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With the prevalence of essential oils in every day life, it can be easy to overlook the possible effects they might be having on your furry friend.  I mean, they’re everywhere.  They must be safe, right?

Wrong.

Cats can be easily poisoned by many common essential oils, which can cause serious health complications or even death.

The following is a list of known essential oils that are poisonous to cats:

Cinnamon

Citrus (anything containing d-limonene)

Clove

Eucalyptus

Pennyroyal

Peppermint

Pine

Sweet Birch

Tea Tree

Wintergreen

Ylang-ylang

These don’t need to be ingested to cause health issues.  Coming in contact with, and even breathing in diffused oils can potentially be deadly.  Even diluted or mixed oils are not safe.  The higher the concentration, the more potential for danger, not to mention what the oil may be mixed or cut with can pose its own danger.

Symptoms of essential oil poisoning can include: watery nose or eyes, nausea leading to drooling and/or vomiting, and difficulty breathing (labored breathing, fast breathing, panting, coughing, or wheezing), tremors, ataxia (wobbliness and collapse), respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature/hypothermia, and symptoms associated with liver failure.

It is always best to consult a licensed vet prior to administering ANY oil to your feline companion.

Resources

The Pet Poison Helpline

Snopes: Essential Oil Poisoning

ASPCA: Trending Now: Are Essential Oils Dangerous to Pets?