Cats / Health
Eucalyptus shows up in Indian homes more often than owners realise, in Vicks style balms, room fresheners, potpourri, and increasingly as an ornamental plant. Nearly every form of it is unsafe for cat
Eucalyptus shows up in Indian homes more often than owners realise, in Vicks style balms, room fresheners, potpourri, and increasingly as an ornamental plant. Nearly every form of it is unsafe for cats.
Eucalyptus leaves and oil contain a compound called eucalyptol, along with other terpenes that a cat's liver cannot metabolise efficiently. Both the fresh plant and the concentrated oil found in balms, diffusers and cleaning products can cause poisoning, though the oil is considerably more concentrated and therefore more dangerous.
Many Indian households keep menthol and eucalyptus balms for colds within easy reach on a bedside table. A cat that walks across a table where such a balm was opened, or that licks a small amount off a person's skin while cuddling, can ingest enough to cause symptoms. Diffusers and vaporisers using eucalyptus oil should not be run in a room a cat cannot leave.
If you keep eucalyptus as a potted or dried ornamental plant, treat it the same as any other toxic houseplant and place it well out of reach.
Article content © S Vejay Anand. All rights reserved.
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