Allergic to Febreeze?

hmmm.... interesting... cj has allergies, but to what I am not sure, but I do use febreeze pretty regular. The back of it says that it is safe to use around pets (not on them- duh) and has a seal from both iams and good housekeeping. So I just assumed its safe. He does seem to have to breathe hard sometimes. I was just thinking maybe we needed to try a new litter..... I think I will try not using it for a while too and see if that helps.

Even though Febreeze is safe to use around pets, pets should be kept away from fabrics until they dry.

It is a water based corn-starch formula in a spray pump. Sounds harmless enough but like all household chemicals, minimise your pets' exposure to them.

This reminds me of the time I sprayed my mattress with Febreeze .... I stripped the bed, vacuumed the mattress and sprayed it with the Febreeze and then left to go to work - my husband called me at work not 30 minutes after I got there to tell me that my old girl (now at the Bridge) was sneezing repeatedly and he was worried because there was blood coming out of her nose.

Now I can't tell you for sure that it was the Febreeze, but I had never used it before and she had never had these symptoms until I did. My husband told me after I left for work, she went back into the bedroom and he didn't check on her until he heard her sneezing.

I don't use it but then your mileage may vary.

~gf~

I'm pretty sure that it is the Febreeze. Last night she was on the bed on a blanket that I had sprayed a few days ago. She started sneezing pretty hard. I'm washing everything today.

I think when I do start using it again I'll limit it just to the curtains and other vertical surfaces.

I use a special allergen reducer that is safe to use even on me and the animals ...

I bought a bottle of FèbrezÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] a year or two ago, and sprayed the sheer curtains in the kitchen and living room with it. Jamie had such severe sneezing fits that I ended up taking the curtains down and washing them the same day, so it doesn't surprise me that your cat had that reaction.

I was told by a professional carpet cleaner, who cleaned my carpet, to never use Fabreeze. He said that it leaves a sticky residue & can cause health problems.

Emma is now completely sneeze-free. I haven't used the Febreeze yet to see if she'll start sneezing again. I may not subject her to that because I know, deep down, that that was probably the root-cause of her problem.

Grace and I both had a pretty strong allergic reaction to a mildew remover product I used around the tub this past weekend. She sneezed violently for two days and I developed asthma-like symptoms that got so bad I went to the doctor today. No, I'm not 100% certain that it was that product that caused our symptioms, but I've got a good hunch.

Thanks to everyone's input regarding the Febreeze. Just goes to show that we can't be too careful.

Hmm... I've been spraying Frebreeze after Charlotte leaves a stinky one in the litter box. She tends to have sneezing episodes so maybe this is the reason. And you're so correct in stating that you can never be too careful.

I can believe it affects cats, I don't use it because it gives me a whopper of a headache!

We have 5 cats and I use it daily. BUT I do not saturate things and I open the windows and turn on fans to make sure there is a lot of air flow.

I highly recommend that you consider using steam to clean in your house. After learning about how harsh chemicals...including Fabreeze, Pine Sol & the new Clorox formula can harm cats, I bought a rather powerful hand held steam cleaner. I can clean almost everything in my house with it. I even use it to get rid of ants.

I imagine that a local Home Depo type store would have one. QVC carries one too. If you don't like it ... return it, but I think that you might find it is a great solution to a difficult problem.
I hope that this helps.
Lei

We used to use Febreeze religiousely, haven't used it in years actually. Can't remember the kitties having any odd symptoms.

Originally Posted by xocats

I highly recommend that you consider using steam to clean in your house. After learning about how harsh chemicals...including Fabreeze, Pine Sol & the new Clorox formula can harm cats, I bought a rather powerful hand held steam cleaner. I can clean almost everything in my house with it. I even use it to get rid of ants.

I imagine that a local Home Depo type store would have one. QVC carries one too. If you don't like it ... return it, but I think that you might find it is a great solution to a difficult problem.
I hope that this helps.

Lei

Click to expand...

I can only second that. I've had one for well over five years (Kärcher canister type), and it's wonderful.

I know this thread is looong dead. But the information all belongs together, in case people searching (for "Febreeze cat sneeze" or some similar combinations) find themselves here, as I did.

Here's a video where Febreeze seems to be the likely culprit.

The circumstantial evidence:

1. sneezing cat

2. Febreeze bottle next to it

3. Febreeze bottle seemingly still aimed directly at the cat, as it now sits on table

4. Guy's voice does not sound at all sympathetic to his cat's plight. He even "cheers the cat on" as it sneezes uncontrollably.

Note: He claims he did not spray it with Febreeze.

OK, it's not concrete proof. I admit it's all circumstantial evidence. However, I am convinced.

Is this the result of Febreeze? I think so.