Safe For Use Around Cats - Essential Oil Diffusers?

dkb817

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My previous cat never showed any issue with the use of plug-in air fresheners or essential oil diffusers - but I know that a lot of reports and research has come out over the past few years, so I'm much more hesitant to use any sort of plug-in air fresheners or anything, at least in the room where my Simon spends the vast majority of his time.

I'm craving something to help this room smell better, though (and I seem to be sensitive to most spray air fresheners and wind up with migraines). I wanted to go back to using an essential oil diffuser (the kind where you add a few drops of oil to the water), but again, I'm concerned about the safety.

What are y'alls thoughts on the use of essential oil diffusers? Are they safe? What scents would be safe?
 
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tabbytom

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What are y'alls thoughts on the use of essential oil diffusers? Are they safe? What scents would be safe?
Essential oils or salt lamps or diffusers with essential oils are not a good idea with cats. Fumes from essential oils are harmful and if soaked by the skin, the liver won't be able to handle it and cats groom themselves all the time and you never know when and where thy pick up the oils.

Better be safe than sorry.

Here're some threads on it :

essential-oils-and-cats.326833

question-regarding-essential-oils.381357

can-essential-oils-kill-my-cats.344618
 

Kflowers

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Cleaning the room with soap and water followed by a white vinegar rinse and opening the windows regularly should give you the fresh scent you are looking for. Air fresheners and oils only cover up the causes of mustiness and stuffiness, they don't take care of it so you are breathing in the oils AND the mustiness.

While cleaning look behind bookcases and chests of drawers. Also look on the underside of bookshelves and drawers. Behind clothes hanging in the closet and on closet shelves. You are looking for the first hints of mold. A good vinegar scrub will help with that too.
 

mayabear

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Cleaning the room with soap and water followed by a white vinegar rinse and opening the windows regularly should give you the fresh scent you are looking for. Air fresheners and oils only cover up the causes of mustiness and stuffiness, they don't take care of it so you are breathing in the oils AND the mustiness.

While cleaning look behind bookcases and chests of drawers. Also look on the underside of bookshelves and drawers. Behind clothes hanging in the closet and on closet shelves. You are looking for the first hints of mold. A good vinegar scrub will help with that too.
What about vinegar spray with a few drops of essential oils? I usually add a little lemon OE to the vinegar/water spray when cleaning because it has antibacterial qualities. Sometimes I will add lavender or peppermint to make it smell better. Not overpowering but just a little. I usually do a plain water rinse after.
 
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