Toxic to cats · Foods

Is Eucalyptus toxic to cats?

High severity

Yes, Eucalyptus is highly toxic to cats. Exposure can cause serious illness and needs prompt veterinary attention.

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Is eucalyptus toxic to dogs and cats?

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What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or an animal poison line for advice. If your cat licked or swallowed concentrated eucalyptus oil, or got it on its skin or fur, call now, even if it seems fine. In the US: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).
  2. Don't make your cat vomit and don't give anything by mouth unless a vet tells you to: oil can be breathed into the lungs during vomiting.
  3. If a diffuser or vapor is involved, turn it off and move your cat to fresh air right away.
  4. If oil is on the skin or fur, wash it off promptly with liquid hand dishwashing soap. Cats lick their fur, so oil left on the coat ends up swallowed.
  5. Keep the bottle or packaging, and note the oil's concentration on the label for the vet.
  6. After a minor exposure with no signs, your vet or the poison line may say you can watch your cat at home. Get veterinary care if any signs appear.

Go to an emergency vet if

  • Your cat licked or swallowed concentrated eucalyptus oil, or got it on its skin or fur. Call a vet or poison line right away, even if your cat seems fine.
  • Your cat breathes with its mouth open, pants, breathes fast or with effort, coughs or wheezes, and this doesn't clear quickly in fresh air. None of these are normal in cats. A coughing cat crouches low and can look as if it is bringing up a hairball, but no hairball comes up.
  • Your cat trembles, has a seizure, is wobbly, or becomes very drowsy or unresponsive.
  • Your cat has asthma or another breathing condition and was exposed to diffused oil. These cats are at greater risk of severe airway irritation.

Symptoms to watch for

  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • unsteady gait
  • tremor
  • seizure
  • acute renal injury

How much is dangerous

No toxic dose for cats has been published. Pet Poison Helpline says a few leaves, or a low-concentration oil product, usually cause only mild nausea in pets. Highly concentrated eucalyptus essential oil, swallowed or on the skin, can cause severe nervous-system signs and, rarely, kidney problems. The stronger the oil, the higher the risk to a cat. Pure (100%) oil is the most dangerous. Cats are more sensitive to essential oils than dogs: they lack a liver enzyme that breaks down some oil compounds, and they swallow oil when they groom it off their fur.

When signs appear

Sources give timing only for essential oils in general. Merck says signs start within minutes to hours, whether the oil was swallowed, got on the skin or was breathed in. Pet Poison Helpline says signs from most essential oils usually appear within 6 to 8 hours. With eucalyptus oil, nausea and vomiting tend to come first, before nervous-system signs. Mild cases usually clear within a few hours. Severe cases can take 3 to 7 days to fully resolve.

Why it's dangerous

Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid essential oil component that acts as a gastrointestinal irritant and a neurotoxin, potentially leading to central nervous system depression and organ damage in high concentrations.

Toxic compound: Eucalyptol

How vets treat it

There is no antidote. Treatment is supportive and continues until the signs resolve. The vet washes oil off the skin and coat, or gives fresh air after inhalation. Vets don't make cats vomit, because oil can be breathed into the lungs. The vet decides whether activated charcoal is appropriate after a large ingestion or one that causes signs. Depending on the signs, care can include IV fluids, stomach-protecting medicines, anti-seizure drugs, oxygen and airway-opening medicines (bronchodilators), and liver-protecting drugs after severe exposures. The vet may run blood tests to check the liver and kidneys, and take chest X-rays if oil was inhaled or there are breathing signs.

Outlook

Pet Poison Helpline says a few leaves or a low-concentration oil product usually cause only mild nausea in pets. It describes the outlook for essential-oil poisoning in general as good. It depends on the type of oil, the amount and how severe the signs are, and severe cases may need 3 to 7 days to fully recover. Kittens and cats with liver disease are at higher risk.

