Cats

Cats are believed to have a delicate metabolic system. Literature varies greatly on the subject of the use of essential oils and cats. There seems to be controversy. Some literature suggests a 3% dilution is okay to use with cats. Other reference materials say not to use essential oils at all, and that only hydrosols can be used. Others go the opposite direction to say Pennyroyal is fine to use. There are incidents in which Pennyroyal has been known to kill cats however, is fine for other animals. Generalizations made are too careful, while others are not careful enough. It is our opinion that it depends on the individual sensitivity of the cat.

Essential oils are broken down in the liver. Most animals go through glucoronidation. This process uses the necessary enzymes to break down the compounds to use or secrete them as waste. A cat’s metabolism is different from most animals. Cats lack this ability to detoxify. Toxins move slowly out of their system. With repeated exposure, toxins build-up. As to the amount of exposure to certain substances like essential oils, it may not always show up immediately. Symptoms can occur over time like vomiting, diarrhea, sluggishness, and uncoordinated actions, appearing as a drunken reaction. Most cats are good at knowing what is good for them and will stay away from substances that will harm them.

Cats also have delicate, thin skin and detest strong odors. The essential oils with the chemicals pinene and limonene seem to create the most harm. Oils in the pine and citrus family need to be avoided. Other oils need to be used with care and attention to how each cat reacts to each individual oil.

Hydrosols

Hydrosols are the left over water from the essential oil distillation process. It has trace amounts of essential oils, and small amounts of plant material. Hydrosols can go bad. To keep their shelf life, preservatives can be added, thus making it not a truly natural product. You can also make your own hydrosols with a drop or two of essential oils in a pound of water with an optional splash of alcohol to emulsify and preserve the mixture as naturally as possible.

Safest Oils for Cats