However, every cat reacts differently to different herbs. Stop using menthol topical and call your doctor at once if you have: severe burning, stinging, redness, or irritation . Also, catnip has well-known effects on cats. This HealthHearty write-up lists out the uses, benefits, and side effects of menthol. But, to their owner, they will appear to be quite ill and cause concern. Poisonous to: Cats, Dogs Level of toxicity: Generally mild to moderate Common signs to watch for: Local skin irritation Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Depression Seizures (in large amounts) Death (rarely, from respiratory depression or seizures) Alternate names: topical, Carmex, Tiger Balm, Vicks, VapoRub, Campho-Phenique, Arthritis Rub As little as a tablespoon of any form of alcohol can put an adult cat in a coma; more than that can kill them. Fortunately . Arnica for cats. They are enamored with the smell, taste, texture, and everything in between. The main ingredient in Vicks vaporizers is camphor. Its amusing to see what cats find interesting and go crazy over. It must not be ingested, inhaled or applied topically. Marijuana is toxic to both cats and dogs; ingestion of the plant in any form (including edibles, tinctures, etc.) Cats can tolerate the smell of these plants, but consuming them in any form can cause problems. Consumption can cause heart arrhythmias, muscle tremors, or seizures. If you feel the urge to give your cat a food treat, then give them one thats actually made for cats, and in moderation. When your cathacks up a hairball, you probably just sigh in annoyancethats how cats are, right?and clean up the mess. This pungent herb is known to transform lazy (read: chubby) cats into the feline equivalent of Richard Simmons. If you have heard about the dangers of Camphor for your cat you may be wondering what side effects you should be looking out for. I did have a cat that loved my friends hair. Because cats communicate primarily through the way someone or something smells, they use scent glands on their cheeks, paws, and flanks to infuse them with their own scent. Always consult a licensed veterinarian if you have any health or behavior concerns about your pets. | Animal Advisor, 5 Smells Cats Hate vs. Just remember that treats are part of your cats daily calorie intake. Treatment options for camphor poisoning in cats include; This is a process of flushing out poisonous contents in the stomach in both pets and humans. Cooling and pain relief. Secondly, her War on Menthol is kinda bizarre. Extreme Cat Poop Problem Shocking Find PLEASE HELP, Magic Kingdom vs. Hollywood Studios: The Ultimate Comparison, Are burritos from Mexico? Call your veterinarian for specific advice; in some cases, small quantities are not likely to be a problem, but larger quantities may require you to take her in to see your veterinarian. This could be from the air they consume or even through the water. The go absolutely nuts for that stuff. One method is steam. Menthol Can Cause Problems For Your Cat. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Always handle your cat with gentle care, and your cat is more likely to respond to your wishes. Cough severity in some individuals may be negatively influenced by the amount of menthol consumed via cough drops. Cats have a far stronger sense of smell than humans. Keep Kitty safely harnessed, leashed, and reassured by your presence when outdoors, for her peace of mindand yours. By providing my mobile number, I agree to receive 2-4 text messages per month from the ASPCA, which may include requests for charitable donations. I want to empty them myself to avoid taking her to the animal hospital so often. Menthol is not safe for cats and you should protect from ingesting products containing menthol. Aspirin sensitivity can occur in both dogs and cats, especially cats. Wintergreen, peppermint, spearmint and mint. The theory is that they relate the smell to catnip. Is menthol bad for dogs? This helps your vet in making a proper diagnosis. I've tried the dried stuff and in a spray form and nothing. Menthol, for example, is primarily metabolized (in humans and rodents) through glucuronidation, and toxicity testing shows that menthol is 3-4 times more toxic to a cat than a rat (Opdyke 1976). I don't know why but she would slobber and claw my poor friend. Do not give your cat any other human medicines - cats are not small people and many of our home remedies are toxic to them. Cats can be attracted to catnip for the same reason that they both smell like catnip. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian before trying herbs safe for cats. For some people, it may cause allergic reactions and symptoms such as headache, flushing or contact dermatitis. Sometimes cats cough up or sneeze out droplets of the inhalant that caused pneumonia, such as mint oil. The compound in chocolate that is of major concern is theobromine. Menthol could be bad for cats if ingested in large quantities. Yes, cats can eat yogurt, although it is not recommended. Menthol is toxic because it contains peppermint essential oil, which is toxic to cats if consumed. Give your cat no other human medicines cats are not small humans, and many of our home remedies are toxic to them. Peppermint oil simply is not good for cats in any form. Some are even deadly. Eucalyptus oil is bad for cats as cats do not have the enzymes to break eucalyptus oil which can cause severe problems. If you have any difficulty, ask your veterinarian for help. These are all members of the same family. If you are concerned that your cat has a cold you may be keen to understand what signs or symptoms to look out for. Menthol, which is commonly found in cough syrups for