Is Tea Tree Oil Safe For Cats? This is a frequently requested question by most cat owners. We’ve compiled some information below to assist you in determining the risks associated with using tea tree oil in cats. NO is the straightforward answer to this question.

What is tea tree essential oil? Tea tree oil (melaleuca) is an essential oil derived from the tea tree plant in Australia. The eucalyptus tree or plant is tall, green, and ideal for use as a property boundary, and Tasmanian blue gum is another name for these plants. The leaves dry and fall, leaving behind a peculiar aroma that tempts passers-by. Tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial activities and possible anti-pruritic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-parasitic capabilities. 

Tea tree oil comes in various quantities, and large doses should never be administered to pets. In cats, poisoning and death have been reported with as little as seven drops of 100 percent oil and as much as ten to twenty milliliters of 100 percent oil.

It is used topically to treat acne, boils, burns, and insect bites in humans and pets. It is also used for treating athletes’ feet, gingivitis, impetigo, tonsillitis, and vaginal infections in humans. It is sometimes added to vaporizers to treat respiratory infections. The oil can also be found in soaps, toothpaste, lotions, and skin creams.

As essential oils for domestic and holistic purposes grows in popularity, so does the risk to curious cats. Pet owners must understand the dangers of using essential oils in the home and prevent exposure to potentially hazardous chemical compounds.

Is tea tree oil safe to use around cats?

Cats can be poisoned by tea tree oil, mainly if applied without being diluted first or if the dose is too large. Even while tea tree oil was once thought to be a safe and efficient cure for several feline ailments, many veterinarians and other pet care specialists now advise against using it on cats. Tea tree oil is one of the numerous essential oils poisonous to these animals, including peppermint oil.

Essential oil poisoning is more common in cats because their livers cannot process the chemicals included in these oils. Tea tree oil poisoning, according to some, can occur even when modest dosages are applied to the skin because the oil’s harmful components can build up in the liver over time. Camphene, linalool, alpha-terpinene, and terpinolene are some of these chemicals. Significant levels of these substances can harm a cat’s liver and even cause death, and there is nothing that can be done to treat this form of poisoning.

Tea tree oil toxicity symptoms in cats

Essential oil toxicity varies depending on the oil, its quality, and its concentration. Tea tree oil poisoning is significantly more common in dogs because it can be used at a 100 percent concentration. Toxicity can develop when animals obtain oil on their feet or haircoats, eat oil or have oil put directly on their skin and absorbed via the skin.

Essential oil intoxication symptoms, according to the ASPCA Poison Control Center, include:

• Uncertainty on the feet
• Depression
• Body temperature is too low (in severe cases)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

The toxicity of essential oils to cats is mainly restricted to consumption and direct topical application. If you use a diffuser, keep the diffuse time to a minimum and keep it out of reach of your pets. Essential oils may be more sensitive in pets with respiratory problems, and thus their usage should be limited or avoided to avoid respiratory distress or asthma attacks.

If you must use essential oils in your home, make sure they’re kept in a secure location, that they’re not applied directly to your pet or consumed by them, that the diffuse time is limited, and that they’re not used near any pets with diagnosed or suspected respiratory problems.

Is the smell of tea tree oil toxic to cats?

Eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang are just a few of the poisonous oils to pets. These goods are harmful if you lick up a spill, apply them to your skin, or use diffusers.

Cats quickly ingest tea tree oil, and it can also be poisoned by inhaling its fumes. Small doses of tea tree oil, administered judiciously, are unlikely to damage cats in the short or long term.

Is It Safe To Diffuse Tea Tree Oil Around Cats?

Eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang are just a few of the essential oils that are poisonous to pets. They are hazardous when applied to the skin or used in diffusers.

What Should I Do If My Cat Has a Tea Tree Oil Smell?

Exposure’s side effects include ataxia, salivation, lethargy, coma, and tremors. Tea tree oil can also cause dermatitis because it irritates the skin. Pure tea tree oil can create clinical indications in pets, and even a few drops can be fatal.

What Essential Oils Are Safe To Use Around Cats?

You can utilize essential oils for your cats like lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense if you know what you’re doing because the oil used in a diffuser is considerably diluted (rather than being administered directly or as a dietary supplement). It shouldn’t harm your cat if you diffuse it in your home.

Is it OK to use a diffuser near my cat?

Make sure cats and other animals don’t use diffusers to groom themselves. Diffusers and warmers release essential oils into the air, which can land on cats’ fur, and essential oils should not be used on the fur or skin of cats. Use diffusers and warmers for a short time if you are in a room without cats.

Tea tree oil is not suitable for dogs or cats to consume. In diluted tea tree oil products, tea tree oil is used. Most pet drugs (those containing less than 1% of their total dosage) are generally non-toxic. If your pet has been exposed to a small amount of topical tea tree oil, you should bathe it with soapy water and observe its behavior for a week.

Tea tree oil is found in many homemade cleaning products, and it’s located in a variety of lotions, shampoos, and toothpaste. Some deodorants and hand sanitizers are, too.

If you use a diffuser, tea tree oil will be all over the air in your home, which means it will readily land on your cat, who may feel the need for a grooming session. If you have a pet, be cautious about the cleaning products you use in your home.

If you want to use essential oils in an odor diffuser, ensure they’re safe to use around your cat. Some people store it in their bathroom and use a few drops in their bath water to create therapeutic steam to help with lung infections.

Anything harmful should be kept out of reach of your cat. Shampoos, toothpaste, and topical ointments designed for people should not be used on your cat. Consult your veterinarian for safe options for your cat.

Is tea tree oil safe for cat skin?

Terpenes are a group of compounds found in tea tree oil. These are the compounds that give the oil its antibacterial and antifungal properties. They are also poisonous substances. Whether taken orally or applied to the skin, Terpenes are quickly absorbed into the body. Using concentrated oil on the skin can cause the same toxicity as accidentally ingesting it. Because dogs, especially cats, groom themselves, the toxicity risk of topical applications is increased.

Toxicity symptoms vary based on the number of terpenes consumed. Mild quantities of oil may cause minor symptoms such as drooling or vomiting. Moderately unwell, animals may appear feeble, have trouble walking, or be partially paralyzed. Tremors, convulsions, a substantially diminished degree of consciousness, or coma are life-threatening symptoms in very unwell animals. 2 to 12 hours after exposure, symptoms appear.

The reason why people can use tea tree oil but cats cannot

When inhaled, tree tea oil is beneficial in treating skin disorders in humans, and it is also effective in treating lung congestion in some people. Even in humans, tea tree oil taken orally is hazardous. Keep in mind that cats groom themselves with their mouths. Anything you put on Kitty’s fur will eventually end up in her mouth.

Terpenes are also easily absorbed through the skin, and because cats have thin, fragile skin, they absorb them much faster. Do not mistake “natural” for “non-toxic.” Many natural plants are poisonous, and poison ivy and tobacco, for example, are both totally honest and perfectly toxic.

How to prevent tea tree oil poisoning in pets?

Tea tree oil is beneficial in treating certain skin diseases in pets, but it has not been demonstrated to be superior to other treatments. Tea tree oil concentrations recommended for various skin disorders much exceed those seen in most pet products (.1 percent -1 percent ). The benefits of adopting a natural product rather than a synthetic treatment may not outweigh the risks. Tea tree oil dilutions of 100 percent should not be used on dogs, and it’s all too simple to get the amount of oil wrong. Finally, oil should be kept out of reach of pets, particularly the cunning, curious cat.