So I’ve been using essential oils in my room for stress and stuff—mainly lavender and eucalyptus, but I just found out they might be bad for cats?? I had no idea 
I’ve got a cat who loves to chill near my diffuser so now I’m kinda panicking. Anyone else using oils around their cats? Should I stop completely?
Yeahhh a bunch of oils are toxic for cats. I stopped using my diffuser once I realized it could actually make them sick.
Cameron said:
Yeahhh a bunch of oils are toxic for cats. I stopped using my diffuser once I realized it could actually make them sick.
Wait fr? Which ones are the worst? I’ve been using lemon and peppermint a lot.
@Jovi
Lemon and peppermint are both on the list 
Also stuff like tea tree, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, and even mint. The list is LONG.
@Jovi
omg I use lavender all the time thinking it’s calming for everyone… guess not for cats 
I think it’s not just about smelling them… even if it gets on your skin and your cat licks you, they could get sick
Blakeley said:
I think it’s not just about smelling them… even if it gets on your skin and your cat licks you, they could get sick
That’s wild. I use oils after showering and my cat always cuddles up… I didn’t know it could transfer like that.
@Koa
Yeah it’s super risky. The oils are super concentrated so even a little can mess them up.
FYI: there’s not really any oil that’s 100% safe for cats, even the ‘natural’ or ‘mild’ ones can be dangerous in concentrated form.
Rowan said:
FYI: there’s not really any oil that’s 100% safe for cats, even the ‘natural’ or ‘mild’ ones can be dangerous in concentrated form.
Damn… that makes it harder. I guess the safest move is just to stop using them altogether?
@Benn
That’s what I did. Or if you absolutely need them, maybe only use when your cat’s not around + deep clean surfaces after.
My cat had symptoms once—vomiting, kinda drooly, really tired… turned out he got into spilled oil. Never again 
Spencer said:
My cat had symptoms once—vomiting, kinda drooly, really tired… turned out he got into spilled oil. Never again
Oh no, what did you do? Did you take him to the vet right away?
@Yani
Yeah, rushed him to the emergency vet. They helped a lot. They also said to call ASPCA poison control next time: 888-426-4435. It’s 24/7.
Just curious, what’s a diffuser? Is it like those things that puff out steam with smells?
Perrin said:
Just curious, what’s a diffuser? Is it like those things that puff out steam with smells?
Yup, basically! It’s a little device that spreads the scent of essential oils into the air using water and mist.
Perrin said:
Just curious, what’s a diffuser? Is it like those things that puff out steam with smells?
They’re nice for relaxing vibes but not so great if you have pets—especially cats.