Kitty Tea Tree Oil Treatment: Is Tea Tree Oil Safe For Cats?

Occasionally advertised as a natural or herbal remedy for treating fleas in pets, tea tree oil is an essential oil derived from the Australian tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia.

Tea tree oil products with low concentrations are not anticipated to cause issues in pets as they are used in a few concentrated pet products. However, applying pure tea tree oil directly to a pet's skin can be dangerous and should never be done.

Ataxia, salivation, lethargy, coma, and tremor are possible effects of exposure. Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is used for skin conditions. Therefore, it may potentially cause dermatitis when used topically. This oil has been suggested for several animal skin conditions, and a vast majority of veterinary skin care products contain small amounts of tea tree oil, especially in small concentrations. Pure tea tree oil can produce clinical problems with just a few drops applied topically, and pets given pure tea tree oil have even died. Dermal decontamination and supportive care are part of the treatment. Owners occasionally use tea tree oil as a herbal or natural flea treatment, but it can be dangerous, especially when applied undiluted. Even adding pure tea tree oil to water and spraying it on cats and dogs has resulted in poisoning.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confirms that essential oils harm cats and dogs. If ingested in significant quantities, it can cause gastrointestinal issues, depression, and liver damage to any animal. While it may seem an effective treatment for acne and inflamed skin in humans, your pet may not take it well considering their health. If you believe your cat or dog has ingested essential oils or somehow came into contact with them, take the animal to a vet immediately.

Is tea tree oil toxic to cats?

Cats are especially vulnerable to tea tree essential oil poisoning if it is applied topically without first being diluted or if the dosage is excessive. Although tea tree oil has been seen as an efficient treatment for several cat ailments, many veterinarians and other pet care specialists now advise against using it on cats. Safer concentrations of essential oils must be used for the treatments if any, and the vet needs to be present and perform the procedure safely. For example, inhaling some of these essential oils directly from the air could lead to aspiration pneumonia. This is pretty sensitive of an issue as it deals with the breathing of your fur baby. Pneumonia is a possibility for cats breathing these oils diffused in the air, regardless of their concentration, as mentioned in any essential oil-based product.

Is tea tree oil in a diffuser safe for cats?

Numerous essential oils, including eucalyptus, tea tree, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang, are inherently hazardous to animals. These are deadly whether they are licked up after a spill, used in diffusers, or applied to the skin. The fact that diffusers with essential oils employ water vapor to release tiny oil droplets into the air despite their pleasant perfume may make them appear harmless. If applied in a limited area and extended period, dispersed oils are known to have adverse respiratory effects on people and animals.

Does tea tree oil kill fleas on cats?

Tea tree oil is one of the everyday essential oil mentioned when talking about fleas on cats and dogs. It is advised to use it in various formulations to deter and eliminate fleas. Fleas may be killed with tea tree oil. The issue is that it can only be used at low concentrations, lower than what would be required to both repel and kill fleas, before it becomes acceptable for cats.

In the case of lower concentrations of essential oils, the numbers are not to be devised at home. The minimum toxicity threshold of essential oils is unknown, and any exposure should be reported to the nearest veterinarian immediately. Certain dose ranges of essential oils like 0.8 – 2.2 g/lb (1.9-5 g/kg) or 0.8 – 1.1 mL/lb (1.9-2.6 mL/kg) could turn out to be fatal for your pets. Despite a few drops of concentrated tea tree oil exposed safely to your pets may help control fleas, it is advisable to consult a vet to get it treated.

Do cats like tea tree oil?

If the essential oils are applied directly to the skin without diluting first or if the dosage is too high, tea tree oil can be toxic to cats. Even while tea tree oil has historically been regarded as a reliable treatment for a few cat ailments, many veterinarians and other pet care specialists advise against using it on cats. Tea tree oil is one of the essential oils, including peppermint oil, that is considered to be poisonous to these animals. Flea shampoos for cats frequently contain small doses of tea tree oil, but many veterinarians advise that these shampoos should be used as directed.

