Is Eucalyptus Safe For Cats? Here's How To Protect Your Pet

Cats are one of the most loved pets all over the world.

They are independent, loyal, and fun to have around. However, these furry pets are curious little ones that love to explore their surroundings all the time.

It would be best to be extra careful about things you have at home when you own a cat pet. Many people in the United States are exploring alternative medicines for their physical and mental health, and one such prevalent option is essential oils.

Essential oil is a concentrated liquid that is extracted from various plants and herbs. These essential oils have been proven to contain body and mind healing properties, and hence people use essential oils with diffusers, like scents, or even consume them internally.

Eucalyptus oil is one such very popular essential oil available in the market right now. This oil can be used to treat upper respiratory conditions like asthma, blocked nose, and the common cold.

It also treats headaches and can be used on certain pets to repel ticks. Are you considering the use of this oil to prevent ticks on your cat's skin? Or do you leave bottles of the essential oil in your bedrooms where your cat usually spends time in?

Do remember that eucalyptus essential oil can be hazardous for cats. These essential oils have to be kept inside locked shelves, away from curious cats at home.

Once you have finished reading this article, why not discover the answer to is gum bad for cats and how to hold a cat here on Kidadl?

Is the eucalyptus plant safe for cats to smell?

No, eucalyptus is not safe for cats. Even inhaling the scent can be harmful to them. The leaves and the oil are both not safe to use on pets like cats, dogs, and horses.

The eucalyptus plant or tree is tall, green, and great to use as a border for properties. These plants are also called Tasmanian blue gum. The leaves dry and fall, giving a distinct smell that entices passersby.

Cats, however, are clever. They are sensitive beings and don't prefer such strong scents. As a result, they may stay away from the tree. However, a smaller kitty pet may not have such caution and end up chewing the dried or fresh leaves on the ground.

If you have Tasmanian blue gum trees or plants in your garden, try letting your cat out and monitor how the fur animal acts around the tree. If you find the cat interested in the tree or the leaves, you may have to restrict the feline in the future.

Chewing on leaves of the tree may cause vomiting, skin infections, and other signs of toxicity.

When you use undiluted essential oils like eucalyptus on cats, there is a possibility that it might lick the eucalyptus oil on the skin. Concentrated forms of essential oils become toxic to cats and can lead to the below symptoms of weakness, decreased activity, excessive drooling, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatality.

Even if you use a diluted form of the oil eucalyptus, there is a risk of your cat ingesting smaller quantities of essential oils regularly, which can become harmful with time.

Some people also use peppermint oil, tea tree oil, sweet birch oil, and pennyroyal essential oil for tick problems. Before you try any of these, talk to your vet and get approval.

Also, it is wiser to do a patch test before you apply these to the skin. Make sure you use essential oils only after dilution. A cone collar around your pet's neck can help prevent the pet from licking the oil.

Is dried eucalyptus safe for cats?

Dried eucalyptus leaves are not safe for cats or dogs. Dried eucalyptus is sold commercially in small sachets or pouches and can be used as room fresheners, shower hangers, linen sachets, and even potpourri compounds. Now, dried leaves are cheaper and readily available, and since this is natural, people opt to use them to keep the house smelling fresh.

A lot of fur parents don't like the smell of cat urine or poo inside the house. They end up keeping dried eucalyptus to beat the smell.

Dried eucalyptus is extracted from the leaves of this tree, and just like essential oils, exposure to these dried forms is also toxic to pets. While the essential oils are highly concentrated and can be fatal, dried leaves are slightly better but may still be toxic to cats, leading to unpleasant side effects.

It is hazardous to have potpourri with these dried leaves on your coffee tables and side tables that are easily accessible for pets. Your kitty may be tempted by all these fresh scents and decide to take a bite of the dried leaves.

Cat eucalyptus poisoning needs to be taken seriously, and you need to contact the vet right away. If you think your cat may have had exposure to dried compounds of this tree, then inform your veterinarian about it and keep monitoring for side effects.

What essential oils are safe for cats?

Some of the essential oils considered safe for cats are lavender, frankincense, and helichrysum. However, these essential oils too, when ingested in large quantities, or used undiluted, may cause unpleasant symptoms and harm your fur pet.

Most of the other essential oils are not safe for cats. Some are harmful only when ingested, while others are harmful even when your pets smell them.

Now, how about using eucalyptus oil in diffusers? Diffusers are devices that help diffuse scents into the air. When essential oil droplets are added to the diffuser, they are dispersed into the atmosphere, and the air inside the room smells pleasant for hours together.

Many houses have diffusers these days. You can choose from nebulizing, electric, and evaporative diffusers, and the diffused essential oils can help your family relax, rejuvenate, and relieve stress. Inhaling these scents can also help you get rid of respiratory problems and pave the way for natural healing. The same is not true for your animal friends.

Strong odors of essential oils from a diffuser may cause problems like a watery nose, burning sensations in the nose and eyes, and respiratory problems. Breathing difficulty and struggling for air are two serious side effects of inhaling strong scents from a diffuser.

If you switch on a diffuser and you see your pet's breathing becoming labored or strained, quickly remove the pet from the room to get some fresh air and call your vet. The smell could turn toxic.

Some of the common essential oils that are not safe to be used in diffusers when you have animal pets are pine, clove oil, Tasmanian blue gum, oil peppermint, oil cinnamon, citrus oil, and oil clove.

Do not let your cat, kitty, or dog very close to the diffusers, and keep monitoring the pet's vitals if they end up inhaling diffused oils.

How To Keep Cats From Eucalyptus

There are pet parents who strongly believe in the powers of essential oils. They usually buy small bottles of essential oils like tea tree oil, sweet birch oil, peppermint oil, citrus oil, lavender oil, cinnamon citrus, pennyroyal oil, and peppermint pine oil and store them in the house.

If you use such essential oils too, then always lock them up in cupboards, away from the reach of your feline pets. Exposure to any of these essential oils can be dangerous and may need medical attention.

Another unsafe oil for your pet is the ylang-ylang. Ylang-ylang essential oil is known to improve health by relaxing the body and lowering blood pressure.

This oil, when ingested by cats or dogs, can lead to extreme toxicity though. Some of the symptoms to look out for are seizures, vomiting, excessive tiredness, and drooling. You can try reaching out to a veterinarian if you notice any of these signs.

Wintergreen oil, like eucalyptus oil, is also not safe for both cats and dogs and could lead to health problems like respiratory failure, liver failure, and seizures when your cat or dog consumes the oil. Wintergreen oil is also toxic when applied to the skin of the animal.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for is eucalyptus safe for cats, then why not take a look at is flaxseed good for cats or Persian cat facts.