Essential oils smell wonderful and have many of advantages for people, like encouraging improved wellness and calming us down. You might be wondering if they have the same advantages and therapeutic effects for your cat given their widespread use. Unfortunately, the dangers of using essential oils on cats outweigh any potential advantages.
What are essential oils?
Plants are the source of essential oils, which are liquids created by pressing or boiling plant parts like the bark or flowers to release enzymes that produce scent molecules. One bottle of essential oil actually requires a lot of plant material to produce, so certain essential oils are combined with additional components to generate the finished product. Pure essential oils are those that are completely derived from plants and have no other components.
How can we use essential oils?
Essential oils are excellent for aromatherapy because of their potent, highly concentrated fragrance. Aromatherapy is a traditional holistic practice that makes use of scents to encourage physical and mental healing. Different smells have the power to relieve pain, aid in sleep, and strengthen the immune system. For instance, lavender essential oil is frequently used to lessen anxiety and stress.
To enhance health benefits, essential oils can also be used topically to the skin. Consider tea tree oil, which is used in shampoos to treat dandruff and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Are essential oils safe for cats?
Cat parents may wish to investigate utilizing essential oils on cats who have health issues, especially if other treatment options haven’t been effective. Essential oils have several advantages for humans. Are they secure, though? Shortly, no.
Using essential oils puts your cat at considerable risk. Never using them around your cat is the safest course of action. If you do choose to use them, you should do it very carefully and rarely. Before attempting to utilize them, we advise speaking with your veterinarian and conducting research.
Numerous common oils, including peppermint, spearmint, geranium, ylang-ylang, bergamot, pennyroyal, and tea tree oil, are harmful to cats when swallowed, which is the first issue with essential oils and your cat.
This implies even a small amount of soothing essential oil can result in serious issues for your cat, such as breathing difficulties or respiratory distress, or even worse, a call to a pet poison helpline and a trip to the emergency room. Never apply essential oils directly to your cat’s body or leave them out in the open where they could be eaten.
Additionally, essential oils used as sprays, diffusers, or air fresheners (or as air fresheners) may release minute amounts of oil that, if they accumulate on your cat’s body and fur, could be dangerous. Small animals like cats can be harmed by even a tiny amount of diffused oil. This is due to the fact that essential oils can harm or even kill the liver in big doses in cats because of how quickly they are absorbed through their skin and the inability of their livers to eliminate the poisons. The central nervous system can potentially be harmed by essential oils. Additionally, cats are known to self-groom, so it is nearly assured that any oil that gets on their fur will be licked off and consumed.
It might be challenging for a pet parent like you to gauge how much essential oil will overpower your cat because they have a keen sense of smell as well. Even a few drops of oil can produce a strong odor that agitates your cat and might even interfere with their breathing or central respiratory system. Their health may be negatively impacted by this.
Another major problem with oils is that you frequently have to heat them in order to release their aroma, and burning hot oil around our dogs is never a good idea. Your cat may suffer an excruciating heat burn or chemical burn if hot oil falls on them. When heating oil, keep it firmly out of the way of any curious snouts or paws that might tip it over.
Which essential oils should I avoid?
The following popular oils have been shown to be harmful to cats:
- Cinnamon
- Citrus
- Clove
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Pine
- sour birch
- Chai Tree
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
- Yiang Yi
Which essential oils are safe to use?
The following essential oils are safe for pets:
- oil of chamomile
- Lemongrass oil
- oil of lemongrass
- rosé oil
It’s crucial to thoroughly dilute essential oils in order to reduce their phenol content before using them. Additionally, keep in mind that you should not utilize any essential oils prior to speaking with your veterinarian.
How do I know if my cat has eaten essential oils?
There will be clear indications if your cat consumed a harmful essential oil. To differentiate between a cat coughing up a hairball and a cat vomiting or being unusually distressed, pay great attention. The following signs of essential oil poisoning should be watched out for:
- Smell your cat’s fur and breath to detect the oil.
- their mouth and surrounding area are red
- breathing problems
- Drooling
- Fatigue
- walking difficulties or trembling in the muscles
- Agitation
- their mouth or face with their paws
- inflamed or watery eyes and nose
- retching or vomiting
If your cat exhibits any of these signs, you must act swiftly to get them treated.
What should I do if my cat eats essential oils?
You should seek assistance right away if you suspect your cat has taken essential oil or if they are displaying poisoning symptoms. Call the ASPCA’s animal poison control (which is available 24/7) or take your cat to the nearest vet or emergency veterinary hospital. They can advise you on what to do next.
To assess your cat’s amount of hazardous intake, your veterinarian might conduct a physical examination and a blood test. They’ll check to see if your cat’s liver has been harmed by the toxin. Bring the oil product with you to the vet so they can better comprehend the situation. They might put in an IV drip, try to maintain your cat’s breathing with oxygen, or take other measures to get rid of the toxins. Fortunately, your cat has a better chance of recovering the sooner you seek medical attention.
Knowing you have support in saying “yes” to the care your cat needs can be priceless if you ever have to deal with a situation like this. You can relax knowing that you have a Pumpkin strategy.
