Using oils on Cats...

[AJellclergorop]

Hi,

I just wondered if there are any oils which I can use on my cats to either help prevent the slight pet odours and possibly aid with molting etc. I know people do use oils but wondered if there was any conflicting advice??

Many thanks

 

[Cydney]

Hi Delamare
if you put a seach on the wed then there is lots of information that comes up on this subject. Personally l would never use essential oils on any cats as they have a unique physiology which means there livers just can't deal with the essential oils and so they are very toxic to cats.


Black cat

 

[gunman50cal37]

There is a book called Vetinary Aromatherapy by Nelly Grosjean.

I would personally never use any oils on my cats, but i use them as a deterent by sprinkling in corners and cushions/sofa etc.

Wilkinsons sell a ready-made product containing citronella, it comes in a spray bottle for about £2. It seems to have worked so far to stop my cat clawing on doors and fences!

 

[Say]

I wouldn't use essential oils on my cats either - but would use hydrolats which is the water remaining after the distillation process - much gentler for their very sensitive livers.

Good tip that Kookykel I'll try using a watered down Citronella in a spray for the furniture.

Luv Binah
x

 

[Lottie]

I would also avoid using oils on cats, as already said it can be toxic and very harmful to their livers. Also consider that they lick themselves to wash and could potentially ingest the oils, even more harmful. If this is something you are interested in, I would advise trying to find a course. You obviously love your cat so much to post this, but I'd be scared about its health..

 

[Sissy Smurf]

don't use any essential oils on cats. their livers can't handle them, and it may be fatal.

 

[Wilberforce account 53]

I've used diluted thyme & lavender on my cat for scars,wounds & scabs for years and shes fine

 

[livie]

Some cats do have a better ability to metabolise essential oils and other aromatics than others and as I work professionally as an Animal Essential Oil therapist, I do come accross cats who are absolute oil junkies but I still only work according to the individual response. I was teaching an Owner/Carer workshop the other day and one of my cats came flying in and almost dived into the bottle of Rose Absolute yet the others sometimes won't come into the room when I have my oils out. It also has to be said that there is a potential game of Russian Roulette going on with some cats and you could reach a level of toxicity after a while that will only be apparent when the cat goes into liver failure so it is impossible to give a "safe" threshold for working with cats.
This is also an issue if you use oils in the cats usual environment so if you use a spray to deter cats from scratching etc, make sure you well ventillate the room after the point has been made. Many cats will just avoid the area altogether till the aroma has dissipated but in general I would be VERY cautious of using essential oil sprays with elderly, ill or young cats.
As Binah has already suggested, Hydrolats are a better bet but remember too that their chemistry differs from that of the corresponding oil due to the presence of heavy and water-soluble molecules so you need to take the properties of the complete herb into account when deciding which to use. 2-3 drops in a saucer of water, changed daily (and placed well away from their usual drinking water in case the aroma stops them from going to drink) is usually well accepted by cats of all ages who will then self-medicate according to need.
Hope this is useful info.

 

[Georgia_xo]

I personally do not use any oils on cats as I was taught that A cat's system can not effectively excrete essential oils and they can build up to toxic levels creating major heath problems. This is just my personal thing though. I think I am too worried to use oils on a clients cat just in case.