Cat Aromatherapy Practices: Essential Oils for Cat Relaxation

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

As pet owners, we strive to provide the best care for our feline companions, ensuring their physical and emotional well-being. With 75% of cat owners reporting that their cats exhibit signs of stress or anxiety at some point¹, it’s essential to explore natural and safe methods to promote relaxation. Cat aromatherapy, using essential oils, has emerged as a popular practice to help cats unwind and find comfort in their environment.

However, not all essential oils are safe for cats. Tea tree oil, for example, is a leading essential oil toxic to cats, known to trigger intense adverse reactions². It’s crucial to understand which essential oils are safe for cats and how to use them properly to avoid any potential harm. Approximately 65% of cats show positive responses to aromatherapy with essential oils known for their calming effects, like lavender and chamomile¹.

In this article, we’ll delve into the world of cat aromatherapy, exploring the benefits of essential oils for feline relaxation techniques while emphasizing the importance of safety and proper usage. By creating a safe space and incorporating essential oils, 90% of cat owners have reported observing a decrease in their cat’s anxiety levels¹. Join us as we uncover the best practices for using essential oils to help your cat find serenity and comfort in their daily life.

Understanding Essential Oils and Their Benefits for Cats

Essential oils are gaining popularity among pet owners as a natural way to support the health and well-being of their furry companions. These concentrated plant extracts are derived from various parts of plants, including flowers, leaves, bark, and roots, through extraction methods such as distillation, expression, and cold pressing³. The resulting aromatic compounds capture the essence of the plant in its purest form, offering a wide range of potential benefits for both humans and animals.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile plant extracts that contain the natural fragrance and therapeutic properties of their source plants. These oils are obtained through various extraction methods, ensuring that the plant’s essence is captured in its purest form. However, it is crucial to understand that not all essential oils are safe for cats, as their unique physiology makes them sensitive to certain compounds³. Cats are more sensitive to the effects of essential oils due to their unique physiology and metabolism, necessitating careful handling and storage⁴.

The Potential Benefits of Essential Oils for Cats

While research on the use of essential oils for pets, particularly cats, is still limited, many cat owners have reported positive experiences when using these natural remedies. Some potential benefits of essential oils for cats include:

• Stress and anxiety reduction: Aromatherapy for pets can alleviate stress, anxiety, and agitation⁵. Diffusing diluted concentrations of calming oils like lavender may help reduce stress and anxiety in cats.
• Insect repellent properties: Essential oils like cedarwood and rosemary can be used as gentle tick and flea repellents, thanks to their antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-insect properties⁵.
• Anti-inflammatory effects: Oils like frankincense have anti-inflammatory properties that may help address inflammatory conditions in cats, such as osteoarthritis⁵.
• Overall well-being: Aromatherapy can enhance the energy and vitality of pets by reducing stress and addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being⁵.

It is essential to note that while some essential oils can offer benefits for cats, others can be toxic and should be avoided. Essential oils like Tea Tree, Citrus, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Clove, Cinnamon, Thyme, and others are toxic to cats and should be avoided³⁴. Improper handling or usage of essential oils can lead to adverse effects such as allergic reactions, skin irritation, and even poisoning if ingested or absorbed through the skin³⁴.

Essential Oils Safe for Cats

When it comes to using essential oils for cat aromatherapy, it’s crucial to choose oils that are safe and non-toxic for our feline friends. While some essential oils can provide calming properties and stress relief, others can be harmful or even dangerous for cats. Let’s explore some of the essential oils that are considered safe for use with cats when properly diluted and diffused.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is well-known for its calming and sedative effects in humans, and it can also be used to induce calm and relaxation in cats. If your cat gets anxious before or during travel, for instance, you could treat the anxiety with some lavender essential oil. Lavender seems to be the best-researched essential oil for use with cats when diffused, with scientific evidence supporting its calming effect⁶. However, it can still be toxic if applied topically neat or undiluted to your cat’s skin or fur⁷.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense oil has a calming and centering effect and is one of the few essential oils that are definitely safe to use with cats, alongside cedarwood, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, cardamom, and spearmint⁶. Like any essential oil, it must be properly diluted prior to application. Frankincense essential oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory and can aid in reducing inflammation and pain when diluted.

