kia benson, dvm associate veterinarian, clinical toxicology
Download our brochure on essential oils and cats!
Essential oils are volatile organic constituents of plants that contribute to fragrance and flavor. They are extracted from plants by distillation or cold pressing. essential oils are used in a variety of ways: as insecticides, in aromatherapy, personal care products (eg, antibacterials), flavorings, herbal remedies, and liquid potpourri.
Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially cats. they are rapidly absorbed both orally and through the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. cats lack an essential enzyme in the liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins such as essential oils. cats are also very sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds, which can be found in some essential oils. the higher the concentration of the essential oil (ie 100%), the greater the risk to the cat.
essential oils known to cause poisoning in cats include wintergreen oil, sweet birch oil, citrus oil (d-limonene), pine oils, ylang ylang oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, pennyroyal oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil. the symptoms that develop depend on the type of oil involved in the exposure and may include drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia (wobbler), respiratory distress, slow heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure.
types of diffusers and health risks
until recently, the use of essential oils for aromatherapy was restricted to devices such as candles, liquid potpourri products, room sprays, passive diffusers, or applied to the skin as a perfume.
Passive diffusers work by evaporating the oil, producing a pleasant scent. types include: 1) reed diffusers, where the reeds absorb the oil and disperse its fragrance into the air; 2) heat diffusers such as plug-in/electric oil diffusers, candle burners, or tabletop warmers that use heat to evaporate the oil, 3) non-motorized personal evaporative diffusers (necklace pendants, bracelets, etc.) that use air from room drafts to spread the scent, and 4) motorized diffusers that use a fan to blow air through a filter or pad impregnated with an essential oil.
unless the oil in a passive diffuser comes into contact with a cat’s skin or is ingested in some way (for example, the diffuser is spilled on or near the cat, or the cat ingests a personal diffuser), The main danger to cats from essential oils dispersed through passive diffusers is respiratory irritation.
inhalation of strong odors or fragrances may cause some cats to develop watery eyes or nose, 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, rapid breathing, panting, coughing, or wheezing. none of these signs is normal in cats. owners may mistake a coughing episode in a cat for the cat trying to vomit up a hairball. however, in this case the cat is crouching low to the ground, with little to no abdominal movement that is more typical of vomiting. no hairball is produced.
Cats suffering from such symptoms should be immediately moved outdoors and require emergency veterinary treatment if their symptoms do not resolve quickly once they are outdoors. cats with pre-existing respiratory problems, such as asthma, airborne allergies, or cats exposed to secondhand smoke from their human companions, are at greater risk of developing severe respiratory irritation than cats without such conditions.
recently, active essential oil diffusers have hit the market. Active diffusers differ from passive ones in that, in addition to the pleasant aroma of the oil, micro-droplets or oil particles are emitted into the air. nebulizing diffusers (a high-velocity pressurized air stream and atomizing nozzle) and ultrasonic diffusers (electrical current causes an instrument to vibrate) fall into this category.
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, essential oil droplets may accumulate on the cat’s fur if it is in the same room as the active diffuser. the oil can be absorbed directly through the skin or ingested when the cat grooms itself.
drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia (wobbler), respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure may develop depending on the type of essential oil used and the dose the cat was exposed to.
Just like oil and water, essential oils and catnip don’t really mix. owners should exercise caution when using essential oils and diffusers in their homes to protect their cat(s) from a toxic hazard. most importantly, concentrated essential oils should never be applied directly to cats.