How can I keep my cat safe around essential oils?
You might have essential oils lying around your house, even if you don’t use them on your cat. The following are some vital pointers for keeping your cat secure around essential oils:
- Keep all oil bottles’ lids firmly closed.
- Keep them secure and away from your cat, either locked up or in a place that is inaccessible to pets.
- Use an oil diffuser only in a sizable, well-ventilated space if employing one.
- Avoid lighting up oils on places that cats could readily access.
- Clean all surfaces that have come into contact with the essential oils.
- Make sure everyone who interacts with your cat is aware that essential oils may be dangerous and should be handled with caution.
Final thoughts
There are numerous concerns to take into account, making it challenging to utilize essential oils in a method that is completely risk-free for your cat. You must exercise extreme caution and constant vigilance if you choose to use them. The best course of action is to speak with your veterinarian before beginning to utilize essential oils. Your cat will appreciate it, I promise!
Is cat geranium oil harmful?
Any part of the fragrant plant, including the aroma, can be consumed and result in feline scented geranium poisoning. Linaol and geranoil, two essential oils found in the scented geranium’s leaves, stem, roots, and flower in particular, are poisonous to cats and other domestic animals including horses and dogs. The stomach does not respond well to the plant’s essential oils, and sickness frequently sets in before the cat can consume a significant amount of greenery. Unfortunately, even a modest quantity of scented geranium is regarded as harmful because most felines are small in size.
Which essential oils are harmful to felines?
Essential oils can be hazardous to cats whether ingested, administered topically, or just inhaled, according to established research. Serious liver damage, liver failure, respiratory failure, convulsions, and even death can result from exposure.
Cats lack some enzymes necessary for the normal processing of different chemicals (referred to as “gluconuridation”) found in essential oils, particularly phenols. The liver is the organ most susceptible to failure because phenolic chemicals, which are present naturally in plants and are highly concentrated in essential oils, are most dangerous.
Candles, liquid potpourri items, room sprays, essential oil and aromatherapy diffusers are all sources of airborne essential oils that can be inhaled or licked off of a pet’s fur. If you can smell the oil’s aroma, there is oil in the air, which might cause respiratory trouble.
Guidelines for using essential oils in your house with your kitty pals generally are as follows:
- You shouldn’t feed or apply essential oils directly to cats, or leave them in places where they might come into contact with them. Although some oils smell lovely and can serve as insect repellents, there is a considerable likelihood that your cat will experience adverse or fatal reactions. Your curious pet will appreciate it.
- Avoid using any essential oils if your cat suffers from asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues.
- Keep cats away from spaces containing a lot of essential oils. Cats who are young, old, or have liver or respiratory issues should be kept out of rooms with essential oil diffusers.
Cats shouldn’t use the following essential oils:
- Oil of cinnamon
- Citrus juice
- nutmeg oil
- Oil of eucalyptus
- Sweet birch oil
- Oil of pennyroyal
- oil of peppermint
- Pine resins
- Oil of tea tree
How poisonous is geranium oil?
Rose geranium oil usually doesn’t cause allergic reactions when applied topically, breathed, or diffused. Since many essential oils are poisonous, they should not be consumed. Never substitute rose geranium oil for a prescription medication that you were prescribed by a doctor.
Do felines enjoy geraniums?
Even if you adore cats, you don’t want stray cats to stroll around your yard, and you should know how to prevent cats from defecating in your garden. A simple and reliable preventative is to grow plants that repel cats. See our ten recommendations.
Geraniums (Pelargonium)
If you want to add color to your landscape while using a natural cat deterrent, geraniums are a great option. These garden plants give off a nice smell to humans, but most cats find them offensive to their sense of smell. Geraniums are typically an outdoor plant, but they may also be kept within throughout the winter if they are given the right care.
Water geraniums sparingly and only when the leaves start to droop, according to proper care instructions. As new growth forms, remove the old, dead leaves.
Allow the soil to dry completely before watering, and reduce watering throughout the winter but not enough to let the roots dry out. Deadhead blooms to encourage new ones and pinch stems to encourage a bush-like look.
Keep Cats AwayScaredy Cat Plant (Coleus canina)
You might assume that these are the finest plants for deterring cats based just on their names, but the smell is actually what does it. Due to the fact that neither cats nor dogs like the aroma, these are plants to keep them away. Not everyone likes these plants since they smell extremely like pee.
When growing the Scaredy Cat Plant, arrange them in a ring or a line immediately in the trouble spots. Cats won’t get around them to access the other parts of your garden. You might be amazed at how simple it is to maintain these plants because they require little work. If your cat uses dry portions of the garden as a litter box, plant one of these there because it thrives in dry conditions.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Pennyroyals, the tiniest member of the mint family, aren’t only plants that keep cats away—they also ward off a number of insects. This herb is a great option if you prefer using the plants you cultivate because it is stronger and far more potent than other mint herbs in the family.
