These are guidelines only and each animal’s situation, health and condition should be evaluated and amounts adjusted accordingly. 1. They are not harmful to cats when diluted thoroughly. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-palmquist-dvm/pet-aromatherapy_b_877199.html, http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/essential-oils-for-cats.html, http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/natural-stress-remedies-for-dogs-and-cats/, http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ken-tudor/2014/january/tea-tree-oil-safe-pets-31282#, http://roberttisserand.com/2011/06/cats-essential-oil-safety/, https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/a-scent-sitive-subject-essential-oil-diffusers-and-your-cat/, http://www.essentialanimals.com/library/safe-use-of-essential-oils-for-cats/, https://www.youngliving.com/blog/essential-oils-for-pets-a-quick-how-to/, https://www.yourbestdigs.com/reviews/best-essential-oil-diffuser/, Deine Katze mit einer Aromatherapie beruhigen, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Dr. Shelton has created a full line of essential oils that are made specifically for use on animals for ailments from arthritis to stress. Unlike us, they can’t process the strength of the essential oils. Some carrier oils that can be used are coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, or almond oil. Frankincense is also listed as one of the best essential oils safe for cats. For cat owners especially, options such as natural herbs, acupuncture, and essential oils safe for cats are starting to become very popular. Thyme oil ; Sweet birch oil ; Citrus oil ; Lavender oil ; Wintergreen oil ; Garlic oil; Cinnamon oil Like any essential oil, it must be properly diluted prior to application. Lastly, essential oils must also not be used around cats that are pregnant or nursing kittens. Juniper berry is one of the best essential oils safe for cats and can be used as a topical antiseptic. It may take up to 72 hours to treat poisoning from tea tree oil. Both essential oils and flower essences can be a solution if you’re looking for how to calm a dog with anxiety or how to calm a nervous cat. They cannot handle eucalyptol (a compound inside the oil) and it poisons them - try to keep your cat(s) as far away from eucalyptus as possible. You should be skeptical of marketing that contains these kinds of terms. Please remember to dilute your essential oils for pets. To read this article later, click “Save” on the picture to save to Pinterest so you can read this article later. Quality is another reason why you are paying a premium. Diffusion is preferred and for topical application, dilute 1 drop in 15 ml of carrier oil. For the carrier oil, use a cold pressed vegetable oil. 2. Last Updated: October 23, 2020 A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Take extra precautions when using essential oils with your cat. You will notice that lots of generic-branded oils in stores claim to be 100% pure but do not have the same potency and smell. Essential oils are becoming increasingly popular for aromatherapy and household scenting.But in addition to their fragrant purposes, they’ve also been used in alternative health practices to help ease ailments like insomnia and depression.As humans use essential oils for alternative cures for non-life threatening ailments, we begin to wonder — are essential oils safe for pets? If you use essential oils for yourself or around the home, try to make sure they are diluted first to minimise the risk to your cat. This article has been viewed 45,725 times. Essential oils have many uses for cats as well as other animals. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Keep reading to learn how to administer the oil to your cat! The use of essential oils for cats is becoming more common due to its effectiveness and ability to heal a wide range of issues. A few of these include helping with wounds, ticks, fleas, dog anxiety, mosquitos, ear mites, and much more.Â. Sniffing and then returning to the bottle. Studies in animals have shown that chamomile contains substances that act on the same parts of the brain and nervous system as anti-anxiety drugs do. Cats and doTERRA essential oils. If you have any questions about whether an oil is safe, consult your veterinarian. If your cat accidentally ingests tea tree oil, you should take them to the veterinarian. This oil doubles as a flea repellent and can be combined with lavender, cedarwood, or chamomile to provide a relaxation effect. There are numerous ways to do this. If you own a feline, you must know how to take care of it. Spikenard is known to act as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory oil. For medium sized dogs dilute 4:1 carrier oil to essential oil. You could use three drops of essential oil and 75 ml of carrier oil. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This oil is commonly used for cats who are anxious and is recommended to be diffused. It is very important to dilute essential oils if you are planning to use them topically to best avoid any adverse reactions. This oil is named “The Oil of Empowerment” as it is a warm, spicy and energizing oil. There are various blends of essential oils that can be made at home. The third method, using the oral application, is highly controversial and should be done at your own risk. Lavender. