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Is it safe to diffuse essential oils around my cats and dogs?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Russian Blue | Male | neutered

We diffuse essentials oil. Is that ok with cats and dogs?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 8th, 2017

It really depends on the product and the concentration. The truth is that there is little known about the safety of these products, because the companies have not adequately tested their products with animals. There are some essential oil diffusers like lavender that have been known to cause respiratory and skin problems. In general, dogs and cats are going to be more sensitive to the smell of these products than humans, so it may be at-least displeasing to them. Cats are more sensitive than dogs, so they will likely serve as the sentinel. If you are already using the oils and not noticing any problems, then they are likely OK; but no one really knows for sure. If you notice an increase in sneezing, coughing, or skin problems, then it would be wise to remove the diffuser. I hope that helps and all is well for your pets.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Amber Da Silva, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 10th, 2018

    Essential oils have not been widely studied in animals, so it isn't really known how beneficial or harmful they are to pets. Because they are very potent, there is a potential that they can cause irritation to the skin (if contacted) and respiratory tract (if inhaled). Cats tend to be more sensitive to these effects than dogs. When you are using the diffuser, I would monitor closely for signs of distress such as more rapid or noisy breathing or especially breathing with her mouth open. If any of these signs or seen, I would discontinue immediately and contact your veterinarian. If you've been using oils for some time and haven't seen any ill effects then it is probably just fine to continue.

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    28Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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