Is Patchouli Oil Safe For Cats – Health Concerns & Facts

Many people love using essential oils around their homes, and the patchouli scent is a popular choice. However, cat owners must be aware of how those scents and oils can affect their cats overall health. So, is Patchouli oil safe for cats?

Patchouli oil is not safe for cats. This essential oil is toxic to cats in high amounts. Patchouli oil can cause problems such as liver damage, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures.

Here we will be explaining everything that cat owners need to know about having patchouli oil around cats. 

Does Patchouli Affect Cats

Patchouli oil can be toxic to cats, affecting them when they are exposed to high amounts of it. This can be by a cat licking it, inhaling it from a diffuser, or even by having it applied to their skin.

The main way that patchouli oil can affect cats is by poisoning. As a result, if your cat shows signs of essential oil poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhea, stumbling, or shaking, you should take them to the vet immediately. We will go into more detail into the symptoms of essential oil poisoning in cats later in this article. 

Is Patchouli Oil Safe To Diffuse Around Cats

No, it is not safe to diffuse patchouli oil around cats. This is because patchouli oil can be toxic to cats, and diffusers put a lot of essential oils into the air. This means that diffusing patchouli oil can quickly become dangerous to our feline friends. This is especially true when you consider that you cannot exactly regulate how much of the patchouli oil that your cat is inhaling when using an essential oil diffuser. 

Can I Use A Diffuser Around My Cat

You can use a diffuser around your cat when using an essential oil that is not toxic to cats. Still, we recommend only using pure essential oils that are non-toxic to cats when using an essential oil diffuser. In addition to this, we recommend using a reed diffuser for your essential oils because it does not push a lot of essential oils into the air at once.

Rather, reed diffusers let the essential oils evaporate into the air naturally. Although reed diffusers are much safer for cats than some other essential oil diffuser types, we recommend keeping your reed diffuser out of reach to your cat so they do not lick it up or spill the essential oil onto them. 

What Essential Oils Are Toxic To Cats

There is a long list of essential oils that are toxic to cats. In addition to Patchouli oil being potentially toxic for your furry friend, the following essential oils can be particularly dangerous and toxic to cats. 

● Lavender oil 

● Citrus essential oils (lemon, lime, orange, etc.) 

● Grapefruit essential oils 

● Clove oil 

● Cinnamon oil 

● Eucalyptus oil 

● Birch oil 

● Pine oil 

● Peppermint oil 

● Spruce oil 

● Tea tree oil 

● Wintergreen oil 

● Pennyroyal oil 

● Ylang-ylang oil 

● Thyme oil 

● Basil oil 

It is important to note that more essential oils could potentially be toxic to cats that are not listed on the above list. As a result, you should always research the specific essential oil that you would like to use before using them if you have pets. 

Which Essential Oils Are Safe To Use Around Cats

Lucky for those cat owners who enjoy essential oils, a few essential oils are much safer for cats than patchouli oil. Of course, it is always best to get the following essential oils in their purest form possible. This will prevent other ingredients that could potentially harm your cat from being in the mixture. These cat safe essential oils include: 

● Cedarwood oil 

● Valerian oil 

● Copaiba oil 

● Frankincense oil 

● Helichrysum oil 

It is important to note that you should never place these essential oils onto your cat, even though they are largely considered to be non-toxic to them. This is because your cat is still very likely to get sick if they ingest the above essential oils. As a result, you should also always be careful about keeping these essential oils out of reach of your cat at all times. 

What Are Symptoms Of Essential Oil Poisoning In Cats

All cat owners must know the symptoms of essential oil poisoning in cats. This is especially true for cat owners that are also avid essential oil users, even if they only try to use cat-safe essential oils. Here are some of the most common symptoms of essential oil poisoning in cats: 

● Vomiting and diarrhea 

● Drooling 

● Having difficulty walking (may appear wobbly, shaky, or trip easily) 

● Signs of shock-like low body heat, lower heart rate, and breathing difficulties

● Shaking and trembling 

● Signs of liver failure (such as a yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice) 

● Seizures and paralysis

Due to the extreme severity and life-threatening nature of essential oil poisoning in cats, you should immediately take them to the vet if you suspect that they have ingested any essential oil. Similarly, you should take your cat to the vet right away if you suspect that they may be experiencing essential oil poisoning, even if it is in the early stages and you are not exactly sure of their condition. 

Things To Consider 

There are some additional things to consider when it comes to patchouli oil is safe for cats. These include whether or not it is safe to apply essential oils onto your cat, how to use essential oils safely around your cat, and if it is safe to use other scent emitting products around your cat. Here are some things to consider about if patchouli oil is safe around cats. 

Is It Safe To Apply Essential Oils On Your Cat

It is never safe to apply any essential oils to your cat. This is because cats often lick themselves as a way of self-grooming, and your cat is likely going to try and lick the essential oils off of their fur as soon as you put it on them. Even if the essential oil has been deemed non-toxic to cats, ingesting the oils can still make your cat very ill. 

How To Use Essential Oils Safely Around Your Cat

If you are a cat owner and still want to use essential oils, then there are some ways that you can do this safely. Of course, we recommend only using high-quality essential oils that are considered to be non-toxic to cats.

This will prevent essential oil poisoning. In addition to this, we recommend only using passive essential oil diffusers to prevent a lot of essential oils from being pushed into the air all at once. Of course, you should never put essential oils onto your cat directly or let them ingest it to prevent your cat from getting sick. 

Is It Safe To Use Candles And Other Kinds Of Scent Emitting Products Around Cats

Most of the time, candles and natural air fresheners are much safer to use around cats than essential oils are. Of course, the more natural the product, the less likely your cat is to be irritated by these scent emitting products. The smoke can be a big irritant to cats when it comes to using incense, so it is probably best to only use incense in a well-ventilated area if you have pets.