Toxic to cats · Herbal supplements

Is Tea Tree Oil toxic to cats?

Extreme severity

Yes, Tea Tree Oil is extremely toxic to cats. Even a small amount can be life-threatening, so treat any exposure as an emergency and contact a vet immediately.

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Is tea tree oil toxic to dogs and cats?

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What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or an animal poison line now, even if your cat seems fine: signs can take hours to appear. 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 activated charcoal at home: vomiting can send oil into the lungs and cause pneumonia.
  3. If the oil is on your cat's skin or fur, ask the vet or poison line whether to bathe your cat now. If they say yes, wash the oil off with liquid dishwashing soap. Cats groom themselves, so oil left on the coat ends up swallowed.
  4. Keep the bottle or product. Tell the vet its strength (for example 100%), roughly how much was used or licked, and when.

Go to an emergency vet if

  • Your cat is weak or wobbly, can't stand or walk, trembles or has a seizure.
  • Your cat is very drowsy, collapses or has a low body temperature.
  • Your cat coughs or has trouble breathing after licking or swallowing the oil. Oil breathed into the lungs can cause pneumonia.
  • Undiluted tea tree oil was put on your cat's skin or licked, and you can't reach your vet or a poison line. Cats are more sensitive than dogs, and kittens, small cats and cats with liver disease are at higher risk. Don't wait for signs: they can take up to 12 hours to appear.

Symptoms to watch for

  • low body temperature
  • weakness
  • walking drunk
  • inability to walk
  • tremors
  • coma
  • increased liver enzymes
  • death

How much is dangerous

Merck, ASPCA Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline give no separate toxic dose for cats. ASPCA Poison Control says concentrated tea tree oil may cause problems in pets with as few as seven or eight drops, and cats are more sensitive than dogs. Cats are deficient in a liver enzyme (glucuronyl transferase), which makes them very sensitive to some compounds in essential oils, and they swallow oil when they groom it off their fur. In an ASPCA review of 443 dogs and cats poisoned by 100% tea tree oil, younger and lighter cats were more likely to become seriously ill. Pet products with less than 1 to 2% tea tree oil are generally considered non-toxic when used as the label directs.

When signs appear

In the ASPCA review of 443 dogs and cats exposed to 100% tea tree oil, signs started 2 to 12 hours after exposure and lasted up to 72 hours (3 days). Merck says signs of essential-oil poisoning develop within minutes to hours, whether the oil was swallowed, put on the skin or breathed in. Don't wait for signs before calling your vet.

Why it's dangerous

High concentrations of the oil are rapidly absorbed through the skin or ingested, leading to central nervous system depression and potential liver damage.

Toxic compound: Melaleuca alternifolia oil

How vets treat it

There is no antidote. Treatment is supportive and continues until the signs resolve. The vet may bathe your cat to remove the oil from the skin and coat. Vets don't make pets vomit after an essential-oil exposure, because oil can be breathed into the lungs. Depending on the signs, care can include IV fluids, anti-nausea medicine, liver-protecting medicines, anti-seizure drugs and oxygen. The vet may run blood tests to check the liver and kidneys.

Outlook

There is no antidote, but with early intervention and supportive treatment, most cats survive. In the ASPCA review, signs lasted up to 3 days, and younger and lighter cats were more likely to become seriously ill. Tea tree oil can cause liver failure in cats, and severe poisoning can be fatal. Kittens and cats with liver disease are more sensitive.

Where pets are exposed

  • Tea tree oil, also called melaleuca oil, an essential oil made from the Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). Bottles range from mild strengths of 2 to 5% up to 100% oil.
  • Oil put on a pet by its owner to treat fleas, ticks or skin problems. Most poisonings happen this way: in an ASPCA review of 443 dogs and cats poisoned by 100% tea tree oil, the oil had been used on purpose in 89% of cases, most often on the skin.
  • Skin, hair and body care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, creams and soaps. Pet products such as shampoos with less than 1 to 2% tea tree oil are generally considered non-toxic when used as the label directs.
  • "Natural" flea and tick repellents and herbal remedies that contain essential oils.
  • Oil licked from an open or spilled bottle, or licked off the fur after it was put on.

Prevention

  • Never put tea tree oil on a dog or cat, whether for fleas, ticks or skin problems. Concentrated essential oils should never go directly on pets.
  • Ask your vet before using any essential-oil or herbal product on your pet, including "natural" flea remedies.
  • If you use a shampoo or other pet product that contains tea tree oil, choose one made for pets and follow the label.
  • Keep tea tree oil and other essential oils closed and out of pets' reach, and never leave an open bottle unattended.
  • If you diffuse essential oils, keep pets out of the room, ventilate afterward and run the diffuser for under 30 minutes at a time.

Good to know

Concentrations less than 1-2% are generally non-toxic; however, as little as 7 drops of 100% oil can cause severe poisoning.

Common questions

Is tea tree oil safe for cats?

No. Tea tree oil is one of the essential oils known to poison cats, and cats are more sensitive to essential oils than dogs. They are deficient in a liver enzyme that helps clear some oil compounds, and they swallow oil when they groom it off their fur. Never put tea tree oil on a cat. If your cat licked tea tree oil or has it on its fur, call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if it seems fine.

Can I use tea tree oil for fleas on my dog?

No. Pet Poison Helpline says tea tree oil is unlikely to work against fleas and ticks and is highly dangerous, because it is absorbed through the skin. Concentrated essential oils should never go directly on pets. Ask your vet for a flea treatment instead. If you've already put tea tree oil on your dog, call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if your dog seems fine.

How much tea tree oil is toxic to a dog or cat?

Very little concentrated oil. ASPCA Poison Control says concentrated tea tree oil may cause problems with as few as seven or eight drops, and Pet Poison Helpline says a few concentrated drops can cause severe poisoning. Cats are more sensitive than dogs. Pet products with less than 1 to 2% tea tree oil are generally considered non-toxic when used as labeled. If your pet was exposed to concentrated oil, call your vet or a pet poison line now.

Are pet shampoos with tea tree oil safe?

Usually, if they are made for pets and used as directed. Pet Poison Helpline says pet products such as shampoos that contain less than 1 to 2% tea tree oil are generally considered non-toxic when used according to the label. Concentrated oil is the danger, so never put pure tea tree oil on your pet. Ask your vet before using any essential-oil product on your pet.

How long after tea tree oil exposure do symptoms start?

Usually within hours. In an ASPCA review of 443 dogs and cats exposed to 100% tea tree oil, signs started 2 to 12 hours after exposure and lasted up to 3 days. Common signs were drooling, drowsiness, weakness, wobbliness and tremors. Don't wait for symptoms: call your vet or a pet poison line as soon as you know your pet was exposed.

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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