May 14th, 2009
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Many Catster owners choose to pursue alternatives to conventional, allopathic/Western medicine. Often, these holistic health alternatives include the use of essential oils. In general, the best rule of thumb is to avoid using essential oils around cats as kitty livers are not able to metabolize the oils. If you would like to use oils in your household, please consult with your veterinarian about safety for your feline family members. |
Are esstential oils only forbidden by intake, or also on the cats, because I have seen a product for fleas on cats based on essential oils.
In response to previous comment, yes there are flea products on the market containing essential oils. They are dangerous to use on cats. Unlike most animals, cats lack the enzyme glucuronyl tranferases needed to metabolize parts of Essential Oil make-up in the liver. If a cat is exposed to too much EO, it can cause liver damage and even death. The toxicity can build up over time because it takes much longer for the toxin to be eliminated as urine and feces in cats.
No matter what their claims say, nothing will change the unique physiology of a cat.
Try to remember the company’s main concern is making money, and unfortunately not the health of your pet. Also keep in mind not all things “natural” are safe (Chocolate is made from a plant, but it can still kill dogs at high levels of toxicity, remember?).