Chamomile Essential Oil

German chamomile and Roman chamomile essential oils are considered safe for cats when used in diluted concentrations⁶. These oils are known for their calming properties and can be used as alternatives to lavender oil for inducing relaxation in cats during stressful situations. Essential oils like German chamomile, Roman chamomile, Lavender, Thyme, Valerian can be used at certain dilutions with cats but may cause irritation if used excessively⁶.

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Recognized for its pest repellent qualities, cedarwood oil is safe for cats when diluted properly⁶. Some cat owners have found that diffusing cedarwood essential oil can help repel fleas and keep them outside, providing a natural alternative to chemical flea control products. Cedarwood oil is considered safe for cats, especially if made without phenols⁸.

Catnip Essential Oil

Catnip, a safe and non-toxic herb from the mint family, stimulates natural play and reduces stress in cats, with effects varying among individuals. It is best used in moderation. As an essential oil, catnip can be safely used around cats when properly diluted, offering a natural way to encourage playfulness and alleviate stress.

When using essential oils for cat aromatherapy, it’s important to remember that cats have a lower tolerance for phenol in essential oils compared to humans⁸. Always ensure proper dilution and safe diffusion methods to prevent any adverse reactions. Introduction of essential oils to cats should be done slowly to monitor their reaction and interest level⁶. If you have any concerns or questions, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian or a pet aromatherapy specialist for guidance on using essential oils safely around your feline companion⁶.

Cat Aromatherapy Practices: How to Use Essential Oils Safely

When incorporating essential oils into your cat’s wellness routine, it is crucial to prioritize safety and proper usage. Cats have unique physiological characteristics that make them more sensitive to essential oils compared to other animals and humans. Cats almost completely lack important liver enzymes that humans possess, especially UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes, which are crucial for metabolizing essential oil constituents⁹. This missing enzyme makes cats more susceptible to essential oil toxicity, as evidenced by toxicity testing that revealed menthol is 3–4 times more toxic to cats than rodents⁹.

Dilution and Carrier Oils

Given the strength of essential oils and your cat’s sensitivity to them, it is vital to dilute the essential oil by 80-90% in a carrier oil before use. In a clean glass jar, pour 25 milliliters of carrier oil, such as cold-pressed vegetable oil, and add one drop of essential oil. Mix the oils together, and then add a few drops of the mixture to the water in your essential oil diffuser. This careful dilution ensures that the essential oils are used at safe concentrations for your cat. A general guideline for dilution when using essential oils on dogs is four to five drops of one to three essential oils per 10 mL of carrier oil¹⁰. However, cats require even more caution, and essential oils should be diluted before use on cats, as undiluted oils can cause skin irritation and digestive issues¹⁰.

Diffusion Methods

One of the safest ways to expose cats to essential oils is by using a diffuser with a diluted mixture of essential oil to water. You can leave out a dish of diffused essential oil in a small water bowl or diffuser, allowing your cat to smell the container and experience its calming effects if they feel like it. Remember to provide an escape route and never lock your cat in a room with an essential oil diffuser, as they need the autonomy to walk away from the source of the smell if it has adverse effects on them.

Topical Application Guidelines

While essential oils are usually diluted with a carrier oil for topical use on human skin, cats are mostly covered in fur. If you want to use an essential oil that is considered safe for cats on their skin in an area they can’t lick, you can dilute a single drop of essential oil in 50 drops of a gentle carrier oil like almond oil. For application on cat fur, dilute the essential oil in water and use a spray bottle to spritz your cat’s fur. Be careful not to get any oil in your cat’s eyes or ears, as it may cause infections. It is recommended to use tea tree oil occasionally at up to 5% concentration on cats⁹.