Where pets are exposed

  • Eucalyptus trees and shrubs, also called gum trees. Dogs and cats may chew or eat the leaves or bark.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil. Its main toxic compound is eucalyptol (also called 1,8-cineole). Pets can lick or swallow it from an open or spilled bottle, or from a diffuser that gets knocked over.
  • Active diffusers (ultrasonic or nebulizing). They spray tiny oil droplets into the air. The droplets settle on fur, then soak into the skin or get licked off during grooming.
  • Passive diffusers, such as reed diffusers, candles and plug-in or heat warmers. Merck and Pet Poison Helpline say these mainly irritate the airways unless oil spills onto the pet or is swallowed. VCA says any diffused oil can harm pets (see the questions below).
  • Oil put directly on a pet's skin or coat by its owner, such as home "natural" flea and tick remedies or treatments for skin problems.
  • Herbal remedies, personal care products, cleaning products and room sprays that contain essential oils.

Prevention

  • Store eucalyptus oil and other essential oils where pets can't reach them, and clean up spills promptly with soap.
  • Never put concentrated essential oils on a dog or cat. Ask your vet before using any essential-oil or herbal product on your pet, including "natural" flea remedies.
  • If you diffuse oils, keep pets out of the room, or at least make sure they can leave. Ventilate afterward, run the diffuser for under 30 minutes at a time, use diluted oils and avoid small closed rooms. VCA goes further and advises against diffusing oils at all.
  • Take extra care with ultrasonic and nebulizing diffusers around cats, because the oil droplets they release settle on fur. Don't diffuse oils around pets with asthma, allergies or other breathing problems.
  • Place diffusers where pets can't knock them over or lick them. If your pet shows any signs, stop using the diffuser and contact your vet.
  • Keep pets from chewing eucalyptus plants, cuttings and fallen leaves.

Good to know

Small ingestions of leaves cause mild distress, but concentrated essential oils can cause severe neurological signs and rare acute renal injury.

Common questions

Is eucalyptus toxic to cats?

Yes. ASPCA lists eucalyptus as toxic to cats, and Pet Poison Helpline names eucalyptus oil among the essential oils known to poison cats. A few leaves usually cause only mild nausea, but concentrated oil can cause serious nervous-system signs. Cats are more sensitive to essential oils than dogs, because they lack a liver enzyme that breaks down some oil compounds and they groom oil off their fur.

Is eucalyptus toxic to dogs?

Yes, but how serious it is depends on the form. ASPCA lists eucalyptus as toxic to dogs, with possible drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and weakness. Pet Poison Helpline says a few leaves usually cause only mild nausea, while highly concentrated eucalyptus oil, swallowed or on the skin, can cause severe nervous-system signs. If your dog ate leaves, call your vet or a poison line for advice, especially if it ate a lot or shows signs. Don't try to make your dog vomit.

Is it safe to diffuse eucalyptus oil around my dog or cat?

It isn't risk-free, and sources disagree on how risky it is. Merck and Pet Poison Helpline say ultrasonic and nebulizing diffusers release oil droplets that land on fur and get licked off, which is a particular concern for cats. They say passive diffusers, such as reeds, candles and warmers, mainly irritate the airways unless the oil spills or is swallowed. VCA is stricter. It says breathing in any diffused oil can harm dogs and cats, causing breathing distress or pneumonia, and advises against diffusing at all. If you do diffuse, keep pets out of the room, ventilate, run it for under 30 minutes and use diluted oil.

Can I put eucalyptus oil on my dog or cat for fleas or skin problems?

No. Concentrated essential oils should never go directly on pets. The oil soaks in through the skin and gets swallowed during grooming, and concentrated eucalyptus oil on the skin can cause severe poisoning. Ask your vet before using any essential-oil product on your pet.

What are the signs of eucalyptus oil poisoning in pets?

Early signs include drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a eucalyptus smell on the breath or coat. As poisoning progresses, pets can become lethargic, weak or wobbly. Severe cases can bring tremors, seizures, breathing trouble or coma. Kidney injury is rare.

Will my pet recover from eucalyptus poisoning?

Usually, yes. Pet Poison Helpline says the outlook for essential-oil poisoning is generally good, depending on the oil, the amount and how sick the pet is. Mild cases often clear within hours, and severe cases can take 3 to 7 days. There is no antidote, but vets give supportive care until the signs resolve.

Sources

This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

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