Question

Lavender is not safe for cats, after reading this source carefully and following its data points, I have found that this claim is a true statement. Lavender is found to have really harsh chemicals, including linalool and linalyl acetate, which can harm cats' livers. In this article, they cite evidence from the ASPCA, and after researching this website, I found that this is a very well-researched position control center. I also found from both websites that cats can be exposed to the lavender plant, but under no circumstances can they eat it. Cats are not very likely to die, but they will be in serious harm. This source is filled with a lot of good information and has clearly valid sources. This sources claims to be "vet reviewd and pet approved" which is another valid form of verification.  Since they clearly have the same information as the poison control center, this website information is valid.

Answer 1

In this Fact Check the author's main claim is that: Lavender is not safe for Cats. 

The article mainly used for this claim is: https://www.thesprucepets.com/is-lavender-safe-for-cats-7602701 

This article uses the websites listed below in arguing the negative effects of lavender for cats. It states that while lavender is used for many aroma therapy calming properties for humans, for cats this is not the case. Due to the chemicals such as Linalool and Linalyl acetate within lavender it can, “irritate the skin, eyes, mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal tract in cats, along with potential liver damage” (Stregowski). Although not deadly upon ingestion or exposure, this plant can cause veterinary attention needed for cats due to its unhealthy components, deeming it unsafe for cats. 

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lavender 

http://www.mcconnellsburgvet.com/the-science-behind-cats-and-essential-oils 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/health-benefits-of-lavender 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9334771/ 

After looking more into this topic as well as researching similar articles, I can conclude lavender is unsafe for cats. The article used in this claim uses reliable sources in their article to back up factual components that come into play regarding lavender and cats. While conducting research on this I found a similar article.

https://www.gardenia.net/guide/is-lavender-safe-for-cats 

Most articles reference back to the ASPCA, in regards to if something is unhealthy for an animal. The ASPCA stands for American Society for the Preventions of Cruelty to Animals. This is a non-profit organization that looks out for the wellbeing of animals and is used as a central hub of information. It states that lavender is toxic to dogs, cats and horses, due to linalool, and linalyl acetate. Signs that show an animal is being affected by this plant can be nausea, vomiting, and inappetance (ASPCA).

So in conclusion this article and its claim is legitimate due to its factual information, and reliable sources that back it up. 

Answer 2

the article: https://www.thesprucepets.com/is-lavender-safe-for-cats-7602701 from the claim states why lavender isnt safe for cats. the article gets a lot of information from the ASPCA which is a well known website for animals including cats and dogs. this article specifies the reasons and chemicals, like linalool and linalyl acetate, that make lavender unsafe for cats specifically. the article also provides other lavender like items such as essential oil not being safe for cats either. it tells us that it's not just the plant, but anything lavender related is not safe. 

I also looked at the article: https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/lavender-poisoning-1 which is another website for household pets like cats, and it states why lavender should not be near cats at all. Both articles are reviewed by veterinarians/ doctors, showing the credentials accredited to both websites. After looking at a few websites for the claim "lavender is not safe for cats" i can agree that it's not safe and that cats should never be around lavender, the resources and information provided prove the claim to be factual correct. 

Answer 3

This statement is true. Looking at the sources that support this article all data is pulled from ASPCA which is a government source. ASPCA states that lavender isn’t deadly but has a toxin and if exposed cats will lead to irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucus membrane. Irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes is classified as being harmful thus this statement must be true.  

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lavender 

Comments

I like your explanation, you used a good source and you explained the information well. I would like to point out that it would be helpful to use more that one source to back up your research. It would also further prove your point to talk about what this source his and why it is reliable.

Answer 4

I believe the fact that "Lavender is not safe for cats" is true. When looking further into the article https://www.thesprucepets.com/is-lavender-safe-for-cats-7602701 , which was mentioned above, I found that the chemical linalool and linalyl acetate both can cause negative impacts on cats, ultimately causing liver damage. I found these chemicals to be mentioned on multiple other sights that addressed the same issue. The repetition of this chemical and its harmful effects leads me to believe that this fact is true.The article above gets its information from ASPCA which is a trusted organization that's committed to preventing animal cruelty.

https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/lavender-poisoning-1 

https://www.dutch.com/blogs/cats/is-lavender-safe-for-cats?srsltid=AfmBOorTc6XeWmhQKhwJlCgK3F_YpXwm9bEUr1Wivm2v099V3Eax31NF  

These resources seem to be reliable as they provide context for many different scenarios regarding cats and lavender as well as reasoning for the different impacts. 

I also found additional articles including https://enduraflap.com/blogs/pet-doors/is-lavender-safe-for-cats#:~:text=While%20it%20is%20not%20deadly,can%20lead%20to%20liver%20damage. That states the same ideas. In this article it also claiming that the typical amount of lavender a cat would be around and eat is luckily not enough to fully damage their liver. This is an encouraging fact, but in the end it is still true that lavender can harm your cat.

Answer 5

The claim that lavender is not safe for cats is true. In the article from The Spruce Pets, author Jenn Stregowski states that lavender exposure can be harmful to cats. To support her claim, Stregowski references the ASPCA Poison Control Center. Through research I found that this is a reputable non-profit organization. The ASPCA's website states that because lavender contains linlool and linalyl acetate, it is toxic to cats. This is because these chemicals can not be digested by cats and can cause nausea and vomiting. I looked into this a bit further to make sure these facts were true, and the articles I found seemed consistent and reliable with the ASPCA acting as a main source on this topic. After investigating this topic, it is clear that this claim is supported by reliable sources, and that lavender is in fact not safe for cats.

Answer 6

Jenna Stregowski is a veterinary technician with over 20 years of experience and she contributed expert content to The Spruce Pets for over 10 years. The information that lavender is toxic is written in ASPCA, which is an organization-led site. The symptoms of Lavender toxicity match up to the ones in other articles, with them being coughing, vomiting, skin irritation, etc. The author uses authenticated government-led sites such as the National Library of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic. In summary, this article was written by a knowledgeable experienced veterinarian, as most information she provided lines up with what other articles say. Stregowski not only explains how lavender hurts cats scientifically but also explains what symptoms to look out for and what replacements to use instead. Here are other articles that make the same point:

https://www.freshwaveworks.com/blogs/tips-how-to-use/are-lavender-air-fresheners-safe-for-cats#:~:text=lavender%20and%20cats.-,Is%20Lavender%20Safe%20for%20Cats%3F,lavender%3A%20linalool%20and%20linalyl%20acetate.

https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/lavender-poisoning-1

Answer 7

The claim from the original article supports the idea lavender oil is extremely toxic for cats. It is slightly misleading because it conveys the idea that the lavender plant in particular as a whole is toxic as well. Cats seem to have a slight tolerance to the lavender plant itself but lavender essential oil is extremely toxic to felines. An article by Wag! states, “While a lavender plant itself isn’t toxic to your cat, formulations from the plant can be. Your cat can eat a lot of lavender and may suffer only an upset stomach, but on the other hand, lavender essential oil can be deadly for your pet because of its concentration. A cat’s liver lacks several specific enzymes that helps it to safely process the volatile compounds in essential oils, so these should be kept far away from your cat.” The best course of action is to avoid having any type of lavender essential oil around your cat and to be cautious with the lavender plant as well. https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/lavender-poisoning-1