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. In this article, we will be covering essential oils that are safe for cats. For topical use, only do so when you are comfortable. For cats, small dogs, and other smaller animals, use a carrier oil—such as V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex—to dilute the essential oil before application. This oil is extracted from the sap of trees by slashing the bark over an amount of time and allowing the resin to harden. People are nervous to use oils with cats, there's good reason for that. Keep in mind that these oils are extremely pure and could last you several months depending on how you use them.Â. Diffusion and highly diluted topical uses will be addressed in this article as both have received support on their safety from various resources. Eucalyptus oil may also be used as a spray for the air around a cat and signs and symptoms should improve within 2-3 days. Here are some suggestions on the amount of Peace & Calming or lavender essential oil to use. Despite all of their benefits, however, there are several oils that are toxic and should be avoided.Â. Read on for 6 essential oil safety tips to keep your cat safe (without throwing away all your essential oils). Consider the size of the diffuser and try to find one that will not fall over easily, since your cat could knock it over. To apply this to your cat, place a drop of the diluted oil on your hands, and pet your cat’s ears and tail gently. When applying topically, there may be some side effects such as burning, irritation, redness, and swelling. It should not be used as veterinary, medical, or professional advice. Always consult with your veterinarian first before using essential oils with your cat or any pet. For ver… In some cases, topical application of tea tree oil has resulted in cat fatalities. If a cat is having respiratory problems, congestion, or trouble breathing, eucalyptus is beneficial and safe to diffuse. If you have just started using essential oils, we recommend first using a diffuser. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It is native to the mountainous regions of Nepal, China, and India. Use Calming Essential Oils In addition to your cat’s own personal musk, there are other natural scents, particularly essential oils, that can create an aura of kitty-calm—and they work on humans as well. Organicaromas.com  also supports the use of cedarwood by giving cats a bath and then adding a few drops to their collar to prevent future flea infestation. Many people consider it to be safe while others disagree. You could also use cardamom or spearmint if the cat is showing signs of nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort. While the essential oils listed here are safe for human use, they can be quite the opposite for felines. If you can smell the fragrance of the oil, there is oil in the air and it can affect your cat. Always consult with your. Ginger provides cats with relief from arthritis and joint pain. Roman chamomile has a soothing effect -- like chamomile tea -- and is also useful for keeping your kitty's skin free from rashes. To use Frankincense, drop or swab 1 drop onto the cat’s collar or apply to the palm and gently massage. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. Remember to make sure your cat has access to fresh water. This oil is extracted from the sap of trees by slashing the bark over an amount of time and allowing the resin to harden. Use a quality essential oil brand that does not contain chemicals With this in mind, essential oils are safe to use, and the higher the quality, the safer and more effective they will be. For this reason, essentialoilexperts.com recommends checking the label thoroughly before using cedar oil for fleas. This herb is derived from leaves and twigs of the western red cedar tree. Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially to cats. ● Avoid oils high in phenols and eugenols for direct application (topical or internal) such as, Basil, Birch, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Melaleuca, Oregano, Peppermint, Thyme, and Wintergreen as well as oils high in d-limonene which includes all Citrus oils (Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Tangerine and Wild Orange). Opt For A Hydrosol Since cats are so much more sensitive than their human companions when it comes to scents, try out a hydrosol instead of a concentrated essential oil. All oils mentioned in this article have been carefully researched and selected for their purity and company reputation. Flower Essences. Frankincense also has a positive effect on managing arthritic pain, has anti-cancer effects, and aids in wound healing. A 100% Pure and Natural Certified Organic Frankincense Oil can be found on Amazon. For cat owners especially, options such as natural herbs, acupuncture, and essential oils safe for cats are starting to become very popular. Learn more... Aromatherapy involves the use of particular scents derived from plant sources to treat a wide range of conditions. Cats tend to be very sensitive. What we found was a lot of contradictory information, with some sources claiming that all essential oils are toxic to cats. A lot of things can be toxic to cats and humans if it is sourced incorrectly and poorly. List of Essential Oils to Avoid for Cats. However, many essential oils are toxic and potentially fatal, so you will need to follow strict safety precautions. According to essentialoildiffuser.io, it acts as an antiseptic, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, and helps with digestive problems. Some adverse reactions to look out for are: When diluted properly, Cedarwood is a great essential oil safe for controlling fleas and ticks on cats. Spikenard is part of a class