I’ve wanting to add an essential oil to my home, but at the same time don’t want to choose an oil that would be dangerous to my indoor cats. I’ve done some quick googling, but there seems to be a wide variety of what some folk think are dangerous oils, and oils that that are okay. Have any of you successfully used an essential oil air dispenser with your cats sharing the same space/air? Thanks.
Just don’t do it. I am a feline veterinarian and even if you choose ones considered safe the oil part themselves are not safe. I’ve seen a huge influx of coughing cats since essential oil diffuses became a thing. All cases resolved when the owners stopped using them.
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I’ve looked and looked and didn’t feel comfortable using any of them in my house around the cats. One of mine has seasonal allergies as it is and I didn’t want to cause any more issues.
Sometimes I put a pot of water on the stove with citrus peels and a clove to add fragrance to the house, but that’s about it.
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I wouldn’t use a diffuser with anything, even if it’s declared safe.
I do however use a wax warmer which doesn’t project particles into the air.
Hi there,
can I ask a question? Does this go for scented candles, too? I keep a couple of those near the kitty boxes. I haven’t noticed my two coughing, (and we are in lockdown in my country so I’m home 24 hours a day with them), but if they’re dangerous, I’ll remove them.
Thanks!
I don’t see the issue with candles because it doesn’t particularize the oils. I have seen asthmatic cats have issues with candles to the smoke of some of them but thats a smaller subset of cats.
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Just think what it is doing to you if it is bad for the cats?
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A big thank you to Justmyluck, and the others who chimed in about essential oil diffusers. Once again the generous COTH folks have helped answer someone’s question. :yes:
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I plugged in one of the Air Wick essential oils in my bathroom. The next day my 17 year old cat walked into the living room. She was walking really stiff and went to the front door and just kind of collapsed there staring straight ahead. She wouldn’t respond to my voice of my touch. I realized that the only thing new in the house was the plug in. I immediately unplugged it and took Gertie out in the back yard to get fresh air. Within an hour she was back to normal. It just really scared me knowing how close I came to killing my own cat!
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Judmor,
How is your cat doing now? Still okay I hope.
She’s doing fine now. She’s almost 17, and except from this incident she’s always been healthy I will never bring essential oils in my house again!
Judmor, So good to hear your kitty is doing fine. :yes:
