It’s difficult to get away from essential oils these days; you’ll find them in household cleaners, room fresheners, fragrances, candles, aromatherapy kits, and in certain medical preparations as well. While we love them, they may not be as safe for our pets.

Cats are especially sensitive to essential oil toxicity if they accidentally ingest them, so it’s wise to keep essential oils out of reach of cats and dogs. While some essential oils can be dangerous for your feline friend, here are some that are safe for cats:

Why are cats sensitive to essential oils?
These oils are derived from plants and have certain highly-volatile, organic substances that confer flavor and fragrance to them. Essential oils are natural antibacterials and are great room fresheners. They can soothe and uplift your mood, but in animals, they are swiftly absorbed through the skin and pass into the bloodstream, from where they travel into the liver. Cat physiology is different from that of dogs and humans, and they lack certain enzymes necessary to metabolize essential oils that may contain phenols. This can cause serious damage to the liver with a gradual build-up of toxins.

Symptoms of essential oil toxicity include vomiting, disorientation, lethargy, drooling, respiratory problems, tremors, and redness around the eyes, mouth, gums, and tongue.

Essential oils that are safe for cats
While the following essential oils are relatively safe for cats, it’s important to ensure that they’re highly diluted before use and not applied directly to the skin. They’re commonly used in diffusers, where they enter the air in tiny droplets and enter a feline’s eyes, nose, and mouth, leading to allergies and, ultimately, a toxic reaction.

Essential oils that are safe for and around cats are:

• Lavender: Although not totally safe, lavender essential oil can be used in a highly-diluted form if you have a pet cat. However, ensure that you don’t use it in areas where feline friend sits or sleeps.
• Cedarwood : Cedarwood essential oil that’s phenol-free is a safe option for use around your kitty. Again, it’s vital that you dilute it well and limit the use to areas of the house not frequented by your cat.
• Lemon-grass: This is usually used to repel mosquitoes and flies, but it should never be applied directly to the cat’s skin. It can be sprayed in a highly-diluted form to keep out insects, but ensure that your cat is not around when you’re doing it. If you accidentally spray some of it on your cat, ensure that they don’t lick it off while grooming. Wipe or rinse the area with warm water a few times until the fragrance is gone.
• Rosemary: A highly fragrant essential oil, it is used to prevent flea infestation. Fresh rosemary sprig should be boiled in a large pot of water, cooled, and then diluted in a big tub of your cat’s bathwater. Let your kitty sit in it for less than 5 minutes, and then wipe it off with a wet towel until the fragrance is removed.