of aromatic amber-colored essential oils safe for cats, with a sweet and earthy aroma. We’d also like to mention that this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary, medical, or professional advice on the subject matter. Frankincense oil has a calming and centering effect. Cardamom is a sweetly aromatic fruit of a tropical plant related to ginger and can be used in its place, however, it is one the most expensive spices, after saffron and vanilla. Lemongrass is a safe essential oil to use around cats at a low concentration. doTERRA: Thank you so much. The use of essential oils has been a debate for a long. Avoid Peace & Calming essential oil blend on your cat, as it does contain phenols. Essential oils safe to use topically on cats … Diffusion is preferred for cats. In addition, the oil must come from an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), as the cedar oil from White cedar (Melia azedarach) is toxic to cats. You can do this by taking your cat to a health professional first just to make sure there are no other underlying illnesses. In conclusion, essential oils are beneficial for cats as long as they are diluted appropriately, are administered either through a diffuser or topically, and stick to the list of essential oils safe for cats listed within this article. Helichrysum essential oil has many benefits to pets thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The variety of geranium in which the essential oil is derived is called Pelargonium graveolens. It's a real honor and pleasure to get the opportunity to talk with people today. Cats are Sensitive to Certain Essential Oils. Because this process is very delicate and expensive to manufacture, you will notice that price may seem a bit much. Essential Oil Vet Janet Roark, DVM reports arborvitae as being a natural insect repellent. Because of this, probably very few essential oils are safe for cats … Cats digest and metabolize differently; therefore the use of diffusing and applying essential oils topically is the safest method. Who doesn’t love cats, of course, everyone does! Lavender can be used to help bring calm to your cat or dog. Give them a relaxing massage with the oil and hopefully they will calm down. While lavender is great for relaxing your pet cat by easing its pain, tension and anxiety, frankincense helps treat a variety of digestive problems and also offers anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the differences between flower essences and essential oils. Before using essential oils on your cat or dog, it’s important to do your homework and make sure that a particular oil is safe for their use. Geranium essential oil is a nice alternative to lavender for calming your cat during stressful events and situations, such as car rides. Lavender and Roman Chamomile essential oils ARE safe for cats. Another consideration to be mindful of is how to administer these oils properly to your cats. The essential oil of frankincense is produced by steam distillation of the tree resin and has a … She's had 7 cats and had great success with maintaining their health and vitality. Another reason could be that these oils have been diluted with something else, which is completely dishonest.Â. They are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. We suggest a 9:1 ratio of carrier oil to essential oil. Yes, all eucalyptus products are toxic to cats. It’s known also for the many benefits it provides to the skin, gut, heart, and more. first before using essential oils with your cat or any pet. If you are still unsure, we recommend that you see a veterinarian for better guidance. The other six are peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove leaf and rosemary. If you do not know whether an essential oil contains phenols, you could ask an aromatherapist or consult with your veterinarian. Most of the time, the reason for this is that their method of extraction was of low quality. If you are sure they like the smell of the essential oil, you could put a few drops of the diffused oil on your hands and then pet your cat. It is recommended that you consult with your veterinarian first before using essential oils on your cat or any pet. 2) All it takes is 6/100th of a drop of lavender oil to calm pets down. Geranium oil may be used to balance a cat’s hormones and boost their emotions. A cat's liver is simply incapable of breaking down the chemicals in essential oils. Cats are also very sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds, which can be found in some essential oils. % of people told us that this article helped them. As mentioned before, this article was intended for informational purposes only. to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Johnson recommends scents such as honeysuckle and lavender, which can have a calming effect on cats. Digestive health is really huge in the animal world when we're talking about, whether we're talking about dogs or cats or horses or cattle, all of them. This oil is for short-term intervention only and can be used on small wounds as a blood purifier, eliminating blood impurities through the urinary tract system. (16) For pets, it’s excellent for decreasing bleeding due to accidents and for general skin rejuvenation as well. 4) Got a Norwegian Forest cat? The higher the concentration of … It reduces stress and depression while at the same time enhances blood circulation. With this in mind, essential oils are safe to use, and the higher the quality, the safer and more effective they will be. 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