Essential Oils and Cats: A Misunderstood Conception. 4th November 2011
Recently there has been a ban on using essential oils with cats amoungst some influential rescue centers. This ban is the result of many websites making statements along the lines of essential oil toxicity in cats, stating that essential oils should never be used with them. Unfortunately, these websites do not cite their sources (which is a reliable indicator of an unsubstantiated claim).
An extensive publication search brings up just three reports on essential toxicity to cats; two involved the use of tea tree, the third with potpourri . The papers imply that the oils were taken orally or applied topically although the papers note that they cannot be certain whether the cause was accidental or not. There are no reports on the toxicity of other essential oils with cats and not even a mention in two popular veterinary toxicology handbooks; . There are plenty of mentions of toxic household plants but none 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 gluconryl transferase activity, an enzyme involved with breaking down some foreign chemicals including alcohols and, more importantly, phenols . There are only a small number of essential oils that contain high 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, cats have never selected these oils (or tea tree for that matter) except for thyme on one occasion. In the case of thyme, there were no negative effects recorded. Phenols are also in many detergents, disinfectants, which are all used without consideration in everyday life.
Almost invariably cats will select essential oils through inhalation and will almost never select them orally. 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.
If anyone has worked with cats and essential oils they will know the relief from suffering that can be achieved. Since this work has stopped in a cattery, the sedatives have increased and the cats are coming down with disease. The staff who were trained in using the essential oils were "gutted " with the ban. I am told the cattery is now back to chemical sedatives and stressed cats.
Recently there has been a ban on using essential oils with cats amoungst some influential rescue centers. This ban is the result of many websites making statements along the lines of essential oil toxicity in cats, stating that essential oils should never be used with them. Unfortunately, these websites do not cite their sources (which is a reliable indicator of an unsubstantiated claim).
An extensive publication search brings up just three reports on essential toxicity to cats; two involved the use of tea tree, the third with potpourri . The papers imply that the oils were taken orally or applied topically although the papers note that they cannot be certain whether the cause was accidental or not. There are no reports on the toxicity of other essential oils with cats and not even a mention in two popular veterinary toxicology handbooks; . There are plenty of mentions of toxic household plants but none 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 gluconryl transferase activity, an enzyme involved with breaking down some foreign chemicals including alcohols and, more importantly, phenols . There are only a small number of essential oils that contain high 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, cats have never selected these oils (or tea tree for that matter) except for thyme on one occasion. In the case of thyme, there were no negative effects recorded. Phenols are also in many detergents, disinfectants, which are all used without consideration in everyday life.
Almost invariably cats will select essential oils through inhalation and will almost never select them orally. 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.
Ingraham Academy student Ann Brown (above) working with Applied Zoopharmacognosy
If anyone has worked with cats and essential oils they will know the relief from suffering that can be achieved. Since this work has stopped in a cattery, the sedatives have increased and the cats are coming down with disease. The staff who were trained in using the essential oils were "gutted " with the ban. I am told the cattery is now back to chemical sedatives and stressed cats.
Ingraham Academy student Kirsty Grant (above) working with Applied Zoopharmacognosy.
A cat rolling in rose buds and catnip
Cats do not usually ingest essential oils they inhale them, as they would in the wild when they roll on the plant to release its fragrance. The importance lies in reading the cats’ response to the aromas and not forcing any on them.
Working in a Vet Practice with cats and essential oils
In a small animal veterinary practice in Surrey, I worked with hyperthyroid cats. The first cat was seventeen years old, she selected lavender & seaweed absolute. On arrival her heart rate was high - 150, which is typical of a hyperthyroid cat, but within five minutes of inhaling the oils the heart rate normalised to 100.
Almost all cats with hyperthyroidism chose chickweed macerate, seaweed extract, and rose or lavender essential oil. In recent work with hyperthyroidism in cats, however it has been noted that they will usually select spirulina.
CommentsWorking in a Vet Practice with cats and essential oils
In a small animal veterinary practice in Surrey, I worked with hyperthyroid cats. The first cat was seventeen years old, she selected lavender & seaweed absolute. On arrival her heart rate was high - 150, which is typical of a hyperthyroid cat, but within five minutes of inhaling the oils the heart rate normalised to 100.
Almost all cats with hyperthyroidism chose chickweed macerate, seaweed extract, and rose or lavender essential oil. In recent work with hyperthyroidism in cats, however it has been noted that they will usually select spirulina.
I have seen loads of cats with amazing results, including my own and would be lost without using the essential oils with my cats! I will try and see if I can get some sessions on film for your blog! Catherine Edwards
Having a read through this makes me chuckle as my 3yr old cat gets into a few scraps and came home the other week covered in big scratches and a bite wound, really hot and very unhappy. He usually doesn't like the oils close to him at all but came right up close, nearly touching the clove oil and deeply inhaled for 3 consecutive days by then he was well on the way to recovery!! He obviously knows what he needs and when he needs it.
Really nice to know that there's now some true info on cats and essential oils on the internet: Liz R
I have used essential oils (Carrotseed, Lemon, Thyme, Orange in Peach Kernel oil) on my own cat. She only inhaled them for a very short time and a few days later the stubborn ulcer that was on her lip disappeared. T
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how many cats I've used essential oils on, including my own. One in particular was a feral cat who developed what appeared to be an infected paw as each day, the paw was more and more swollen and walking was increasingly hampered. The woman attending to him couldn't trap him, so I introduced bitter almond to JD, which he happily accepted. Within a few days, the swelling was completely down and JD was back to normal, no longer selecting the remedy. No traumatic trapping and vet visit was required. I honestly don't understand the resistance to this option by both traditional vets and, quite honestly, some alternative practices.
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