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Cats and Essential Oils, a Hidden Danger

There are many substances that are toxic to cats. A short list of these include gasoline, rat poison, household cleaners, drain decloggers and tons of plants. These substances are well documented and can be found in magazines, vet offices and the internet. However there is one less well known substance that, thanks to a certain Multi-level-marketing company and it's hype, more and more people are using on their cats. Essential oils.

In this day and age of complementary and alternative health therapies, people are taking their health into their own hands. Being an educated consumer when it comes to your health is all to the good. However, unfortunately these same people are also using home remedies on their pets. One of the most dangerous of these is the use of essential oils on cats.

A lot of these same people will argue that using essential oils on a cat has caused no problems at all. They were lucky. At one point, I too could have used that argument, until one day I used tea tree on my cat and he started screaming and literally racing around the room and running into walls. That scared me so bad I have never used oils on my cats again. I also started researching the subject and was horrified to learn that I could have killed him.

Generally, essential oils are made up complex chemicals that are rapidly absorbed orally and dermally as well as by inhalation into the cat's system and are metabolized in the liver.

Cats unlike most animals, are known to be unable to eliminate these chemical compounds which causes a toxic build-up in the liver and may result in the cat in developing tumors, becoming severely ill or even dying.

Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant people who say that their cats LIKE the smell or taste of essential oils. They also say that cats know instinctively what is good for them and to let the cat itself choose an oil to be placed on the cat's fur.

This is emotional rubbish. Just about anyone who lives with a cat knows, they can and do eat things that are bad for them. Take for example, anti-freeze. Cats love the smell and taste of it and most often die after ingesting it. House plants are a less dramatic but just as well known danger. Cats cannot discern the poisionous from the harmless.

As thinking (and hopefully well informed) people who are loved, befriended and owned by these strange furry creatures from another universe, it is our responsibility to learn about, understand and recognize these and other dangers and keep them safe. Aromatherapy and Essential Oils have no place in a cat's life.

For more information check out http://www.thelavendercat.com

Learn more about this author, Kate McGee.
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