You could also add horse, cow, rabbit, donkey, goat….you get the idea! ;)
Before I started using pure therapeutic essential oils medicinally, I made up a recipe for a spray to use to keep my cats off our outdoor furniture. Learning that cats do not like the smell of rosemary and many do not like the smell of peppermint, I used my basic room spray recipe but blended those two essential oils as a repellent spray for my cats.
Does it work? Yep! It does for our cats. The only problem is that is does have to be reapplied weekly and when it rains, I have found you need to reapply. (Recipe further down.)
As my knowledge of using essential oils for my family grew, I began researching and learning about using them for our pets. You know the phrase, “There’s an oil for that!”? Well, it applies with pets as well.
There is much to learn but today I am only going to get started. I want give you more information in the future. I have a few books and several online sources where I have learned from holistic veterinarians.
First things first.
Safety Precautions.
• Cats are very sensitive to oils because of the way they metabolize and excrete substances from their bodies. This is because they lack glucuronyl transferase. This is important for the Cytochrome p450 liver metabolism pathway. This makes cats very susceptible to ALL kinds of toxicity, including plant, NSAIDS (like aspirin, ibuprofen and Tylenol), chocolate and caffeine (methylxanthines), lead, zinc, and many, many types of pesticides.
They are sensitive to oils high in the chemicals phenol and eugenol. One of my trusted reference books shows that the oils high in phenols are basil, birch, cinnamon, clove, fennel, melaleuca, oregano, peppermint, thyme, and wintergreen. Do not apply these essential oils topically or internally to cats.
• NEVER put essential oils directly in the eyes or ears of your dog or cat (or any animal or human). If an essential oil enters the eyes, immediately apply fractionated coconut oil or organic olive oil directly to the eyes. Do NOT rinse or flush the eyes with water as this will not remove the essential oil.
• Some oils are considered “hot” oils because they produce a warming sensation to the body that may cause sensitivity. Hot oils include cassia, cinnamon, clove, melaleuca, oregano, and thyme. Dilute these oils at first when applying them to dogs and with repeated use, the amount of dilution may decrease gradually. Do not use hot oils with cats unless it is an extreme situation or under the supervision of a veterinarian.
• Epileptic and seizure-prone pets are of special concern as are pets who have a bleeding disorder or difficulty with their blood clotting. Just like people, every animal is different and you should consult your veterinarian if you are concerned and get some bloodwork to ensure no underlying liver disease.
Basic Guidelines.
• Always use the highest quality essential oils when using them medicinally for your pet or yourself. After much research I decided to go with an oil company for my family (including furbabies) and am confident that I am getting 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils. You do not want to put an oil on your pet (or yourself or child) that has synthetic additives or preservatives or any other unknown ingredients. Adulteration of essential oils is rampant. One of the main objectives of using essential oils is to treat health issues naturally. If you are interested in ordering essential oils, then please email me for more information.
• Dilute, dilute, dilute! 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils are very concentrated. It is better to apply small amounts several times over a period of time rather than a lot of oil all at once.
It’s especially important to dilute essential oils for puppies and kittens just like you would with young children. The same goes with aging dogs and cats as well as pregnant pets. The essential oils that are safe during pregnancy with humans goes along with the ones safe for your pregnant pets. Also, you would not give a small breed dog the same amount of oil that you would with a large breed dog.
Good carrier oils to dilute include fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, and organic olive oil. Basically, any natural vegetable oil (this means single ingredient oils).
• Just like humans, there are three ways to use essential oils with your pets: topically, aromatically, and internally.
Apply to the fur after rubbing your hands together by petting your dog or cat. Let most of the oil absorb in your skin before using it on your cat. If you can smell it on them, then they received a sufficient dose. The back of the neck or back is the best place to put it topically.
Use a diffuser in the area your pet sleeps or lives to benefit them aromatically. The diffuser breaks the essential oil into very small particles, which enter the air and are inhaled. When diffusing for the first time, only do it for a short period (10-20 minutes) and observe your pet. If they show signs of discomfort or out of the ordinary, turn off the diffuser and air out the space.
