Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets, Including Cats, Dogs?

Is peppermint oil bad for cats? Is eucalyptus oil bad for dogs? 

These are good questions to ask. Even natural products can be dangerous sometimes, and what is helpful to you might hurt your pets.

As a counselor who believes in treating mental health holistically, I've researched aromatherapy for improving mood and compiled a list of essential oils for calming stress and anxiety, and improving sleep.

Until someone pointed it out to me, I hadn't realized that some of the oils on my calming list can be toxic to cats. That motivated me to learn more about veterinarians' recommendations for the safe use of essential oils around the most common pets. 

Is Essential Oil Diffusion Safe Around Cats and Dogs? What About Applying Essential Oils on Pets?

First: NEVER apply high-concentration essential oils to pets (or to yourself for that matter). Essential oils are meant to be diluted before use. 

Some essential oils are harmful to pets, such as cats and dogs, when

• inhaled (e.g., from diffusers and candles),
• absorbed through the skin, or
• ingested (including secondary exposure to pets licking oils on your skin, or that you might leave on their fur when petting them).

Why Are Cats More Sensitive to Essential Oils?

This is from the Pet Poison Helpline:

"Cats are especially at risk from essential oils. They lack an essential enzyme in their liver making it difficult to metabolize and eliminate essential oils. Their natural grooming behavior also places them at further risk for both dermal and oral exposures.

Dogs do not have the same enzyme deficiency as cats; however, they can still be at risk from exposure to essential oils."

Which Essential Oils Should Be Avoided for Cats?

I haven't found lists of essential oils that are safe for cats, but there are lists of which oils to avoid, even in diluted applications.

The Pet Poison Helpline's list of essential oils to avoid around cats (Checked Dec 2025):

1. Wintergreen
2. Sweet Birch
3. Citrus Oil (Limonene)
4. Pine
5. Ylang Ylang
6. Peppermint
7. Cinnamon
8. Pennyroyal
9. Clove
10. Eucalyptus
11. Tea Tree (aka Melaleuca)

What Essential Oils Should Be Avoided for Dogs?

Similarly, I haven't found lists of essential oils declared safe for dogs, but there are lists of which oils to avoid.

The Pet Poison Helpline's list of essential oils to avoid around dogs (checked Dec 2025):

1. Wintergreen
2. Sweet birch
3. Pine
4. Cinnamon
5. Pennyroyal
6. Eucalyptus
7. Tea tree (aka Melaleuca)

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