Let’s take a few things into consideration as we talk about how to safely use Essential Oils with cats.
SMALL SIZE
At 10–15 pounds, cats are fairly small—especially compared to humans, who, at 15 times that size, really only need to use one drop at a time. Because of this size difference, and because Essential Oils are so potent, cats need far less than even a drop per dose.
Just as with medications and flea and tick preventatives, the amount of Essential Oils for cats must be appropriately used to avoid any adverse effects.
POOR QUALITY VS. HIGH QUALITY
The need for high quality is real for anything we purchase for cats. Even the food we buy affects our cat’s health. Flea and tick preventatives—the ones you buy from the grocery store—are not going to be the same quality you get from your veterinarian.
The same goes for Essential Oils. Make sure you are using the BEST quality of Essential Oils with your cat. Synthetic products and fillers are often unsafe and toxic to cats and can contain substances which cause hormone and endocrine disruption.
CATS HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF METABOLISM
Cats lack an enzyme called glucuronyl transferase, which is important for the Cytochrome p450 liver metabolism pathway. This makes cats very susceptible to ALL kinds of toxicity, including plant, NSAIDS (like aspirin, ibuprofen, and Tylenol), chocolate and caffeine (methylxanthines), lead, zinc, and many, many types of pesticides.
Because they are obligate carnivores, there are certain plants cats just can’t metabolize. This is why we keep certain houseplants away from them and why we also need to be mindful of which Essential Oils we’re using, how we’re using them, and the quality of the Essential Oils we’re using.
QUESTION – WHAT IS YOUR CAT’S FAVORITE TREAT?