Oils can be added to a dog’s drinking water to be taken orally but is discouraged for cats. Topical and aromatic uses are just as effective and is preferred.
Recipes.
Now to the part many of you may be scrolling down to find. ;) Today, I am sharing four recipes that we have tried. Two are my own and two are from a book I highly recommend, SpOil Your Pet, A Practical Guide to Using Essential Oils in Dogs and Cats by Mia K. Frezzo, DVM and Jan C. Jeremias, MSc.
Do you have outdoor cats? Do you have outdoor furniture? Did you know owning both is a faux pas? They don’t mix.
Oh, I have tried the things that are supposed to help keep those outdoor cushion-loving cats off of said cushions. Like the X mat? Not happening….my cats think it is their very own Chinese reflexology mat.
My husband loves our animals. He really does. But he seems to love his outdoor furniture
So I did what I always do when I don’t know the answer. I Google.
In my research I found that cats do not like rosemary. Often people plant rosemary in their flowerbeds to keep the cats from using them as litter boxes. I also learned most do not like peppermint.
Therefore the Cat Repellent Spray was invented!! Look what happens when the furniture has been sprayed.
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| BEFORE Cat Repellent Spray. "I love this mat, Mom!" |
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| After: "Really, Mom?" |
But after applying my cat deterrent spray....does Gaby look happy now? Ha ha. No way!
Cat Repellent Spray
1 cup water
1-2 teaspoons witch hazel (or rubbing alcohol but remember while this is diluted, it will be touching fabric)
15 drops rosemary essential oil
15 drops peppermint essential oil
In a glass spray bottle, mix water and witch hazel. Add essential oils. Shake to blend.
The Cat Repellent Spray has a higher concentration of essential oils than my usual Room Alternative Spray for more oomph! Remember what I said at the first of this post how you will need to spray this once a week or after a rain for it to work.
There are things marketed for dog owners that I never knew existed or was sold until we got Jax. Having a dog for the first time is like having a baby for the first time in the respect that there are things you need and there are things you think you need.
One such thing is dog deodorizing spray sold as dog perfume/cologne, freshening spray, or odor spray. Now why would you NEED such a thing? We have all heard the expression, “smell like a dog.” No one wants their dog to smell like a dog (which usually happens when they get wet or haven’t been bathed in a couple of weeks or both).
With Jax having weekly training classes, a weekly bath is not in my schedule so in between his every two or three week baths, I have been using my own “Doggie Deodorizer Spray.” All natural. Of course.
Dog Deodorizer Spray
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops wild orange essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
2 cups distilled water
¼ cup witch hazel
Mix essential oils with witch hazel in a 24 ounce spray bottle. Add water. Spritz a few times on your stinky pooch or to freshen him/her up before running errands.
The following two recipes are from the book I mentioned above. The first is a simple litter box powder which is a great way to treat your cat if it has a health issue or just to freshen the litter box. Try adding SAFE essential oils that will help any health issue it is having. They will benefit aromatically when they use their litter box and they will also will benefit topically as their little paws touch the powder infused with essential oils.
Litter Box Powder
1-2 drops essential oil (digestive blend, lavender, lemongrass, orange, etc.)
1 cup baking soda
Add the essential oils to the baking soda and allow the mixture to rest overnight in a glass jar. Daily add 1 tablespoon of the mixture to the litter box.
Soothing Skin Shampoo
3 ounces Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap (unscented is best like this)
2 ounces Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother (organic, unfiltered, and unpasteurized like this)
1 ounce vegetable glycerin
2 ounces distilled water
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops Roman chamomile essential oil
Mix all ingredients together and use to bathe your dog (and cat if it lets you!) routinely.
There is so much more to share on using essential oils with your pets just as there is with us humans. Use the guidelines above to get started!
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