Cats / Health
Lavender's calming reputation has made it a popular addition to Indian homes, from potted plants on the balcony to diffusers and scented sachets in the wardrobe. For cats, however, lavender in concent
Lavender's calming reputation has made it a popular addition to Indian homes, from potted plants on the balcony to diffusers and scented sachets in the wardrobe. For cats, however, lavender in concentrated forms is genuinely toxic, even though the fresh plant itself poses a smaller risk.
A live lavender plant contains small amounts of linalool and linalyl acetate, compounds that a cat's liver struggles to break down. Nibbling a leaf or two from a potted plant is unlikely to cause more than mild stomach upset. The real danger comes from concentrated lavender essential oil, used in diffusers, room sprays, massage oils and some cleaning products, where the same compounds are present at far higher levels.
Cats lack sufficient levels of a liver enzyme called UGT that most mammals use to process plant compounds like those in lavender oil. This means the oil accumulates in a cat's system rather than being cleared efficiently, so what counts as a pleasant aromatherapy dose for a person can build up to a toxic level in a cat over repeated exposure.
A lavender plant kept out of chewing range on a windowsill is a reasonable risk for most households. Diffusing lavender oil is not, particularly in a closed room where a cat cannot leave. Never apply lavender oil directly to a cat's skin or fur, and keep bottles of the oil capped and stored well away from curious paws.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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