Is Lavender Safe for Cats?
Lavender is one of the most soothing scents out there. While the flowers are beautiful and make for perfect curb appeal, lavender oil can often be found in natural remedy sleep aids, soaps, and candles.
However, if you have a cat, you should be wary of having lavender in easy access to them. Lavender is mildly toxic to cats. While it is not typically fatal, it can cause health issues for them.
Is Lavender Toxic For Cats?
While it is not deadly, lavender is toxic for cats.
Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which cats cannot process in their livers. This means that consuming too much lavender can lead to liver damage. But the amount that most cats would need to consume in order to damage their livers is more than what a cat would ever reasonably eat at a single time.
That is, unless you are interested in natural remedies. Some pet owners who are unaware of lavender’s toxicity will give their cats home remedies that contain lavender oil or lavender essential oil. Or a cat can be constantly exposed to lavender through a human’s oil diffuser.
Either way, lavender oil contains a higher concentration of linalool and linalyl acetate than the purple flowers themselves. Continuous consumption of lavender oil through natural remedies and scent diffusers can lead to your cat consuming dangerous levels of linalool and linalyl acetate.
For example, exposure to these high levels through a scent diffuser can have severe effects on your cat not seen in other forms of lavender, such as asthma or other breathing problems.
Continuous consumption of lavender oil can also lead to mouth irritation, along with other signs of lavender toxicity.
If your cat just eats your lavender while exploring your garden through a cat door, you don’t have to worry as much. In most cases, your cat will only eat enough to cause a belly ache.
Nonetheless, it’s best to keep all lavender out of your cat’s reach.
While removing the lavender from your garden, be sure to also check to see what other plants are toxic for your pets.
Symptoms of Lavender Poisoning In Cats
Lavender poisoning can cause more than just a belly ache for your cat.
Beyond gastrointestinal issues, lavender toxicity can cause:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
If you noticed any of these symptoms in your cat, please take your cat to the veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
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Pets: I have a fluffy, 14 year old chow-collie mix with red fur named Rosso. He's very stubborn and has the standoffish personality of a cat.
Fun stuff: I am a hot chocolate connoisseur.
