Babara Bush
Essential oils are on everyone’s lips and a popular means of increasing well-being. However, if you have a cat, you should be extremely careful not to get it poisoned by the oils.
Eucalyptus oil for a cold, lavender for calming, and tea tree oil as an antibacterial all-rounder – essential oils have become increasingly popular in recent years.
But not everything that is good for us humans also pleases our furry co-residents. For cats, many scented oils are pure poison, as one American woman has now discovered.
Bad Symptoms of Poisoning From Eucalyptus Oil
Sue Murray from Michigan used a eucalyptus oil nebulizer next to her bed. Little did she suspect that the oil could be dangerous for her daughter’s 16-year-old cat. “On the fourth day, Ernie got lethargic and shaky and drooled,” Murray wrote in a Facebook post. After she had found out thorough research on the Internet that eucalyptus oil is toxic to cats, she of course went straight to the vet. But even days later the elderly cat was not fully back on the dam again. How he is today is not known.
Lavender and Other Scented Oils are Harmful to Cats
Many of our everyday objects or products are dangerous for pets. This applies not only to cleaning products but also to some foods or plants and to most essential oils. This contains so-called terpenes and phenols, which cats cannot or only very slowly metabolize.
Swallowing, skin contact, or inhalation may cause the following symptoms in cats: vomiting and diarrhea, staggering, restlessness, tremors, cramps, foaming at the mouth, apathy, or weakness. In the worst case, it can lead to circulatory failure and the cat dies. The following scented oils are toxic to cats:
- eucalyptus
- peppermint
- thyme
- cinnamon oil
- oregano
- all conifer oils such as fir or pine
Even scented oils, which are often touted as good for cats, are actually poisonous for the house tiger. For example, lavender oil is sometimes recommended for restless cats, but it can cause serious poisoning, as can tea tree oil, which is sometimes touted as a remedy for flea control.
What to Do When It’s Too Late
If you want to use an aromatic oil, you should therefore consult the veterinarian or a poison control center beforehand to be on the safe side.
If your cat has already been poisoned by a scented oil, every minute counts! Of course, this also applies to any other poisoning. You shouldn’t try to make the cat vomit! You must also not give her milk that would accelerate the absorption of fat-soluble toxins. Take the cat to your veterinarian immediately or, after opening hours, to a veterinary clinic or emergency practice.