Tea tree oil is easily absorbed via the skin by dogs and cats, and they can be poisoned by inhaling its vapors or ingesting these essential oils. Because their livers typically cannot digest the chemicals in these oils, cats are generally regarded as particularly susceptible to essential oil intoxication. Since the toxic components in the oil might accumulate in the liver over time, some people think that tea tree oil poisoning could happen even when little dosages are applied to the skin. Camphene, linalool, alpha-terpinene, and terpinolene are a few of these substances. Nothing can be done to treat this kind of poisoning in cats, but large doses of these substances can harm their livers and even kill them.

Tea tree oil products for cats are frequently advised by their manufacturers to keep essential oil doses extremely low to prevent issues. Pure tea tree oil shouldn't be applied to a cat's skin because it will often absorb quickly, according to both veterinarians and producers. Additionally, experts advise against feeding tea tree oil to cats orally. Cats should rarely be exposed to pure tea tree oil, according to several specialists who are worried about the negative repercussions of doing so.

It is essential to mention the potential usage of such ingredients in household products. Pet owners must ensure that their pets are not on the countertops or the floors as soon as a household cleaning agent is used. Giving the area a couple of hours before letting your pets safely play would be advisable, and what is safer would be completely ignoring products with these ingredients.

Tea Tree Oil Side Effects On Cats

Terpenes are a class of compounds that are present in tea tree oil. These are the substances that give the oil its ability to combat fungus and bacteria. Additionally, they act as poison. Whether applied topically or consumed internally, terpenes are quickly absorbed by the body. This implies that the toxicity of concentrated oil applied topically is comparable to accidental oral consumption. Pets, particularly a cat or a dog, have a propensity to groom themselves, which increases the risk of toxicity from topical applications.

The severity of poisoning symptoms varies with the number of terpenes consumed. Mild dosages of oil may cause minor side effects, including drooling or vomiting. Moderately unwell animals could seem frail, have trouble walking, or appear partially paralyzed. Symptoms of a highly ill animal can be fatal, such as tremors, convulsions, a significantly diminished degree of consciousness, or coma. Within 2-12 hours of exposure, symptoms appear. The owners have to check for the signs and take immediate action.

In general, extremely low body temperature, weakness, decreased heart rate, difficulty walking, tremors, and skin irritation are signs of toxicity, and these should be checked by a veterinarian immediately. With veterinarian intervention, these signs will be treated with aggressive care and treatment. Other signs may include fragrance or scent on hair, coat, skin, or breath, difficulty breathing or walking or uncoordinated gait, drooling, lethargy or weakness, muscle tremors, pawing at the mouth, or facial redness, or burns.

FAQs

Is the smell of tea tree oil toxic to cats?

Not just tea tree oil but almost all essential oils can be toxic to pets, especially cats. It is safe to consider it harmful regardless of how it is used, whether to treat skin conditions, as diffusers, or otherwise. Cats can easily absorb this oil through their skin and can be poisoned by breathing the fumes. But swallowing the oil is more fatal. The smell of tea tree oil is a big no, and if the smell continues for a prolonged period, there is a high chance that their livers cannot get rid of those toxins, and it becomes a bigger problem than an initial respiratory issue.

Is tea tree oil safe for cats to breathe?

It is safe to say essential oils are simply for humans and not good for cat health at all. These can be toxic when licked up after a spill, applied to the skin, or used in diffusers. It is the same case for your dog as well.

Is tea tree poisonous to cats?

The level of toxicity determines the course of treatment. Simple illnesses might need to be skin-decontaminated by bathing in dish soap. Vomiting should not be forced. If vomiting is produced, the thick nature of the oil and the terpenes' neurological effects raise the danger of aspiration pneumonia.

After ingesting tea tree oil, it is unknown whether activated charcoal taken orally will be useful in terpene binding. Before giving out activated charcoal, one must control vomiting with medication. Pets with severe symptoms shouldn't be given activated charcoal due to the possibility of aspirating the liquid form of the charcoal. The usual course of treatment is skin cleansing and intravenous fluid support therapy. Drugs are used to treat seizures, muscle tremors, and vomiting. Up to 72 hours following exposure, medical attention might be required. It is also advised to use liver protectors like SAM-e and silymarin (milk thistle) for two weeks, as essential oils are harmful to the liver.

Is tea tree oil in a diffuser safe for cats?

Essential oils in any format do not help your cat's health. Unlike humans, a cat may not have the ability to process the toxins and so tea tree oil, even in a diffuser, can be harmful to your cat if your pet is significantly exposed.