What is Lavender Poisoning?
While a lavender plant itself isn’t toxic to your cat, formulations from the plant can be. Your cat can eat a lot of lavender and may suffer only an upset stomach, but on the other hand, lavender essential oil can be deadly for your pet because of its concentration. A cat’s liver lacks several specific enzymes that helps it to safely process the volatile compounds in essential oils, so these should be kept far away from your cat.
Lavender Poisoning Average Cost
From 235 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
$250
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Symptoms of Lavender Poisoning in Cats
If your cat has gotten into a lavender plant and eaten a large quantity, you’ll notice the following symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Lavender essential oils can easily be absorbed through your cat’s respiratory system, where they then move into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, they move into the cat’s liver. Your cat’s skin is delicate and thin, so rubbing a “soothing” blend of lavender oil that hasn’t been diluted with a carrier oil can lead to liver problems for your cat, as well as chemical burns. Likewise, liquid potpourris contain cationic agents and essential oils. which can burn your cat’s skin and mouth. Ingestion of these oils can cause:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Uncoordinated gait
- Lethargy and weakness
- Pawing at face and mouth
- Muscle tremors
- Redness and/or erosions on lips, skin, gums and tongue
Causes of Lavender Poisoning in Cats
Your cat’s liver lacks several specific enzymes that allows it to break down certain substances, including the components of essential oils and liquid potpourri.
The lavender plant itself contains linalyl acetate and linalool. These substances can cause gastrointestinal upset in your cat. Even a diluted massage oil can lead to a mildly upset stomach, so try to avoid letting your cat get into lavender plants or anything that has been made from lavender.
Your cat needs attention, play sessions and the chance to safely explore its environment every day. If it doesn’t get these opportunities, it will become bored and get into situations that can make it sick.
Diagnosis of Lavender Poisoning in Cats
When you realize your cat has gotten into some form of lavender, call the vet, even if it hasn’t become symptomatic. If you believe it has gotten into your potpourri or essential oils, do not make your pet vomit, as the ingredients can burn its digestive tract. Instead, put the lavender, potpourri or essential oil into a sealed plastic bag and give these to your vet for examination and testing.
Your vet will give your cat a full physical exam, which includes a urinalysis and blood work. These will tell the vet just how the lavender and related products are affecting your cat, so they can devise the most appropriate treatment plan. Specifically, the vet will look for signs of liver or kidney damage.
Treatment of Lavender Poisoning in Cats
Once your vet knows just how badly affected your cat is by the lavender it ingested, they will be able to order the most appropriate treatments, which include supportive IV fluids (to rehydrate your cat, eliminate toxins and support their liver and kidneys). If your cat has suffered chemical burns from eating potpourri or a lavender essential oil, it may not be able to eat normally. In cases like this, your vet will insert a feeding tube into your cat’s stomach so it can get nutrition this way until the burns have healed.
Your vet will also give an anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medication to your cat, along with medications that coat and protect the stomach. If your cat is in pain from its poisoning or from chemical burns, it will receive pain medications appropriate for cats, as well as antibiotics. To prevent liver damage, your vet will also give medication to it that helps to protect its liver.
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Recovery of Lavender Poisoning in Cats
Your cat can recover from lavender poisoning as long it receives veterinary care as quickly as possible. It can recover from chemical burns it may have suffered after licking up an essential oil or potpourri. If you massaged an essential oil into its skin, thinking to help it relax, it will also recover from the injuries to its skin with the right treatment.
Before your cat comes home, remove all essential oils and potpourri products, or keep them in an area where it can’t get to them. Before you massage any essential oils into your cat’s fur, ask your vet if it is safe to do so.
If your cat ate from a lavender plant and you don’t want it to do so in the future, remove it or place it where your cat can’t get to it. Give it the chance to nibble at “cat-friendly” grasses instead.
