Can I use peppermint/rosemary shampoo if my cat nuzzles my hair?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As long as your cat doesn't eat/drink an excessive amount of this shampoo, she should be just fine. And as long as you didn't get any into her eyes, she should be OK. In the future, it is not recommended to use human shampoos on animals - there are special animal shampoos that are not as irritating if gotten into the eyes, and nontoxic if consumed. I recommend monitoring for any vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, or any neurologic signs such as tremors or seizures. These could indicate a toxicity. If she is squinting her eyes, this could mean you got shampoo in her eyes and caused damage to her corneas. If you see any of these signs, she should be seen by a veterinarian right away. I hope this is helpful!

I did research the name, and I could not find any information about it being toxic to cats. I suspect that if it was causing problems, it would have come up on my veterinary database. However, I am not a big fan of essential oils in cats. They do not tolerate them as well as dogs do. So, I would not use it again in my cats to be on the safe side. I think that they are going to be just fine. If they did start to show irritation - you will need to bathe in Dawn dish soap to get the oil off. I don't expect it at all, but just wanted to let you know what to use if they did get irritated. Good luck! Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Cats are especially sensitive to peppermint oil, and if ingested, it can caused GI upset, central nervous system depression, and even liver damage if enough is ingested. I would not allow Kiki in your room at all at the moment, and to be safe, I would wash your bedding before allowing her back in. In the future, refrain from using peppermint oil.

In general I would keep cats away from all chemicals and not let them lick you or the chemical off you. It is a good idea to do as you are, washing your hands well and drying them after the use of rogaine, And it is also good of you to wait until it is dry and you can rinse it out. For the time you have the rogaine in your hair, just do not let the kitties get near your hair. Unfortunately, cats lack the specific enzyme necessary to break down Minoxidil making them more susceptible to toxicity than dogs. Minoxidil® exposure can result in lethargy, hypotension, pulmonary edema, damage to the heart muscle and death from cardiac failure. However, if you handle the use like you have been there should be no problem.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for your kitty! Ingesting a small amount of shampoo (provided it isnt' a medicated kind) would not be likely to cause any poisoning/toxicity in your kitty, but could cause some stomach upset. I would just recommend monitoring her appetite and energy level and watching for vomiting. If you notice changes in these then a visit to your vet is recommended.

Unfortunately, peppermint does bother cats, and poses a significant health risk to them as well. They are very sensitive to it, and it can cause harmful effects to the GI system, central nervous system, and liver. I would not allow them to sleep on your bed until the smell of the oil is absorbed. I don't know if you can try to steam clean the box spring to get it out, but if you can, I would recommend doing that.

The biggest problem with essential oils is not the smell, but when the oil gets onto the cat and they lick it off. This can happen when the oil is aerosolized or if it is sprayed or poured and the cat walks through it since they will then lick their paws. So, if you have sprayed or poured the peppermint oil in an area that Luna may walk through, then make sure you wash the area well. The strong smell is mainly a concern if a cat has asthma and is not associated with the toxicity aspect of essential oils. I am attaching a link to more information about essential oils below for your information. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/ I have used diluted peppermint oil in my house and my cats have not had any problem, but you need to be careful that they do not have any access to it. I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.