Diffusing
and Using Essential Oils Around
Cats
The essential oils used in aromatherapy have a very good
safety record
and their benefits are enjoyed by millions of people every day. But like
all things in life they have to be used with care since they are highly
concentrated, and by following a few simple rules they are safe for all
the family – including our beloved cats.
Cats are
especially susceptible to the effects of essential oils since they do
not possess the required enzymes to break down and metabolise them, and
if used inappropriately or over long periods they could have fatal
consequences. This warning also applies to other pets too, so as pet
owners it is always wise to understand the implications of using
essential oils on or around them.
Unless you have had
the necessary professional training, we strongly suggest that you never
use essential oils on your pets – either diluted or undiluted. We know
that some websites claim that some essential oils are ‘safe’ for certain
animals, but the truth is that nobody really knows, since to our
knowledge, there has never been any serious scientific or medical
research into this subject made public. There are simply too many
essential oils and too many species of domesticated pets to compile a
list of ‘safe’ essential oils for individual
animals.
Diffusing
essential oils around cats
We all like
to diffuse essential oils around the house to enjoy their benefits, and
you should also consider your pets when employing this method of use
too. Inhaling essential oils and their concentrated vapour for long
periods in small spaces can result in headaches and dizziness for
humans. For all pets, and cats in particular, this could be especially
troublesome if it is carried out for long periods on a regular
basis.
This is what Robert Tisserand, founder
of
the
world renowned Tisserand Institute and expert on the safety
of
essential
oils has to say on this subject; ‘You can diffuse essential oils around
cats safely, so long as there’s good ventilation, you only diffuse
small amounts for limited periods of time, and your cat has the freedom
to leave the room if it wants. A few parts per million of aromatic vapor
in the air is not likely to be harmful, but be careful to avoid
build-up of vapors over many hours’. You can read the
full article
here.
Tips for diffusing essential
oils:-
- Plan your
aromatherapy session with your pets in
mind
- If a cat will be present,
diffuse small amounts of essential oil for a limited period of
time
- After a diffuser session
make sure that the room is ventilated to prevent build-up of
vapour
- Never use a diffuser
continuously, and if you plan to use it overnight around your cat use a
diffuser that has a timer fitted so it will switch off at a pre-set
time.
- Always ensure that your
pets are safe and remember that they can be more susceptible to
essential oil vapour than humans, so never leave a diffuser on
unattended whilst pets are in the
room.
Warnings on
labels
We have
been asked why suppliers don’t put warnings on essential oil bottles
advising of the potential dangers of diffusing essential oils around
cats. This may seem a reasonable request, but limited space on labels
and the legal requirement to include instructions for use and
contraindications for humans means there simply isn’t enough room on
such tiny labels.
And what about including warnings
on essential oil bottles for all your other pets too, why just
contraindications for cats? Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs, but you
never see warnings about this on the labels of chocolate products, do
you? As pet owners we must exercise a duty of care, and this means being
mindful of any potential dangers just like we do for our
children.
