Can essential oils be safely used with cats? Several posts on social media and online suggest that vaporising essential oils around your cat can be toxic and dangerous. I can confidently state that we have diffused essential oils around Memsahib, our Abyssinian cat for 16 years and not once did she display any signs of overexposure from the oils.
In this blog, I would like to deal with the facts regarding whether essential oils can be safely used with cats. Sadly, the facts are often misconstrued or misinterpreted leading to the creation of urban myths.
So where did this idea that essential oils are not safe to use around cats come from?
The ATC website goes on to suggest that unless one has had the necessary professional training, they recommend that you never use essential oils on your pets – either diluted or undiluted. I believe that this warning is unnecessarily alarmist and is no different to saying that unless you are a professionally trained aromatherapist, you should never be allowed to use essential oils – for any purpose!
We need to keep things in perspective. We usually place 3 to 5 drops of essential oil into a diffuser. This is such a minuscule amount of essential oil being diffused into a room over 2 to 4 hours. All of the toxicology reports state that much larger volumes of essential oils are involved and topically applied.
Basil, birch, clove, hyssop, oregano, pennyroyal, savory, tansy, tarragon, tea tree, thuja and wintergreen.
I have no problems with this list of oils as they can potentially be toxic to human.
Does this mean you should not use tea tree-based products on your cat?
No – it means you should not ever use neat tea tree oil on your cat.
Therefore, it is not true to assume that cats are not well equipped to metabolise essential oil components because they lack the liver enzymes glucuronosyltransferase.
Big sister Charlie taking good care of Abbey on her first day at home.
P.S. It’s winter in Australia so I am sure Charlie is like a big furry hot water bottle for Abbey.
I feel it is very important to introduce you to the work of Caroline Ingraham. I believe her work provides us with the confidence to use essential oils safely around cats.
Open gape. The bottom jaw drops, taking in and savouring aromatic odours.
A grimace could be mistaken as a reaction to an unpleasant odour.
Hissing, growling and biting. Ingraham states that this usually does not last very long and seems to signify an emotional release.
Eyes squinting is often thought to occur because the oil is too strong and is therefore stinging the eyes. However, Ingraham states that this often occurs regardless of the strength of the oil and the cat will not usually exhibit this behaviour with oils that offer no interest.
Sudden turning of the head.
Given that “aromatherapy” is a dubious practice and there is little evidence for any benefits that are not psychological in nature, studying with “experts” in this field is not a credential that carries much weight.
I don’t think there is any point in trying to prove to this person the benefits of aromatherapy – they have already made up their mind!
However, I must admit to being very confused at the behaviour of Memsahib who would always insist on licking an aromatherapy balm that I would apply to my sore muscles. This balm contained very high doses of essential oils such as rosemary, peppermint, black pepper, ginger and wintergreen. I would of course not let her lick the balm, but I could not help notice that she would take such pleasure in licking it off my skin. By the way, she never got to lick it more than once and she never displayed any symptoms we are often warned about of essential oil overdosing in cats.
Certainly, we know that these are some of the essential oils that we have been told are highly toxic for cats. So why was Memsahib trying to lick something which could be potentially toxic to her?
Now I am getting off the topic, but if you have got this far, you are a cat lover so I am sure you will enjoy this story.
Within a half hour the family starts to arrive. Chairs are brought into the room, where the relatives begin their vigil. The priest is called to deliver last rites. And still, Oscar has not budged, instead purring and gently nuzzling Mrs K. A young grandson asks his mother, “What is the cat doing here?” The mother, fighting back tears, tells him “He is here to help grandma get to heaven.” Thirty minutes later, Mrs K takes her last earthly breath. With this, Oscar sits up, looks around, then departs the room so quietly that the grieving family barely notices.
There is no doubt that cats have a special intuitive connection with us.
We know that most of the risks involving the use of essential oils and cats come from the topical application of high doses of essential oils.
I do not believe that there are any essential oils that one should avoid diffusing around cats. The exception would be the list that Shelton provides below, which would also not be suitable for humans. When using essential oils in a diffuser around cats, ensure that you do not leave your diffuser running all day. Use it in a well-ventilated room with fresh air and ensure that your cat can leave the area that is being diffused. If using in an enclosed space, no more than 30 minutes should be enough.
Bitter almond, boldo, calamus, garlic, horseradish, mustard, sassafras, wormseed (Chemopodium) and pennyroyal are likely to be found on anyone’s list of oils that are not commonly used or recommended for use, even on humans.
Not surprisingly, these essential oils are also contraindicated for use on humans.
I urge you to always look at each research article, Facebook post, reference book, or blog with a critical eye … I merely urge a stance of critical evaluation, instead of fear-based poorly documented reports and concerns.
Earlier this year at the age of 16, Memsahib sadly passed away. We recently went to the RSPCA animal shelter in Brisbane and came home with an 11-week old kitten named Abbey, who is very energetic and smoochy. Charlie, our 13-year old beagle, loves to play with Abbey.
We do live in a small apartment which has very good ventilation. I do love my morning and evening rituals using the aromatherapy ultrasonic diffuser, which do not bother Charlie or Abbey.
Bischoff K, Guale F. Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil poisoning in three purebred cats. J. Vet Diagn Invest 1998; 10:208-210.
Ingraham C. How animals heal themselves. Ingraham Trading Ltd, Bristol, 2014.
14.Shurkin J. News feature: animals that self-medicate. PNAS, 2014; 111(49):17339-17341.
Thanks Sal for such an informative and interesting article. I have often wondered if using essential oils in my diffuser was safe for my cats, even though they have not exhibited any problems. I now feel assured they are not being harmed. I’m sorry to hear of Memsahib’s passing. Abbey reminds me of my long since departed Simon, who would always lick my feet after applying peppermint foot lotion! My other cat at the time did not share this interest.