What to do if your pet ate it
Contact your vet or a poison line right away, report how much essential oils was eaten and your pet's weight, and keep any packaging or leftovers. Do not induce vomiting unless your vet tells you to.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Lethargy and weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Severe: tremors, breathing trouble, collapse
If your pet shows vomiting, lethargy or any unusual behaviour after eating essential oils, go to the nearest emergency vet immediately.
Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.
Other foods that are toxic or dangerous
The full A–Z food list groups every food by verdict for each species.
Frequently asked questions
Can cats eat essential oils?
NO — do not feed. Highly concentrated and toxic. Cats lack liver enzymes to metabolize them; dogs are also at high risk. Can cause vomiting, drooling, tremors, liver failure, or respiratory distress from ingestion or skin contact.
What if my cat already ate essential oils?
Call your vet or a poison line now with the amount of essential oils eaten and your cat's weight, and do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to. If essential oils was eaten and you then see vomiting, lethargy, tremors or breathing changes, go straight to the nearest emergency clinic.
Is there a safe amount of essential oils for cats?
There is no accepted safe dose of essential oils for cats; it is classed as toxic or dangerous, and reactions vary with the individual animal, so it is not something to feed at any amount.
How often can cats have essential oils?
essential oils is not something to feed at any interval; it stays off the menu entirely.
What are safer treats than essential oils for cats?
Pick from the safe list instead — Guava or Mulberry carry none of the risk that essential oils does, and they work better as an everyday treat.