Signs of Essential Oil Toxicity in Cats

Recognizing the signs of essential oil toxicity in cats is vital for their health and safety. Symptoms may include vomiting, lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, diarrhea, seizures, difficulty breathing, skin irritation, and liver failure. An overdose of tea tree oil, with a total of 60 mL applied to cats, resulted in severe symptoms in three cats, causing health complications such as hypothermia, dehydration, and even death in one cat⁹. Cats are at risk of toxicosis when essential oils like tea tree oil are topically applied at inappropriate high doses, exhibiting signs like depression, weakness, incoordination, and muscle tremors, though complete recovery can be achieved with proper treatment⁹. Symptoms of essential oil poisoning in cats also include difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, drooling, vomiting, tremors, wobbliness, and low heart rate¹¹. If you suspect your cat has been poisoned by essential oils, contact your veterinarian immediately¹⁰¹¹. Provide information about the oil involved, the amount ingested, and your cat’s weight and age. If any product is on the skin or fur, wash it off using a liquid dishwashing detergent. Take the product packaging with you to the veterinary clinic. Treatment may include supportive care, medication, and monitoring.

Conclusion

While cat aromatherapy and the use of essential oils for feline relaxation can be beneficial, it is crucial to prioritize essential oil safety to ensure the well-being of our feline companions. Cats are more susceptible to essential oil toxicities compared to dogs due to their deficient liver enzymes, making them more vulnerable to toxic substances¹². Exposure to essential oils can occur orally, through inhalation, or direct absorption through the skin, potentially leading to allergic reactions, asthma exacerbations, watery eyes, irritated noses, or dermatitis in cats¹².

To promote feline well-being, it is essential to use only safe essential oils, such as chamomile and lavender, in moderation¹³. Diluting essential oils is recommended to reduce potency and potential irritation due to cats’ sensitive smell receptors¹³. However, long-term use of essential oils may impact the liver and immune system, and there is an association between toxin exposure and lymphoma in cats¹⁴. While cases of severe sickness or death in cats due to essential oil exposure are rare, they pose risks to the liver and immune system¹⁴.

As a responsible pet owner, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with high-risk oils, recognize signs of toxicity such as dullness, trembling, drooling, weakness, seizures, and respiratory distress, and seek immediate veterinary support if your cat is exposed to toxic essential oils¹². By understanding which essential oils are safe for cats, properly diluting them, and using them in moderation, you can create a calming and relaxing environment for your feline friend while promoting their overall feline well-being.

Source Links

1. https://thekindpet.com/blogs/blog/calm-the-cat-your-guide-to-easing-feline-anxiety – Calm The Cat: Your Guide to Easing Feline Anxiety
2. https://volantaroma.com/blogs/guides/essential-oils-for-cats – Our Complete Guide to Essential Oils for Cats: Benefits, Uses and Cautions
3. https://miraclebotanicals.com/a/blog/essential-oils-for-cats – Essential Oils for Cats | Miracle Botanicals Blog
4. https://petproductguide.co.uk/essential-oils-cats/ – Essential Oils Cats: Safe Use & Risks Explained
5. https://www.polltopastern.com/post/aromatherapy-benefits-for-animals – Aromatherapy for Horses, Dogs and Cats: Enhancing Well-being with Essential Oils
6. https://askvet.app/aromatherapy-cats/ – Aromatherapy for Cats: Is it Safe? | AskVet
7. https://outwardhound.com/furtropolis/health-wellness/pet-safe-essential-oils-for-a-diffuser – Pet Safe Essential Oils for a Diffuser, According to Experts
8. https://avodermnatural.com/blog/essential-oils-cats-safe-list/ – List of Essential Oils that are Safe for Your Cat – AvoDerm
9. https://tisserandinstitute.org/cats-essential-oil-safety/ – Cats and Essential Oil Safety – Tisserand Institute
10. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-care/essential-oils-for-cats-and-dogs/ – Pet Safe Essential Oils For Cats And Dogs
11. https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/routine-care/essential-oils-for-cats – Essential Oils for Cats: Are They Safe?
12. https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/related-resources/cats-and-essential-oils/ – Cats and Essential Oils
13. https://petwellnessdirect.com/blogs/news/pet-friendly-aromatherapy-a-guide-to-essential-oil-safety – Pet-Friendly Aromatherapy: A Guide to Essential Oil Safety
14. https://loveofacat.com/2012/05/cats-and-essential-oils-perfectly-safe-now-exploring-the-controversy/ – Cats and essential oils – perfectly safe now? Exploring the controversy – Love of a Cat