Whether you have man’s best friend, a pocket pet, or a feline companion, pets are a lovely part of our daily life. Naturally, we want to spoil them and give them some of our essential oils! This article covers the best essential oils that are safe for dogs, cats, and rodents.
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Before We Begin
Please remember to dilute your essential oils for pets. Unlike us, they can’t process the strength of the essential oils. Throughout the post, I will tell you what the recommended dilution is for each pet.
Also please remember to use good quality products on your pets… not cheapies from a store. The cheap ones have toxins and chemicals that can harm you and your pet.
And there is a Part 2 to this article called Essential Oils for Pets Part 2. It covers horses, birds, and reptiles!
Take Notice of Your Pet’s Response
When diffusing essential oils around your pet, it is important to keep an eye on your pet to see how they respond. Watch for symptoms such as lethargy, panting, licking excessively or squinting their eyes.
If these or other unusual symptoms occur when diffusing, turn off the diffuser, open the windows up or take your pet to a different room so they can breathe different air.
If you used an oil topically that seems irritating to your pet, use more carrier oil on their skin to dilute it further. Once they are feeling more comfortable, you can wash it away with soap and water if you want to. Don’t use water right away though, because oil and water don’t mix and can actually make your pet more uncomfortable.
Natural Insect Repellent for Dogs and Cats
One effective insect repellent for dogs and cats is geranium essential oil. You can rub this (with a carrier of course) onto their back and paws. Or you can make a spray with it to spray on your pet’s back.
Essential Oils for Dog and Cat’s Irritated Skin
Myrrh, lavender, and copaiba applied topically to the skin are all great options for your dog or cat’s irritated skin. You can use one of these oils or a combination. Also, lavender does not taste good, so your pet won’t be as likely to lick the area and make it worse.
Essential Oils for Dog and Cat’s Upset Stomach
If your cat has an upset stomach, you can use cardamom or myrrh. You can rub these (diluted) on their stomach or on their backs.
If your dog has an upset stomach, using DigestZen or Tamer are great options. You can rub it diluted onto his/her stomach (or DigestZen Touch). If they really don’t want their abdomen touched, then you can rub this onto their backs in a petting motion.
Disclosure Statement
Please keep in mind that I am not a vet. I am speaking solely from experience with essential oils, using them with our pets, and hours upon hours of research. It is your responsibility to make sure your oils are safe for your pet.
Essential Oils and Cats
These furballs bring so much joy into our lives (even when they’re shredding the sofa!).
And we want to spoil them (plus they demand it). How do we plan to pamper them? Essential Oils! Of course, these little kings and queens of the household can be sensitive to many different oils.
Essential Oils Safe for Cats:
| Rosemary | Lemongrass |
| Frankincense | Spearmint |
| Helichrysum | Clary Sage |
| Myrrh | Copaiba |
These Essential Oils Are Dangerous for Cats:
| Peppermint | Pine |
| Chamomile | Birch |
| Clove | Tea Tree |
| Citrus Oils | Cinnamon |
| Thyme | Garlic |
| Wintergreen |
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Dilution for Cats
The recommended dose is to use 1 Tablespoon of a carrier oil (like fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil) to one drop of essential oil. Please take caution when applying essential oils topically to cats. It is recommended not to apply more than once within a 24 hour period. (Source)
Diffusing essential oils for cats is really best for them. Just make sure you leave a door open so they can leave the room, and you may feel better using an intermittent diffuser that runs/rests every few minutes.
Natural Cat Repellent Spray
And if you need some help with a cat repellent, here is one possible solution. Cat owners know that cats can get into a lot of mischief, and a healthy, homemade cat deterrent could be helpful to you and your household.
Fill a glass spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Add a squirt of clear dish liquid. Now add 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Spray in areas where your cats are misbehaving like near furniture or on carpet.
Essential Oils for Dogs
These furry pals are often known as man’s best friend for their loyalty and companionship. And naturally (since they’re our best friend and all), we want to love and spoil them like a friend. Also, they have a better immune system than cats so essential oils and dogs are a better mix as they can have a wider variety of essential oils.
Some Essential Oils Safe for Dogs:
| Rosemary | On Guard |
| Lavender | Frankincense |
| TerraShield | Breathe |
| DigestZen | Copaiba |
These Essential Oils Are Bad for Dogs:
| Peppermint | Pine |
| Tea Tree | Cinnamon |
| Thyme | Clove |
| Garlic | Birch |
| Wintergreen |
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You may also enjoy learning how to make your own detoxing recipes with essential oils here.
Dilution for Dogs
Because dogs vary in size, they will need different amounts of dilution. For puppies, it is best not to use oils on them because they’re still young and fragile like a baby. And for small dogs, the suggested ratio is 1 drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. For medium dogs, the recommendation is 2 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil. Finally, for large dogs, you can use just a tiny bit of a carrier oil unless you’re using extremely strong oils which I don’t recommend. (Source) (Source)
Exercise caution when petting your dog’s face after topical application. Essential oils are really strong and can be bad for your dogs. Some can burn their eyes.
Diffusing lavender for dogs and cats has had calming effects in shelters, so go ahead and diffuse around your pets!
Rodents
Rodents are tiny, fuzzy and hyper. They are very small, but there are a few essential oils that they can have. With our current hamster, we have tried all three essential oils. We have discovered that he loves them! His all-time favorite though is lavender.
Some Oils Rodents Can Have:
Lavender
On Guard
Frankincense
Some Oils Rodents Can’t Have:
Anything else
Dilution
With our hamster, we have found that we don’t need to dilute, but every hamster is different. We typically put lavender or frankincense on our hands and let him play in our hands for a few minutes. We also use a drop of lavender in the vinegar water when cleaning his cage.
Next Steps
Interested in CBD oil for pets? You can shop for that here! CBD is a growing industry, and it has been proven to work well for pets. Holistapet offers CBD oils just for pets! They come in easy to eat pet treats.
CBD for pets can be used for cancer, stress, joints, pain, skin, allergies, and much more. Have a look to see if you think your pet could benefit from CBD as well as essential oils.
You may also like this article on 12 Health Benefits From Cats and Dogs.
If you are newer to essential oils, my article on Essential Oils for Beginners may be helpful to you.
If you are looking for some homeopathic or regular pet supplies, check out PetCareSupplies.com. They have a great assortment delivered straight to your door!
Did you like this post? Let me know below which oils you enjoy for your pets in the comments. Want more of this? Subscribe for more!
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