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Is diluted peppermint oil spider spray safe for cats indoors?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Longhair | Male | 17 lbs

Would it be ok to use 10 drops of essential peppermint oil per 16oz of water to spray windows in and around my home to get rid of spiders? I have 2 cats a 4 year old and a 19 year old, I don’t want them to have a reaction to it.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 20th, 2019

Hello. Most recipes I have seen recommend using 5 drops of peppermint oil to 16 oz water & a dash of soap, so check to make sure 10 drops will not be too strong for you. Just fill the bottle 1/2 way, add the 10 drops & see how it smells. If too strong, just fill the bottle the rest of the way with water. I do not think this will be a problem to any of your cats as long as the spray has a chance to dry before letting your cats back into the room. You can use the stronger dilution outdoors with no issues, but indoors, check to see how your cats react in just one area after the spray has dried. It cannot harm them once dry, but you certainly do not want anyone licking up any drips. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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