation of essential oils is another concern for dogs. I dont diffuse essential oils, nor do I apply them to my cat, EVER! Thieves oil is technically safe for rabbits although there are other factors that make thieves oil unfavorable for rabbits too. When trying an oil for the first time, make sure to keep an eye on your cat for any negative reactions. Sprinkle a small amount of this litteroma mix into one of the kitty litter trays, and mix well. If you're wondering about the safety of essential oils for pets, the answer is that some essential oils are considered OK for use with pets. When you water diffuse essential oils, if they are pure and of good quality, it is safe in a ventilated and open room. Allowing the cat to choose will avoid possible dehydration or accidents outside the litter box. You can use thieves oil on your cat by adding a few drops of oil to their food water or shampoo. That is something that should be left to the discretion of you and your veterinarian. Because of this, it is highly recommended that people do not use oils on cats at home without consulting someone clinically trained in such use, and through more than theory. Furthermore, can dogs be around Thieves Oil? Essential oils are highly concentrated and contain the purest part of the plant or flower that they are derived from. Have a secondlitter tray available toyourcat, soyourcatcan choose. And, every pet and household is different. While some oils may be used with little dilution or even neat ( Like Lavender, Copaiba, Helichrysum, and Frankincense), especially if the cat has tolerated the oil before. An essential oil is a natural compound that are extracted from a single plant species and have the odor of the plant from which they have been obtained. Secondly, we do not condone oral ingestion of any essential oils for cats . While these recipes can be water diffused in a well-ventilated room. However, cats with underlying respiratory issues may be more sensitive to strong fragrances, especially if used in a poorly ventilated area. However, before these digestive issues become more apparent, you will notice signs of coughing, vomiting, and so on in your dogs which are very prominent signs of digestive-related problems and upon seeing these signs, you should act accordingly. Besides the many ways that I found they could improve my health, I found the many smells to be uplifting and cheerful. Essential oils come in many forms and are found in some household products. Site Map. It is not advisable to diffuse thieves oil around your kittyand for valid reasons: First, diffusers put the essential oils into the air, which your cat may breathe or land on his fur. If your cat was exposed to any odor she found unpleasant, she would undoubtedly exit the area. Are you also wondering whether any adverse effects can result for your cats, dogs, or other animals due to thieves oil? Tea tree oil if used correctly can be safe and beneficial, but it is the most controversial oil in regards to cats. I'm an Aromatherapist in training. This also prevents infection that can result in over scratching and over licking. Can I still use the citrus oils in my Ultrasonic diffuser? But I do use essential oils on myself for skin care by mixing them with water or carrier oil, I use tea tree oil a lot I wash my hands when Im finished to ensure none gets accidentally on my cat or my baby Should I be worried about using EO in the same room as my cat? According to the Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association , the following are just some of the essential oils toxic to cats: In addition to the essential oils that you buy individually, they often appear in other household products such as paint thinner and insect repellent, which has a high risk of fatal reactions for cats, noted the CVMA. Its not just the application of oils directly, but the also some of the home diffuser and cleaning products that can pose risks. This means that your cat cannot metabolize some medicines or certain metabolites of essential oils. Seek medical treatment immediately. It is very important to dilute essential oils if you are planning to use them topically to best avoid any adverse reactions. Used by a trained veterinary professional, they are used often and safely. This post is quite old and time sensitive comments may not yield results. There has been quite a debate raging in recent months over the use of essential oils on cats. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. My cats are all cuddlers and like being around my head. Over time, while humans have enjoyed the beneficial results of oils in improving overall health, people also started using them on animals to see if they also create wonderful impacts on animals. Nevertheless, if your bird only inhales it then no major problems will occur. Scanning through testimonies and research studies, science elaborates on the possible effects of several essential oils to the feline species. Are you wondering whether or not cats, dogs, or other animals can withstand thieves oil usage? Required fields are marked *. Remember what your mom said: Oil and water never mix! Move your cat to fresh air immediately you suspect that he is in distress. If your cat falls in the second category, consider diluting the oil even more next time you try diffusing the oil in his presence. Is Lemongrass safe to diffuse around cats? Cats are sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds which are found in many essential oils. Annie Walther. Honestly, your other pet might have an even worse reaction to particular oil. Pets' sense of smell is significantly greater than our own. I wanted to share that with family and friends. Lime oils (Citrus aurantifolia) Plus, you cat might just not like the smell. Cats have a "deficient" P450 cytochrome pathway, making it impossible for them to breakdown certain metabolites of some essential oils. While it is true that there are some essential oils that cats could tolerate and in fact help fight several health conditions, some oils likewise affect cats by showing signs of toxicity, leading you to the veterinarian most of the time. Thyme 2023 Preventive Vet. HOWEVER, if you have a cat and are uneasy about using peppermint or if your cat is very sensitive to things, you can just omit the peppermint from the ingredient list. 3 drops Geranium3 drops of Lemon2 drops Orange, 3 drops Geranium3 drops Lavender4 drops Lime, 4 drops Tangerine3 drops Lavender2 drops Lime, 3 drops Peace & Calming2 drops Frankincense, 3 drops Gentle Baby2 drops Stress Away1 drop Lavender, 4 drops Stress Away5 drops Frankincense3 drops Copaiba, 5 drops Lavender3 drops Cedarwood3 drops Rosemary2 drops Eucalyptus, 3 drops Frankincense3 drops Lavender3 drops Cypress, 4 drops Clary Sage3 drops Bergamot2 drops Lavender, 2 drops Wild Orange (or regular Orange)1 drop Rosemary1 drop Eucalyptus1 drop Cinnamon Bark, 4 drops Lemon3 drops Lavender2 drops Rosemary, 5 drops Lavender4 drops Tea Tree3 drops Lemon. My advice - tea tree oil is fine to use occasionally at up to 5% on cats, and pennyroyal may be safe at up to 1%, but is probably best avoided. 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Provide specific medical advice or counseling plant Therapy vs Young Living: Scared to Switch Prevention of Cruelty to,! Whether or not cats, dogs, or other animals due to thieves oil is safe... Is believed to have been formulated by 1413 French Grave robbers to protect themselves from the plague! Gargle and swallow for a sore throat underlying respiratory issues may be more sensitive store essential oils have poisoned cat!