Thankfully, cats are heavily deterred by the smell of eucalyptus, but if they were to ingest the leaves or any product containing the oil, you should contact your veterinarian or pet poison helpline right away for further guidance.
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Essential oils are quickly taking center stage in every household. They are great for adding to massage oils, improving overall health and wellness, and making diffusers especially beautiful. Eucalyptus is popular, mainly for its ability to decongest. Naturally, when they diffuse, molecules are released into the air, affecting not just people but also other occupants of the house. Given the complexity of the issues involved, today’s question is: Is eucalyptus essential oil safe for cats?
Actually, most essential oils are safe to use around cats, with the exception of those that contain a lot of phenols. Their livers seem to struggle to assimilate. Since phenols provide the majority of eucalyptus’s antibiotic properties, it is not recommended to apply eucalyptus oil topically to cats and can cause issues with diffusers. Cats shouldn’t be in the room when you’re diffusing eucalyptus.
Understanding The Issues Surrounding Essential Oils And Cats
The primary concern pertaining to essential oils is the internal processing method. Cats lack the same enzyme that humans use in our livers to break down specific substances. Chemicals remain very high internally and can lead to poisoning.
Normally, we would respond, “Well, we won’t give them to them orally, so we should be good.” These are the guidelines we would expect for humans. Nevertheless, we still have a problem with ingestion if droplets land on a cat’s coat and she subsequently cleans herself. Similarly, the oils will not weaken as they are absorbed if we apply them topically for any reason.
Now, we can see how diffusers would become problematic too. The oils stay undiluted because when we put them in the water, they do not mix with the water. Particles of tiny size are released into the air and frequently settle on our pets. The risk could theoretically extend to reed diffusers and evaporators as well if a cat spends an excessive amount of time in an essential oil-filled room.
Furthermore, a cat’s sense of smell is far more developed than a person’s. They have more than 200 million odor sensors, compared to our approximately 5 million. They are thought to have a nose that is nine to sixteen times more sensitive than ours. Then, it’s important to think about how much stronger the oils you use will appear to them than to you.
Is Eucalyptus Safe for Cats?
Living with a cat will undoubtedly make you aware of their curiosity and propensity to get into the most unexpected places. Because eucalyptus comes in so many different forms, it’s critical to ascertain whether these products are safe for cats to use.
If consumed by cats, eucalyptus is toxic in its unadulterated state. The most typical physical symptoms of a cat’s eucalyptus toxicity are drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or lethargy. Although cats typically need to consume a lot of the plant to become seriously ill, you should speak with your veterinarian and a poison control hotline as soon as possible if you suspect your cat may have consumed any part of a eucalyptus plant to find out the best course of action.
FAQ
Is eucalyptus oil safe for cats to smell?
Will cats stay away from eucalyptus?
What do I do if my cat licks eucalyptus oil?
Is it safe for cats to inhale essential oils?