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wackadoo wabbit

(1,217 posts)
10. Those with cats might want to reconsider using an essential oil diffuser
Tue Jan 2, 2024, 01:14 AM
Jan 2024
In general, it is not recommended to use essential oils on or near your cat.

Cats are highly susceptible to getting sick from breathing in essential oils via your home diffuser, and vapor from the oils can get onto their skin as well.

https://www.petmd.com/cat/are-essential-oils-safe-cats


Inhalation of strong odors or fragrances can cause some cats to develop a watery nose or eyes, a burning sensation in the nose/throat, nausea leading to drooling and/or vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Difficulty breathing in a cat is evidenced by labored breathing, fast breathing, panting, coughing, or wheezing. NONE of these signs are normal in cats. A coughing episode in a cat can be mistaken by owners for the cat trying to vomit up a hairball. However, in this case the cat crouches low to the ground, with little to no abdominal movement that is more typical of vomiting. No hairball is produced.

[snip]

Drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia (wobbliness), respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure can potentially develop depending on the type of essential oil that was used and the dose that the cat was exposed to.

The droplets dispersed by these new diffusers may be small, but they still pose a risk to cats. Depending on how close the cat is to the dispenser, the essential oil microdroplets may collect on the cat’s fur if it is the same room as the active diffuser. The oil can be either absorbed directly through the skin, or ingested when the cat grooms itself.

Like oil and water, essential oils and cats really do not mix. Owners should be cautious using essential oils and diffusers in their homes in order to protect their cat(s) from a toxic risk. Most importantly, concentrated essential oils should never be directly applied to cats.

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Use with caution. Aspirating or swallowing even a small amount can cause seizures and kill you. PSPS Jan 2024 #1
You're not supposed to eat them Warpy Jan 2024 #16
Some kind of scratch and sniff pad would probably be safer and have more diversity of scents. marybourg Jan 2024 #2
study says 2 hours NJCher Jan 2024 #23
Wow! That's fascinating. tanyev Jan 2024 #3
I try to wear perfume to bed. Ilsa Jan 2024 #4
That's an idea. Sanity Claws Jan 2024 #30
I find quite a few scents toxic and migraine inducing. diane in sf Jan 2024 #5
I have some of the same problems. Hope22 Jan 2024 #12
Would Scent of Labradoodles work as well? pnwmom Jan 2024 #6
My old pitbull definitely qualifies JoseBalow Jan 2024 #7
Just add bacon. Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2024 #8
She loves broccoli JoseBalow Jan 2024 #9
Wet, definitely..... getagrip_already Jan 2024 #27
lol pnwmom Jan 2024 #31
Those with cats might want to reconsider using an essential oil diffuser wackadoo wabbit Jan 2024 #10
Thank you! I gave away a number of diffusers and oils that, fortunately, I had niyad Jan 2024 #14
That's weird I got a faramone diffuser for my cat when I mucifer Jan 2024 #19
there are all kinds of pheronome diffusers for cats! NJCher Jan 2024 #34
Dementia, here I come. Dem2theMax Jan 2024 #11
On the other hand... jmbar2 Jan 2024 #13
How do you know the article posted is based on pseudoscience? Elessar Zappa Jan 2024 #24
For one, the research was funded by Proctor and Gamble, who market aromatherapy jmbar2 Jan 2024 #25
I found my post, or at least part of it! NJCher Jan 2024 #36
oh and regarding this link NJCher Jan 2024 #37
Lost my post but NJCher Jan 2024 #35
Thanks for your response and patience with my rant jmbar2 Jan 2024 #38
Some people with health conditions PlutosHeart Jan 2024 #15
Once again, Old Crank Jan 2024 #17
I also like scents, but since I don't use diffusers I don't know exactly what's involved... Hekate Jan 2024 #18
I love this, but there are alternative ways to do this. Silver Gaia Jan 2024 #20
I tried the rosemary with my classes NJCher Jan 2024 #21
I was trying this with scented wax viva la Jan 2024 #22
I will try this tonight bucolic_frolic Jan 2024 #26
When we make cannabis suaves, we add essential oils getagrip_already Jan 2024 #28
Going to give this a shot Picaro Jan 2024 #29
Just make sure the oils chosen are pet friendly where applicable. nt Gore1FL Jan 2024 #32
Sounds very interesting but I do wonder about respiratory issues from breathing this every day. 58Sunliner Jan 2024 #33
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