Do Cats Like Burning Sage – Is It Okay For Them?  

Sage is an herb that is burned at homes for various spiritual and other purposes. When you have a pet at home, it is not limited to just the benefits, but one needs to consider whether it is suitable for their pet or not. Thus, the most common question that pops up is: do cats like burning sage?  

Most cats do not like burning sage. Burning sage is not toxic or poisonous for cats, but they might not like the smell of it. The smoke particles can make breathing difficult for cats with respiratory problems. It can also evoke some kind of allergy-like symptoms in others like sneezing or watery eyes. 

In this article, we have discussed questions related to the burning of sage around cats, whether they like it, is it safe, what precautions to be taken while burning it, and others. 

Signs That Indicate That Your Cat Does Not Like Sage 

Sneezing, itchy eyes, distress, making a weird face are some of the common symptoms that your feline does not like sage or the smell of burning sage. We have discussed these below in detail.

Sneezing Constantly

If your furry friend constantly sneezes with the smell of sage around it, it is better to keep sage away from her as it indicates that she is allergic to sage. She might have an itchy nose as well.

Itchy or Wet Eyes

As soon as you burn sage incense or bring sage around your feline if she has watery eyes, then it should be taken as a sign of an allergic reaction, and the cat should be taken outside. 

Distress

Your cat might run or show symptoms of unhappiness, lying at one place, hiding behind things, or finding an isolated place to sit if she does not like the smell of sage since they are susceptible to any kind of smell.

Making a Weird Face

Have you noticed your cat wiggling her nose or making a weird face when she is unable to understand something? That is precisely what she will do when you take sage near her or burn a sage incense in the room. Thus, signaling that she did not like the smell that much, or maybe she hated the smell.

Running Away 

If your cat does not like a particular smell, she will not go near its origin or in a room. If she is already in the room, she might try to run away or find her way out of that place.

Is Sage Safe for Your Cat

Sage is not toxic for your cat as such, but that does not mean that it is entirely safe either. You might have noticed your cat sniffing the sage herb in your kitchen garden while playing and even eating a leaf of it. This should not be taken as a sign that your cat likes its taste or smell. There are other reasons behind it.

Your cat might be driven to a sage herb due to the texture of the leaves and wants to play with it. If your furry friend is a bit more inquisitive, she might taste a leaf too. A small amount of sage would not do any harm to your cat, but if she consumes it in a large amount, this could cause gastronomical problems, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting in cats. 

Cats generally depend on protein sources to drive most of their energy, and an herb like sage that is believed to have positive effects on humans can negatively affect cats because their stomach is not suited to digest this herb properly. The burning of sage is not dangerous in particular, but the smoke could lead to severe respiratory problems in cats. 

Moreover, sage oil is hazardous for cats. The aroma and the contents of the oil can cause multiple health issues. Their bodies cannot metabolize these elements and can build up, making them highly toxic. In extreme cases, if your feline smells sage oil or tastes it, it can even result in liver failure. So sage oil is a strict no-no if you have a cat at home.

Precautions To Take When Burning Sage Incense  

Sage incense should be burnt in a well-ventilated space, and cats should be monitored while burning it. As stated earlier, it is not the sage but the smoke that burning sage or smudging emits, which is a problem for cats. Still, if you want to have a smudging ceremony for all the benefits it provides, you need to take certain precautions.

Safe incense should be burnt in a fireproof place. Make sure that the room where you are burning the incense should be well-ventilated. Open the doors and windows before lighting them up. Try to keep your cat at a distance from the place where you are burning the incense. If your cat already has respiratory issues, avoid having your cat near while burning it, as it can augment the problem.

Monitor your cat so that she does not go near the incense and hurt herself with the burning embers from it or from the bowl where you have placed it. While burning the incense, keep an eye on your cat as well. If she shows symptoms of discomfort like sneezing or watery eyes, take your cat to another room or outdoors. 

Once you are done with the smudging ceremony, keep the windows open for a while and allow fresh air to enter. Make sure to wipe off any residue or ashes completely before your cat swallows or ingests it. If your cat ingests any of the residues, it is advised to take her to the vet at the earliest.

Things To Consider

If eaten by a cat, a small number of sage leaves is not that harmful or toxic but make sure that she does not eat a lot of them as it can cause problems. Exposure to smoke for an extended period can cause respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis in your feline. 

Thus, it is advised to burn sage or sage incense at an open place where the air can circulate easily without causing discomfort to your cat. Any kind of essential oil should be kept away from cats as it is highly toxic.