Using Scents Around Cats
Using aromatherapy in your home is definitely something that can be of benefit to you and your family. However, is it completely safe for your pets? The truth is that just because it is safe for you, or even for your children, doesn’t mean that using scents around your cats is going to be safe for them. Let’s take a look at different types of scents, their methods of delivery, and how to make them safer for your pets.
Essential Oils
Using essential oils particularly around your cats is something that must be done with great caution. Using them inside of a diffuser is relatively safe, as the oils are misted into the air in relatively small concentrations.
However, if you leave the oils sitting out and they get on your cat’s fur, this is not good. Your cat will then lick them off during grooming. Certain oils can cause your cat’s stomach to become upset or much worse. If you do use essential oils around your cats, they should be heavily diluted inside of a carrier oil such as almond or avocado oil.
Potpourri
Dry potpourri is not extremely harmful to cats; however, it might irritate their noses. However, if your cat ingests some dry potpourri, it could cause a bowel obstruction that may require surgery to remove.
Liquid potpourri is definitely far more worrisome when it comes to cats. If they lap it up, it definitely will make them sick. It is the essential oils in the liquid, as well as the manmade detergents in the mixture that will cause the problem. If your cat drinks liquid potpourri, you should expect them to receive burns on their skin or eyes, ulcers of the stomach or intestines, or breathing problems.
Scented Candles
Many people enjoy burning scented candles around their homes to set a certain ambiance. However, whether the candle smells good or not, it poses a fire risk, particularly around inquisitive pets. All it takes is for your cat to jump up next to the candle and knock it over. Your cat can be burned, or the candle can be tipped over and start a fire.
This doesn’t mean that you can never enjoy the light and smell of another scented candle again. This simply means that you must take all possible precautions to ensure the safety of you and your family. Just make sure not to leave your pets alone with a lit candle. You should always be in the same room with them. Also, think about which scents your pets might enjoy and which might be too strong or cause airway irritation for your pets. This may be a trial-and-error process to decide upon. Consider opting for a clean-burning candle that is made of beeswax, soy, or vegetable wax.
Air Fresheners
Do you find yourself walking around your house, spraying an air freshener every chance you can get? Although they help your home smell good, room sprays and air fresheners can trigger asthma problems in cats and kennel cough and allergic bronchitis in dogs.
Incense
Incense is another popular way to bring a scent and a Zenlike quality to your home. However, the smoke combined with the essential oils are both problems for cats. Cats can be extremely sensitive to inhaling in the smoke, and the essential oils only exacerbates the situation.
Final Thought
You may be wondering if all this is the case, what is safe to use around your cats? Although it does not emit any smell, you may benefit from having an air purifier in your home. Taking an approach of cleaning your air, rather than covering up odors may do wonders for the smell of your home, and the health of your cats.