Tag: plants

Cat Care

Are Essential Oils Safe for Your Cat?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Essential oils and candle
Photo by Chelsea shapouri on Unsplash

Essential oils are a popular tool for home wellness and perfumery. Not only can they be bought bottled, but essential oils are now found in many personal care, cleaning, and scented products. We know that some substances which are safe for humans can be toxic to our pets, like certain foods, so should oil enthusiasts with cats be concerned?

Essential Oil Toxicity in Cats

The Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus is credited with the saying, “The dose makes the poison.” If taken the wrong way or in too great a quantity, essential oils are toxic to humans. Consider how much smaller your cat is than you [7, 9, 10, 14]. Their biology isn’t quite the same, either. Nature didn’t intend cats to consume a lot of plant materials. They have lower levels of the liver enzymes necessary to metabolize chemicals called phenols and terpenes that are found in certain essential oils [1-5, 9, 12]. The following oils are known to be toxic to cats:

  • Cinnamon
  • Citrus (lemon, lime, orange, bergamot)
  • Clove
  • Eucalyptus
  • Pennyroyal
  • Peppermint
  • Pine
  • Sweet Birch
  • Tea Tree/Melaleuca
  • Wintergreen
  • Ylang Ylang

Research on the effects of essential oils on cats is sparse, so there is no guarantee that oils which are not on this list are safe [5, 10]. Individual cats could be sensitive to oils that most cats are not, as well [7]. Therefore, use caution when trying out any essential oil around your cat for the first time.

The symptoms of essential oil toxicity in cats depend upon the oil, the dose, and the method of exposure, but there are things you can look out for. Common symptoms are watery nose or eyes, drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, tremors, wobbliness, low heart rate, and low body temperature [2-5, 8, 9, 12, 13]. In severe cases, essential oil poisonings can cause liver failure and death [2-5, 8, 12]. While there is no specific cure for essential oil toxicity, most cats recover well with supportive care such as bathing to remove the oil, intravenous fluids, medication, and heat [4, 5, 8, 12].

How To Keep Cats Safe Around Essential Oils

Tabby cat in box with bottles
Image by mrscaz from Pixabay

Cats may be exposed to oils by inhalation, absorption through the skin, or ingestion. Because of their fastidious grooming habits, cats are likely to ingest any oils that end up on their fur [2, 3, 5, 9-12]. You can use essential oils safely in a home with cats. You just need to be careful and keep all the possible routes of exposure in mind.

Cats may inhale essential oils that are aerosolized from lit scented candles, liquid potpourri, air fresheners, diffusers, or similar. Whenever you are using one of these products around your cat, make sure that your cat is able to leave the area if it gets to be too much for them [7, 9, 10]. Watch for signs of respiratory irritation like coughing, panting, or watery eyes and nose [3, 10]. If your cat shows symptoms, move them to fresh air immediately and bring them to a veterinarian if their condition does not improve within a few minutes [3, 9].

If your cat has asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions or is exposed to second-hand smoke, it is best not to diffuse essential oils or use essential oil-containing products that put particles into the air [3, 5, 9].

Always keep essential oils and products that contain them out of your cat’s reach, especially in the case of open diffusers or warmers. Cats are often repelled by the smell of substances that are toxic to them, but not always, and there have been cases of cats drinking essential oils [9]. Keeping oils, diffusers, etc. away from cats also prevents curious kitties from knocking over or breaking said containers and spilling the oil all over themself which can be very dangerous.

Of course, use extra caution with the essential oils that are known to be toxic to cats. And never apply concentrated essential oils to your cat’s skin or fur. Don’t use oils on your cat at all without consulting a veterinarian first.

Can Essential Oils Be Good for Cats?

That being said, there are times when essential oils can be used for your pet’s benefit. Unfortunately, as with oil toxicity, the research is scarce, so little can be said for certain. Proponents of using essential oils for pets say that they can be used to heal wounds and abscesses; get rid of fleas, ticks, and ear mites; treat upper respiratory infections; and treat Otitis externa, a.k.a. canker of the ear [1, 7, 10]. Sadly, irresponsible use of oils, particularly tea tree oil, for these purposes has caused suffering and occasionally death for the cats of well-meaning owners [4, 8, 13]. However, what little research there is has demonstrated that when used properly, certain essential oils show promise for the treatment of several conditions oil enthusiasts have claimed they do.

