The dangers of lavender for cats

Question

The article addresses concerning questions on whether lavender essential oil is safe for cats, along with other uses of lavender. The conclusion was that any strain would be best kept away from the cats, since if digested, the cats would not have the proper immune system to combat the concentration.

Answer 1

While the claim from the original article is correct the title is semi misleading. This is because the actual flower is not the danger but the essential oil is the problem. In the FAQ section of the original article it says, "Fresh lavender is not toxic to felines, only the essential oils derived from the plants are.". This shows that while yes the essential oil needs to be kept away the actual plant is okay.

Comments

I agree that lavender essential oil is more intense than the actual plant, but it still isn't okay if the cat consumed actual lavender plants since it contains the same toxins.
in the article of "Lavender Poisoning for Cats" it says, The lavender plant itself contains linalyl acetate and linalool. These substances can cause gastrointestinal upset in your cat. Even a diluted massage oil can lead to a mildly upset stomach, so try to avoid letting your cat get into lavender plants or anything that has been made from lavender."
So just to be safe, you should just get rid of Lavender as a whole if you own a cat.

Answer 2

The claim of the article, that lavender is unsafe for cats, is correct. However, it is a bit misleading and exaggerated. The article makes generalizations that contradict itself, such as claiming that any amount of lavender can be dangerous to cats. However, the central evidence of this is based purely on the effect that highly concentrated ("500 to 2,000 times stronger than the original plant") lavender essential oils have on cats. As this article is primarily focused on the harmful effects of essential oils, additional info about the plant itself can be misleading and can confuse the reader that it should be avoided as much as its essential oil form.

Comments

It maybe be a little misleading/ exaggerating when it comes to the hazardness of all Lavender. In one article, I read that "Lavender essential oils can easily be absorbed through your cat’s respiratory system, where they then move into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, they move into the cat’s liver. Your cat’s skin is delicate and thin, so rubbing a “soothing” blend of lavender oil that hasn’t been diluted with a carrier oil can lead to liver problems for your cat, as well as chemical burns. Likewise, liquid potpourris contain cationic agents and essential oils. which can burn your cat’s skin and mouth." I know this is talking more about lavender oils, because it is easier to be consumed into the skin rather than the actual plant. But if a cat got into the plants of lavender, these sympotoms could also occur if they ate a big amount.

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Answer 3

Agreed. Lavender is toxic for cats. While reading the article "Is Lavender Safe for Cats?",

It says, "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."

However, the amount cats would need to consume in order for it to actually damage their livers is a way more than they would ever consume. The worst it might get once they consume it is a bellyache.

Also, cats may have already been consuming lavender without the owner's knowledge due to oil diffusers, candles, or lavender anything in the house or room. While it is toxic for cats, there are early on symptoms to help you get to the root cause if they did consume it like vommitting, nausea, and loss of appetite.

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