Kristen Leigh Bell is a certified aromatherapist who has a decade of experience with aromatherapy for cats. According to Bell, "Cats cannot tolerate or metabolize essential oils. Their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity or even death. Why can cats not tolerate the oils? There are several reasons. The major one is that they cannot metabolize them the way that dogs or humans can (they also cannot metabolize certain herbs or allopathic meds, either). This means that they are not efficiently excreted by the body and can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite, and lack of energy. The next one is that cats have very thin, delicate skin. This means that essential oils can be absorbed more rapidly into their skin and enter the bloodstream. Cats also dislike strong odors and generally keep away from strong scents—even highly diluted essential oils." Bell recommends hydrosols (which are by-products of the steam distillation process that produces essential oils) as a safer alternative. Bell’s company, Aromaleigh, offers Aromaleigh Feline Aromatherapy Flea Spritz, a pleasant-smelling flea spray made with hydrosols.
This scares me but it is from the Whole Cat Journal, which I respect. I have used some aromatherapy products around Hank but not on her, & I am grateful to have read this article before putting a new aromatherapy flea collar on her. I don't think they should be allowed to sell aromatherapy for cats if it is dangerous, but don't get me started on all the things marketed for pets that they shouldn't be getting....
FAQ 
Lavander 
: Together in Singapore 