Ebani et al. found that the essential oils of oregano, clary sage, and rosemary showed promise in the treatment of Otitis externa, depending upon the strain of bacteria or fungus that caused it [6]. In testing plant oils against a fungus that causes ringworm, Mugnaini et al. determined that the oils of oregano and wild thyme showed strong antifungal activity [11]. Regarding ear mites, a study of ear mites in cats found garlic oil, marjoram oil, and ozonated olive oil to be effective at reducing the infestation [15]. While the oils were not as effective as the pharmaceutical medication, the authors concluded that they were “cheap, easily applicable, and safe alternatives to conventional treatments with no side effects” [15].

Works Cited

  1. Baser, K. H. C. & Franz, C. (2010). Essential oils used in veterinary medicine. In K. H. C. Baser & G Buchbauer (Eds.), Handbook of essentials oils: Science, technology, and applications (pp. 881-894). Taylor and Francis Group: Boca Raton, FL.
  2. Beck, A. (2019, August 30). Is it safe to use essential oils with cats? University Veterinary Hospital. https://uvhvets.com/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-with-cats/
  3. Benson, K. (n.d.). Essential oils and cats. Pet Poison Helpline. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/
  4. Bischoff, K. & Guale, F. (1998). Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil poisoning in three purebred cats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 10, 208-210. DOI: 10.1177/104063879801000223
  5. Cavanaugh, K. & Kornya, M. (2018, July 31). Cats and essential oils. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/cats-and-essential-oils
  6. Ebani, V. V., Nardoni, S., Bertelloni, F., Najar, B., Pistelli, L., & Mancianti, F. (2017). Antibacterial and antifungal activity of essential oils against pathogens responsible for Otitis Externa in dogs and cats. Medicines, 4(2), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines4020021
  7. Essential oils a pets: A quick how-to. (2019, October 25). Young Living. https://www.youngliving.com/blog/essential-oils-for-pets-a-quick-how-to/
  8. Genovese, A. G., McLean, M., & Khan, S. A. (2012). Adverse reactions from essential oil-containing natural flea products exempted from Environmental Protection Agency regulations in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 22(4), 470-475. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00780.x
  9. Howard, B. (2020, August 24). How to keep cats safe around essential oils. Daily Paws. https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/health-care/cat-poisoning-toxins/essential-oils-safe-for-cats
  10. How I use essential oils safely for my pets. And you can, too! (n.d.). Capital Illini Veterinary Services. https://www.capitolillinivet.com/blog/how-i-use-essential-oils-safely-for-my-pets-and-you-can-too/
  11. Mugnaini, L., Nardoni, S., Pinto, L., Pistelli, L., Leonardi, M., Pisseri, F., et al. (2012). Activité antifongique de quelques huiles essentielles de plantes in vitro et in vivo sur Microsporum canis isolé chez le chat. Journal de Mycologie Médicale, 22(2), 179-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mycmed.2012.04.003
  12. Schmid, R., Brutlag, A., & Flint, C. (n.d.). Essential oil and liquid potpourri poisoning in cats. VCA Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/essential-oil-and-liquid-potpourri-poisoning-in-cats
  13. Villar, D., Knight, M. J., Hansen, S. R., & Buck, W. B. (1994). Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 36(2), 139-142. https://europepmc.org/article/med/8197716
  14. Worwood, V. A. (2016). The complete book of essential oils and aromatherapy (25th anniversary edition). New World Library: Novato, CA.
  15. Yipel, F. A., Acar, A., & Yipel, M. (2016). Effect of some essential oils (Allium sativum L., Origanum majorana L.) and ozonated olive oil on the treatment of ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) in cats. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 40, 782-787. DOI: 10.3906/vet-1508-10

Published January 9, 2022

Behavior, Science

Why are cats crazy for catnip?

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Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Catnip flowers
Photo by S W Yang from FreeImages

A catnipped cat is a sight to behold. They lick and chew the wondrous herb, rub their faces in it, and roll around on the ground. Sometimes they drool or run screaming through the house. Some cats, on the other hand, don’t seem to care for catnip at all. Cats are truly a never-ending source of entertainment and mystery. Scientists of many stripes have been investigating the relationship between cats and catnip since at least the 1960s, so many questions have been answered, although some still remain.

Catnip, also called catmint or catwort, usually refers to the species Nepeta cataria, but can include any of the 250 or so species in the genus Nepeta. Cats react to quite a few of these species, not only Nepeta cataria, the most well-known catnip. Catnips are members of the mint family. Most of the species are perennials. They have opposite leaves, grey-green foliage, and small flowers in a variety of colors. N. cataria has pink or white flowers. Catnip is aromatic even to humans, smelling minty and perhaps lemony. It is the scent of catnip that attracts felines to the plant so strongly.

