Essential Oil Air Diffuser - Safe or Not?

Hi there.  We recently received a Christmas gift - it's a diffuser that puts water vapor into the air.  Aromatherapy for humans.  You add 3-4 drops of oil to about 1 cup of water and it puffs away for however long.

I have only used it twice.  The first time was with lemon oil and the cats seemed to have virtually no interest in it beyond wondering what the strange new light and noise was about.  After 5 minutes they walked away. 

However, tonight I tried the peppermint oil and the cat loved it, she couldn't get enough of the smell, it seems.  She even began sniffing the carpet (I have the diffuser up where they cannot reach or directly inhale from it) and rolling around playfully.

Curious, I searched online and found out that lemon, peppermint, lavender, and many other oils are toxic to cats when ingested.

What I was not able to find out was whether the scent put into the air via diffuser could also be harmful.

Anyone with experience in this area care to enlighten me?  Is the vapor/scent also harmful or is it only the pure oil ingestion that is harmful?

Thanks!

Hi there @AnotherCatGuy! Thank you for being concerned and taking the time to ask this question. I have three cats and do not use any essential oils around the house that tend to linger or are meant to linger for the benefit of the human. I just won't risk it.

I remember reading that cat's livers cannot break down and excrete certain chemical compounds in essential oils because they lack a certain detoxification enzyme and that these compounds can accumulate in the cat's body after prolonged exposure (via inhalation) or if ingested, resulting in toxic poisoning. It's my understanding that most essential oils fall under one of these compounds. How true is all this? I don't really know.

You'll also find on the internet a lot of people, even vets, who use essential oils successfully for pets saying that it's the blends and quality that matter. Still, I'm not convinced it is safe, especially for cats, and would opt for other alternative methods for dealing with whatever issue they're having.

If I, personally, want to benefit from aromatherapy, I use "bath bombs" or "shower fizzies" once a week. They're meant to put in a tub full of water or the floor of your shower. They react with water, fizz, and release a pleasant scent from essential oils. I keep the door shut with the fan on and rinse the tub/shower really well after use to eliminate any residue. I get my 30 minutes of bliss without harming my kitties.

I'm actually interested in this as well, did you happen to find any more information?

mar1na said:

 
I'm actually interested in this as well, did you happen to find any more information?

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Hi. The original poster has not been back to update, but you might be interested to see this other recent thread about the same thing:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/312370/essential-oil-diffuser-cat-health

Thanks for the replies. 

I do still use the diffuser but I use less of the oil (only 1 drop, which is still noticeable to me) and I use it rarely. 

I have not seen any ill effects on the cats, but I use it cautiously and never leave it on for prolonged periods or when I am not in the room.  It sits in my office atop a book case that they do not go on and I only use it when I am working at the desk.  They tend to go in and out of the office.