Can I safely diffuse chamomile essential oil around my cat at home?

Hello. For the most part, these diffusers are safe for cats, as long as there are regular air exchanges & some fresh air coming in all day. Most HVAC systems have automatic air exchanges, but if the weather is good, keeping a window cracked a bit is perfect. Some cats are very sensitive to odors, some do not care for them at all, so as long as the cats are not confined to a closed in room & can move to a different area, there is no harm in essential oils. One caveat, we have a diffuser mounted on a wall in our clinic & it malfunctioned ( exploded ) sending the contents all over a hallway. Fortunately, none of the office cats seemed to have walked through this, but that would be a concern if a cat ingests any of this. But otherwise, I would just enjoy the fragrance of your choice. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, I would advise against the use of an essential oil diffuser for asthma in cats. We have no evidence that essential oils are effective in the treatment of asthma. Furthermore, some essential oils could even trigger an asthma attack. I would advise you to follow up with your primary care veterinarian to discuss inhaled steroids.

While direct contact with undiluted essential oils can be toxic to cats using a few drops in a spray or diffuser is unlikely to cause any problems. If your cats have asthma you may want to avoid any fragrances but otherwise I think you can continue to use your oils this way. Ask your veterinarian for advice if your cats have any health problems.

In most cases, if it is a tiny amount going into the air it isn't problematic, the main concern is if your cat is getting the oils onto their fur and licking it off, or directly inhaling the diffuser.

This is also known as Roman chamomile and is generally considered safe to use around dogs and cats. Take precautions to keep them from coming into contact with the oil itself as this may cause GI upset or skin irritation. Monitor them for any negative reactions (coughing, sneezing, drooling, red eyes, etc.) when you first use it and make adjustments as needed.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Our pets are very sensitive to the chemicals in essential oils (think how much more sensitive their sense of smell is!), and exposure to diffused essential oils can be dangerous. Cats are particularly sensitive, but it's best to avoid diffusing oils around dogs as well. If you must use diffused oils, do so in an enclosed room and keep the pets out to minimize their exposure. Hope this helps!

When diffusing these oils, make sure that Chloe has the option to escape the room if she is uncomfortable. They should be safe, but we can’t guarantee that she won’t have a negative reaction to them.