Not all cats care for catnip, but it does seem to be the case that all species of cats have the catnip reaction, or at least a lot of them. Wild cats large and small have been observed reacting to catnip in the same way that domestic cats do, although just like housecats, not all of their wild brethren are fond of the stuff, either. The chemical in catnip that causes this more-or-less universal reaction is nepetalactone, a volatile oil produced in glands on the underside of the leaves (1). Nepetalactone repels insects, so it is thought that the plant produces the oil in order to repel herbivorous bugs (2), but the chemical appears to mimic a natural cat pheremone. At least, that’s the theory, given that the behaviors exhibited during the catnip reaction bear a striking resemblance to some of those of a she-cat in heat (3).

Wild cats big and small playing with catnip

When a cat inhales nepetalactone, the volatile oil binds sensory receptors which trigger neurons in the olfactory bulb of the brain (4). These neurons, in turn, relate the message to brain regions that cause an emotional and sexual response to the stimulus (4). Catnip is sometimes called an “euphoriant” for cats, although in truth we can only guess at what they are feeling.

Inhaling the scent of catnip is usually stimulating while eating catnip mellows cats out, although individual cats can react to catnip differently. Some may even become aggressive toward other cats or people, so keep an eye on kitty until you know how they are going to behave under the influence, so to speak. The entire reaction lasts about ten minutes, after which the cat cannot react again for up to two hours. Catnip is considered non-addictive and safe. Too much catnip at once can cause a cat to get sick, like anything else. You might want to store your catnip well out of reach if you buy a large amount. Nepetalactone loses potency over time, so it’s a good idea to keep dried catnip in the freezer to avoid this anyway.

Ginger tabby in catnip plant
Image by CatCrazy from Pixabay

What about cats who are indifferent to catnip? There are two possible reasons. First, kittens, with possibly some rare exceptions, do not react to catnip and may even avoid it (5). Cats begin to experience the excitement of catnip around six months of age, when they reach sexual maturity. Interestingly, this occurs even when cats are spayed or neutered (5). But some cats never do become interested in the herb, and this is due to genetics. There is a dominant allele which confers the catnip reaction on cats who inherit at least one copy of it at that gene (5). Anywhere from 20-50% of cats are estimated not to react to catnip and therefore to have two recessive alleles for that trait. What that means for their biology otherwise is hard to say, as the reason for cats reacting as they do remains a matter of speculation.

If you have a cat that likes catnip, you might consider growing a pot of it yourself. Mint species tend to be sprawling and invasive–catnip has already become weedy and invasive outside its native Eurasia and Africa–so I would recommend confining it to a pot. But then you would always have fresh catnip available for your kitty and, for that matter, yourself. Catnip has been used medicinally for hundreds if not thousands of years. In addition to its repute as a natural bug repellent (albeit only for a few hours at a time), it has a mild sedative effect on the human brain similar to chamomile. Herbal teas of catnip may be good for anxiety or insomnia, or just good for relaxing after a hard day.

Native Americans once used catnip to treat infant colic, and the herb is reputed to be good for migraines, digestive complaints, and as a paste for arthritis (4). I cannot personally vouch for these healing properties, but I can say that I kill every plant I try to grow, and even I managed to grow a nice, healthy catnip plant for several months, which is probably a record for me. The cats loved the fresh catnip, but I did have to move the plant outside to prevent them from just munching the whole thing to the dirt. At least I knew they liked it.

Fun fact: other plants, such as valerian and silver vine, affect cats the same way as catnip!

Catnip bubbles!

Works Cited

  1. John Innes Centre. (2018, December 11). How catnip makes the chemical that causes cats to go crazy. ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181211103125.htm
  2. Eisner, T. (1964). Catnip: Its raison d’être. Science, 146(3649), 1318-1320. DOI: 10.1126/science.146.3649.1318
  3. Palen, G.F. and Goddard, G.V. (1966). Catnip and oestrous behaviour in the cat. Animal Behaviour, 14(2-3), 372-377. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(66)80100-8
  4. Turner, R. (2007, May 29). How does catnip work its magic on cats? Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-how-does-catnip-work-on-cats/
  5. Todd, N.B. (1962). Inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats. Journal of Heredity, 53(2), 54-56. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a107121

Published April 17, 2020

Updated January 30, 2021

Cat Care

Beware of These Bouquets

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Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Fluffy white and tan cat with red rose
Are your favorite romantic flowers safe for your kitty? – Photo by Irene Lasus from Pexels

My father used to get flowers for my mother for Valentine’s Day–and all the other flowery occasions–almost every time. Eventually, Mom forbade him to get her flowers ever again. It wasn’t that she disliked getting them, quite the contrary, but every time Dad gave her flowers our calico cat, Cara, would eat them the first chance she got. She had a particular penchant for Baby’s Breath. Mom got tired of cleaning regurgitated vegetation out of the carpet, and it didn’t do much good for Dad to give her a bouquet only for her to hide it in the laundry room. So, no more flowers.