Lavender Poisoning Average Cost
From 235 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
$250
Top
Lavender Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
tabby
Bubba
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None Yet
Hello, my wife and I are watching my parents cat and she though lavender oil would help him relax a bit. I told her I wanted to look up if it was a good idea first but she did it before I read that it wasn’t a good idea to do. She diluted it with coconut oil and put it on the top of his neck mostly in the fur and now I’m concerned. The lavender mix doesn’t seem to be overly strong to me but to the cat it might be. He is acting normal now but I’m not sure if we should bathe him to be safe?
June 10, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Any concentrated oils that are applied to the skin of a cat or dog can be quite irritating. It would probably be best to wash the oil off.
June 10, 2018
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Short haired calico
Snicker
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None So Far
My cat ate some epsom salt that contains “lavandula hybrida oil”. I don’t think she got a lot of it and she seems to be acting normal it but only happened a few minutes ago.
June 8, 2018
0 Recommendations
You should keep a close eye on Snicker for the time being as the salt may also cause trouble as well, if Snicker starts to drink a lot you should restrict access to water; if any other symptoms develop you should visit your Veterinarian to be on the safe side. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 8, 2018
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American Shorthair
Nora
4 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
No Symptoms Yet
My cat was accidentally sprayed with a bottle of essential oils included lavender, tea tree and lemon diluted with vinegar and water. It got mostly on her back and I used baby wipes to try to clean her up but I am still concerned about it absorbing through her skin and in her digestive system when she licks herself. She has no symptoms yet. What should I do?
June 5, 2018
1 Recommendations
You should bathe Nora with a mild dish soap like Dawn which will help break down the oils and then repeat with a regular feline shampoo; lavender, tea tree oil and lemons are all toxic to cats. You should visit your Veterinarian if any symptoms present. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 5, 2018
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Lynx Point Siamese
Luna
3 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Slight Heaving
I had lavender essential oil on my hands from working with it. I then pet my cat on her back. I wondered all of a sudden if lavender essential oil isn’t good for cats. Once I looked into it, I was able to wash my hands and give her a hypoallergenic bath within ten minutes. I tried to stop her as I was preparing the bath, but I saw her bath herself a little bit before hand. So I know she must have consumed a little bit. She seemed to try to heave a few times, but didn’t actually throw up. Otherwise no other symptoms so far. What should I do?
May 23, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Since you washed the oil off and it seems that it was a small amount, she should be fine, but if she continues to dry heave or vomit, it would be a good idea to have her seen by your veterinarian.
May 23, 2018
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short-hair
Buster
8 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None At Present
My husband burnt his finger and had a drop of lavender oil on his finger to help it heal. Our curious 8 month old kitten walked up and sniffed/touched the area with lavender and then licked his nose. I then remembered essential oils are not good for cats. We wiped his nose and surrounding face with water. Husband does not think that the kitten has ingested much. Checked his mouth for burns and no evidence. Kitten is happy in his self. Any suggestions?
May 19, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Lavendar oil can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues in cats if any droplets are inhaled. Since Buster's exposure was so minimal, he should be fine, but it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on him for the next few days for any signs of skin irritation or redness, or any problems breathing, and have him seen by a veterinarian if any of these things occur.
May 19, 2018
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white
Snowflake
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
Vomiting
I need help, I m financially struggling and I have a mental illness and my cat she’s been my best friend and I did not mean to hurt her and I feel awful, I diluted a drop of lavender and poured coconut oil and water with it and soaked the collar and she s licked her collar and I was unaware that the poison could go through the skin and I was unaware that lavender essential oil is bad for cats as my auntie use to use on her cat. She has puked up once today and the puke was runny, did not smell like lavender oil, I washed her this morning
I don’t know what to do because I can’t afford the vet costs, I live in Western Australia Perth.
Calico
Chloe
16 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Hi, I have a female cat, 16 yrs old. It seems that she is vomiting more in the past couple of years, sometimes food, mostly water. I was reading about Lavendar oil and am curious if the Wall Plugins from Bath and Body Works, would affect her at all?? I use the lavendar/vanilla ones. If so, I'm trading in a bunch I just bought. I won't knowingly hurt her.
Help?
Lavender Poisoning Average Cost
From 235 quotes ranging from $200 - $500
Average Cost
$250
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
