- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Essential oils are more popular than ever these days. We see them in shampoos, hand sanitizers, air fresheners, and every variety of cosmetics. With the rise in popularity, many pet parents are curious about using these aromatic oils with their pets, but aren’t sure whether it’s a good idea. Can essential oils complement the health and wellness of your cat?
What’s the risk of using essential oils with cats?
Using essential oils with cats carries some important risks, and there are larger concerns with cats than with dogs. “Dogs are also potentially sensitive to the toxic effects of essential oils, but cats are more sensitive,” explains Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a holistic veterinarian in Los Angeles.
There are a couple of important reasons for this. The first is that cats are fastidious groomers. They lick off anything that sticks to their fur or skin, and this puts them at increased risk for overexposure to essential oils that are applied topically. “All the feline cases I have seen, or of which I have been made aware, have been related to cats orally ingesting essential oils after the oil has been applied to their skin surface,” Dr. Mahaney explains.
Once cats ingest an essential oil, they can have a bad reaction to a particularly dangerous component found in many essential oils: phenols. Phenols are molecules that give many essential oils their distinct aromas. These include thymol, found in thyme and oregano, which is a powerful anti-microbial, and eugenol, found in cinnamon and cloves, that is widely used as a dental anesthetic and antiseptic.
Phenols are particularly dangerous for cats because they don’t produce the proper enzymes to break them down. This same class of enzymes is also responsible for breaking down (metabolizing) aspirin, acetaminophen, and Rimadyl—all drugs that are commonly prescribed for dogs and humans, but not for cats. “Reduced metabolism can lead to a build-up of toxic metabolites that negatively impact liver and whole-body health,” Dr. Mahaney says. In other words, cats can easily be overwhelmed by exposure to phenols and related compounds and can suffer toxic effects as a result.
Dr. Mahaney lists these clinical signs of oral exposure to essential oils:
- salivation
- vomiting
- stool changes
- reduced appetite and water consumption
- lethargy
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, cats can also develop symptoms of respiratory distress when they are exposed to essential oils in the air. This is most common when essential oils are used in the type of diffuser that creates microdroplets of oil, such as nebulizing or ultrasonic diffusers. This was the case in the 2018 story of a cat getting ill when her owner used eucalyptus oil to treat a head cold. “If a cat already has asthma or another respiratory ailment, then inhaling essential oils could worsen the condition,” Dr. Mahaney warns.
Symptoms of respiratory distress caused by inhalation of essential oils include:
- watery nose or eyes
- coughing
- lethargy
- nausea leading to drooling and/or vomiting
- difficulty breathing (labored breathing, fast breathing, panting, coughing, or wheezing)
So, is it ever ok to use essential oils with cats?
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association supports the safe use of essential oils in aromatherapy to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The anti-microbial effects of some oils may also have a benefit when applied topically.
If you’d like to try using essential oils to enhance your cat’s health and wellness, Dr. Mahaney has some advice for you. “I always recommend that if owners are contemplating the use of essential oils for cats, they seek consultation with a veterinarian having appropriate training and experience. Holistic veterinarians are generally more inclined to have such training and pet owners can likely find one in their area by searching via the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA)’s VetFinder.”
The safest essential oils to use with cats
As you prepare to talk with your vet about using essential oils with your cat, this list of oils is a good place to start. Dr. Richard Palmquist, a holistic veterinarian in Inglewood, California, wrote in the Huffington Post that these essential oils are considered safe for use with cats, and suggests the following uses:
- Lavender: Useful in conditioning patients to a safe space. May help allergies, burns, ulcers, insomnia, car ride anxiety, and car sickness, to name a few.
- Cardamom: Diuretic, anti-bacterial, normalizes appetite, colic, coughs, heartburn, and nausea.
- Fennel: Assists the adrenal cortex, helps break up toxins and fluid in tissue. Balances pituitary, thyroid and pineal glands.
- Helichrysum: Anti-bacterial, reduces bleeding in accidents, skin regenerator, helps repair nerves. Also useful in cardiac disease.
- Frankincense: Works on the immune system. Has reduced tumors and external ulcers. Increases blood supply to the brain, although it can worsen hypertension, so use caution.
- Spearmint: Helps to reduce weight. Good for colic, diarrhea, nausea. Helps balance metabolism, stimulates the gallbladder. When diluted and used short-term, this oil is helpful for many gastrointestinal issues in cats.
First steps in using essential oils with cats
Dr. Janet Roark, an Austin, Texas, veterinarian who blogs at EssentialOilsVet.com, suggests these guidelines for diluting essential oils to make them safer for topical use:
- You can use carrier oils such as fractionated coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and almond oil to dilute your essential oil.
- Start out with your oils MORE diluted than suggested when introducing essential oils topically to your pet.
- You can always increase the concentration if the desired effect is not reached, but it is difficult to remove an essential oil once it has already been absorbed.
- Remember, each animal is an individual and your pet may be more or less sensitive than others. Observe their behavior – they will tell you!
Dilution ratios
According to dogoiler.com, essential oils should be diluted a lot before they are used with pets. The most dilute preparations are 1 drop essential oil to 300 drops of carrier oil (1 drop per tablespoon or 25mL). The strongest dilutions are 1 drop essential oil in 25 drops of carrier oil (1 drop per 1/4 teaspoon or 1.25mL). The suggested recipe depends on the type of essential oil you are using.
Avoid these essential oils for your cat’s safety
Dr. Roark from essentialoilvet.com recommends that you avoid these essential oils because they may be unsafe for use with cats.
- Basil
- Citrus oils (bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangerine)
- Birch
- Cheer
- Cinnamon
- Clary sage
- Clove
- Cypress
- Dill
- Douglas fir
- Eucalyptus
- Fennel
- Green mandarin
- Melaleuca (tea Ttee)
- Oregano
- Pennyroyal
- Peppermint
- Pettigrain
- Roman chamomile
- Sweet birch
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Spearmint
- White fir
- Wintergreen
- Vetiver
- Ylang ylang
If you are concerned that your cat might be having symptoms of illness related to essential oils, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for advice. “I highly recommend starting a case file,” Dr. Mahaney says. “The consulting board-certified veterinary toxicologist will be able to provide the best information as to health concerns related to essential oils.”
For more in-depth tips on safety and the use of essential oils with dogs, Kristen Leigh Bell’s book Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals is an excellent and well-regarded guide.