Cara lived a long, healthy life without suffering any significant ill effects from her flower-munching habit, but some of the flowers popular in floral arrangements can be quite dangerous to cats. If you plan to gift flowers to a loved one with a cat this Valentine’s Day (or to yourself), make sure to avoid these plants in the bouquet.

Lilies: These big, showy flowers come in a wide array of colors, so it’s no surprise that they are popular choices for bouquets. However, if you have a cat in the house, it’s best to avoid lilies altogether. Lilies are extremely poisonous to cats. Consuming any part of the plant results in kidney failure and, without prompt intervention, death. This includes Easter Lilies, so if you are fond of those angelic blooms, perhaps invest in a silk replica this spring instead.

Carnations: Pink, white, and red carnations are a common sight around Valentine’s Day, and their fluffy petals might be tempting. Use caution, however. Carnation sap can be irritating to a cat’s skin, and consuming the plant can cause gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea).

Daisies: Species in the Chrysanthemum genus range in appearance from the common daisy with white petals spayed about a yellow center to the ruffled blooms of mums in their autumnal hues. All, however, are toxic to cats. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, and loss of coordination. Skin irritation is also possible.

Daffodils: Daffodils may look sunny and cheerful, but they can be very toxic to cats, although the bulbs are more toxic than the shoots. Consuming small amounts may only cause a cat to experience vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea. Larger ingestion may result in convulsions, abnormal heart rhythms, and trouble breathing. Where the threshold between milder and more severe symptoms lies will depend on your cat, so if you suspect your cat has consumed any daffodil tissue at all, a trip to the vet is in order.

Gladiolas: Sometimes called “sword lilies,” commercial gladiolas grow large spikes of flowers in lots of bright colors. They are often used in floral arrangements, as they can add both color and height. All parts of the the plant are poisonous. The shoots cause milder symptoms if consumed, including vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and lethargy. If you are planning to plant gladiolas this spring, you should know that the bulbs are much more poisonous. They cause liver, kidney, and heart symptoms, and possibly death.

Bouquet of pink flowers in ceramic pot
It can be hard to tell what is in a mixed bouquet. Don’t be afraid to ask. – Photo by  Hassan OUAJBIR from Pexels

Irises: Irises are beautiful, unique flowers, usually either blue/purple or yellow in color. They may be easy on the eyes, but they contain irritating chemicals that are not-so-easy on the skin and digestive tract when pets chew on them. A cat that eats an iris may display drooling, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Baby’s Breath: You didn’t think I’d forget these, did you? Some sources, including the ASPCA, consider Baby’s Breath non-toxic to cats. The fact that Cara survived consuming it dozens of times with no long-term effects supports the fact that it isn’t a particularly worrisome plant. The prevalence of Baby’s Breath as a filler flower in bouquets, in addition to my personal experience, drives me to bring it up. When cats eat these tiny, white flowers, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Your cat will probably be fine, but your carpet may not.

Friendly Flowers

After all that, you may be wondering what kind of flowers you can buy. There are some flowers that are generally regarded as safe for cats. However, keep in mind that florists may use fillers of greenery even in single-flower bouquets. Make sure that every plant is safe for your cat before leaving your pet unsupervised with the arrangement. If you ever want to know whether a plant is toxic to cats (or dogs or horses), the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control website is an excellent resource: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control. The Pet Poison Helpline is also available 24/7 at 1-855-764-7661. Without further ado, below are several flowers that are safe for your feline friends.

  • Roses
  • Sunflowers
  • Snapdragons
  • Asters
  • Gerber Daisies
  • Zinnias

So if you had a dozen roses in mind for your valentine this year, you’re in luck! They are safe for your valentine’s kitty as well. If your valentine is your cat, cat treats make a great Valentine’s gift too. Love comes in many forms, after all.

If you are ever worried about your cat’s symptoms and/or behavior after they have consumed a plant, even if your research tells you the plant is non-toxic, always take your pet to a veterinarian.

Published February 13, 2020

Updated June 15, 2021