Essential Oils and Cats
There are several websites that make statements along the lines of
“There is a lot of information out there on essential oil toxicity in
cats.” Unfortunately, these websites do not cite
their sources (which is a reliable indicator of an unsubstantiated
claim). The fact is there is hardly any information out there on
essential oil toxicity in cats. Do not trust any website
that makes claims without citing its sources.
An extensive publication search brings up just three reports on essential toxicity to cats; two involved the use of tea tree (1,2), the third with potpourri (3).
There are no reports on the toxicity of other essential oils with cats and not even a mention in two popular veterinary toxicology (4,5). There are plenty of mentions of toxic household plants but none of these feature in the applied zoopharmacognocist’s kit.
The concern with cats over other species is more theoretical than actual. The issue is that cats have very low glucuronyl transferase activity, an enzyme involved with breaking down some foreign chemicals including alcohols and, more importantly, phenols (3). There are only a small number of essential oils that contain significant levels of phenols, the most commonly used being clove, cinnamon, wintergreen, yellow birch and the phenol rich chemotypes of thyme. In our experience and the experience of our students, it is incredibly rare for a cat to select any of these oils, and in the odd case where there has been a selection it has almost exclusively been through inhalation.
Almost invariably cats will select essential oils through inhalation and will almost never select them orally (the form of administration cited in the above papers are either topical or unknown). Some websites claim that allowing cats to inhale is also risky; again there is no evidence to suggest there is a risk, especially if the oil is offered in well ventilated areas and the cat is free to remove itself from the odour.
References
1 Bischoff (1998). Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil poisoning in three purebred cats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
2 Villard D, Knight MJ, Hansen SR et al (1994). Toxicity of Melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Veterinary & Human Toxicology 36: 139-142.
3 Schildt Julie C.; Jutkowitz L. Ari; Beal Matthew W (2008). Potpourri Oil Toxicity in Cats (2000-2007)
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 18: 515-516
4 Peterson ME & Talcott P (2007). Small Animal Toxicology. Elselvier Inc.
5 Campbell A, Chapman M (2000). The Handbook of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats. Gray Publishing.
An extensive publication search brings up just three reports on essential toxicity to cats; two involved the use of tea tree (1,2), the third with potpourri (3).
There are no reports on the toxicity of other essential oils with cats and not even a mention in two popular veterinary toxicology (4,5). There are plenty of mentions of toxic household plants but none of these feature in the applied zoopharmacognocist’s kit.
The concern with cats over other species is more theoretical than actual. The issue is that cats have very low glucuronyl transferase activity, an enzyme involved with breaking down some foreign chemicals including alcohols and, more importantly, phenols (3). There are only a small number of essential oils that contain significant levels of phenols, the most commonly used being clove, cinnamon, wintergreen, yellow birch and the phenol rich chemotypes of thyme. In our experience and the experience of our students, it is incredibly rare for a cat to select any of these oils, and in the odd case where there has been a selection it has almost exclusively been through inhalation.
Almost invariably cats will select essential oils through inhalation and will almost never select them orally (the form of administration cited in the above papers are either topical or unknown). Some websites claim that allowing cats to inhale is also risky; again there is no evidence to suggest there is a risk, especially if the oil is offered in well ventilated areas and the cat is free to remove itself from the odour.
References
1 Bischoff (1998). Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil poisoning in three purebred cats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
2 Villard D, Knight MJ, Hansen SR et al (1994). Toxicity of Melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Veterinary & Human Toxicology 36: 139-142.
3 Schildt Julie C.; Jutkowitz L. Ari; Beal Matthew W (2008). Potpourri Oil Toxicity in Cats (2000-2007)
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 18: 515-516
4 Peterson ME & Talcott P (2007). Small Animal Toxicology. Elselvier Inc.
5 Campbell A, Chapman M (2000). The Handbook of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats. Gray Publishing.
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