The herb is frequently used in teas when it is extracted. The American Pennyroyal should not be confused with the European variety. The low-growing plant has hairy stem roots that can reach heights of up to a foot.
Pennyroyal roots anywhere it touches the ground, making it a great flower for use as ground cover. As a border plant for a cat repellant, the new Pennyroyal plants perform admirably. The plant thrives in zones 5 through 9, prefers full sun, but may take some shade.
Lavender (Lavandula)Cat Repellent Plants
While most people enjoy the aroma of lavender, cats do not, for some reason, therefore it is a great choice for plants that deter cats. One of the best plants for repelling insects and wildlife, shrubby lavender plants are also great cat deterrents. It is recommended to place them in a line when using them to keep cats out of your garden.
The vast array of choices with lavender is one problem you may run into. The taller types are the most successful at deterring cats, however all help.
Cats are jumpers, but they are less inquisitive if a bush covers their view, as the taller lavender plants do. As these bushes produce their lovely aroma anytime something brushes against them, planting them along borders also helps to scare cats away.
Common Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Cats stay away from the Common Rue because of its musty smell, but cats don’t want to eat its leaves because of its bitter flavor. When planting the shrub in garden beds near youngsters, use caution because it is deadly if eaten.
A well-drained, dry to moderately damp soil is ideal for the evergreen shrub’s growth. The bush prefers direct sunlight, but will tolerate some shade, poor soil, and poor drainage.
Rue thrives in zones four through eight, although it needs winter mulch and does not like soggy ground. It should only be placed in the middle or front rows of garden beds when being used to dissuade cats because its height and spread are only up to three feet.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)Plants that Keep Cats Away
A woody perennial with a Mediterranean origin, rosemary. The perennial is not only effective in keeping cats out of your garden, but it is also incredibly beneficial in the kitchen. When planting rosemary, keep in mind that it does not thrive in cold weather or moist soil. Instead, it loves a dry, moderately warm climate.
These plants prefer neutral to alkaline soil, so use a high-quality compost with a pH of 7. Rosemary grows best when planted in a container since you can bring it inside when the weather changes if you live in a region that is colder than Zone 9 on the US hardiness map.
Alternatively to being a perennial plant, rosemary can also be grown as a summer annual. Cats are scared away by the smell of the plant, so placing containers next to flowerbeds or along the patio can also assist.
Curry Plant (Helichrysum augustfolium)
Many people consider this plant to be an annoyance when it naturally occurs, however these pungent-smelling plants are effective cat deterrents. The shrub grows to a height of two feet and a width of three feet and needs direct sunlight. Offer the curry plant protection from wind and moisture when growing it in gardens.
This plant is effective in keeping cats away, but it also serves as a deterrent for deer. Small yellow blooms on a shrub that grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11, the curry plant is offered. You should be aware that it can be challenging to remove the plant if you ever decide to do so.
Despite having a curry-like scent, the plant is not a herb and cannot be used in cooking. The plant thrives in arid and deficient soil.
Plants that Deter CatsCitronella (Pelargonium graveolens citrosa)
Citronella, widely known as the mosquito plant because it helps ward off mosquitoes, also acts to deter cats. Cats, mosquitoes, and other insects do not like the aroma that the geranium citronella releases, which is pleasant and citrus-like to humans.
When brushed against to release its aroma, citronella works in garden beds or containers put throughout the patio and along walkways.
Avoid overfertilizing these plants because too much nitrogen lessens the scent of the leaves. Despite being a perennial, citronella is a delicate plant that struggles in colder areas.
Before the first frost, always relocate indoors; otherwise, treat it as an annual. The plant needs light, well-draining soil that is kept on the drier side, and it enjoys partial shade.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon)
Lemongrass can grow up to five feet tall and is found in thick, grassy bunches. This tropical herb is frequently used in garden beds as ornamental grasses because of its resemblance in look. One of the many advantages of lemongrass as a herb is its capacity to deter cats and other pests with its lemony-citrus fruit aroma.
Never plant lemongrass in clay soil because it is a tropical plant that prefers moisture and would quickly perish if left in wet soil. Even in hotter areas, Lemongrass should be planted in a location that provides full sun.
Lemongrass needs well-draining soil with consistent hydration because it is a tropical plant, which prevents the roots from drying up. Use high-quality potting soil for planting in a pot, one that is at least 12 inches across.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Catnip tends to attract cats, so it stands to reason that you’re interested in learning how to use catnip to deter cats. Planting catnip in a location that you don’t mind cats visiting will draw them to that part of your yard. Another plant in the mint family is catnip, although cats absolutely love the scent of it.
Catnip prevents your planters from being used as litter boxes, as can just scattering crushed leaves in a sandbox or other areas of your yard. When planting, be sure the location has lots of space so that cats, including stray cats, can roll around there without endangering anything else.
The low-growing perennial will wither away in the winter and reappear in the spring. Chicken wire can be used to cover plants to help shield the base and roots from adoring cats.
I hope you enjoyed reading about these ten plants that deter cats. Please spread the word on Facebook and Pinterest about our cat-repelling plants if you find any of them to be helpful.