dogs, is considered an irritant to the tissues of the mouth and digestive tract. While you don't want your cat to swallow menthol, there's no need to worry if a small amount is consumed. Author of Book: Secrets To Keep Your Cat Healthy Cats love the smell of both catnip and menthol, and they often gravitate towards it if they smell it in your house. The first thing you should do when trying to get rid of cats is to make sure your garden doesn't have any mint (or catnip) plants. To empty them, you'll need exam gloves from the pharmacy and some lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly or Vaseline. Avoid using camphor oil, nutmeg oil, eucalyptus, or menthol in your humidifier. LMAO. Because the scent of menthol is similar to that of catnip, cats enjoy it. It helps us breathe better and recover faster from the sniffles. Heres a list of human foods that you should keep away from your feline family member, along with some advice on what to do if your cat does get ahold of one of these types of food. Ginga is the worse out of my two, they both normally rub and bite softly though, I let them do that on my feet, doesn't hurt as much. Chemicals in Vicks vaposteam like camphor bind to the charcoal and get flashed out of the dogs body. Catnip is a member of the mint family, thus it has many of the same qualities as mint. These aptly named herbs for cats can also help with feline allergies. Severe toxicity is unlikely from single acute exposures to such ointments. This is another reason why some cat owners avoid ointments that contain this, such as Vicks VaporRub, which has it as one of its active ingredients. Specially, they think cats are attracted to the chlorine in bleach. As for giving Simba a tissue, I'm not sure if you should, every night we come down stairs to find the paper towels mauled. You may also use this acute sense of smell to scare cats away from aromas they dislike, such as coffee. This is one of several essential oils that are known to be toxic to cats. For cats, treatment involves supportive care until symptoms resolve. To use it, heat some water in a bowl to create some steam and place it on an available counter or even on the floor if that is more convenient. They are in love with the smell, taste, texture and everything in between. 2000-2023 TheCatSite.com. Your cat likes Vicks vaporub because it smells like catnip and cats are attracted to it. What Essential Oil Scents Are Safe for Cats, Fur Real? Excess camphor oil can cause deadly seizures that result in the death of a cat. How Long Can Newborn Kittens Survive Without Their Mom? Top Ten Tips on How to Keep Your Cats Teeth Clean, Four Ways to Keep Your Indoor Cat Entertained While Youre Away, 6 Things You Should Never Do When Adopting a Cat, Top 3 Things You Should Know About the Bengal Cat, Leaving Your Cat Alone: 9 Things You Need to Know, Senior Cats: A Few Things To Keep In Mind, 6 Things To Know About Flea Dips for Cats. Menthol is a great pain-reliever - for humans. Your cat lick menthol for the same reason they lick mint, which is they both smell like catnip which attracts cats. As little as a tablespoon of any form of alcohol can put an adult cat in a coma; more than that can kill them. It's amusing to see what cats find interesting and go crazy. Too cute! Like all toxins, it is dose-related, so a small amount for a big dog is not as significant as a large amount for a small dog. Cats like the smell of methol because it is closely related to catnip. However, any mint or camphor essential oil becomes toxic to our pets when these get onto their skin. Each one of the three main ingredients is claimed to be a cough suppressant, hence the reason they are used against colds and coughs. It has potential toxic effects and . Vicks vaporizer is not ideal for cats. He started rubbing his face all over my couch like a psycho, rolling around, and swatting at me, and trying to nibble my hand. Seek medical treatment immediately. Direct contact with eucalyptus oil on the skin can cause chemical burns in cats. But the truth is that many human foods are toxic or even deadly for cats. Many creams, including Bengay and Icy Hot, contain salicylates, which are derivatives of aspirin. So, even though they live with the smell it is not safe for them to lick on it. Some cats. Larger doses are a problem, so keep your products secured in the medicine cabinet to prevent her from chewing the containers and consuming their contents. Vicks vaposteam is a great product for giving us relief from the flu. Having said that, each cat will react differently to different herbs. Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. Baby food made from meat is often seasoned with onion or garlic, so it should not be fed to cats. Because of this, cat owners must exercise extreme caution and avoid exposing their cat to the actual ointment, as some can be harmful to cats. If your dog ate something containing menthol, call your vet and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Cats can become lactose intolerant when they become adults. Wrong. Unfortunately, Vicks vaposteam is unsafe for cats. Brushing your cats teeth daily, or at least a few times each week, is the best way keep Kittys gums and teeth healthy and reduce the frequency of expensive, professional dental cleanings. Well, I do for sure. . They don't mind the smell of mint. This herb is used topically for its anti-inflammatory properties. Catnip is related to mint I think - that maybe why your kitties like mint. But many cats love mint and mint-scented products because of the similar scent of mint to catnip. Text STOP to opt-out, HELP for more info. Numerous chemicals had been isolated from bracken ferns. Salicylate is toxic to both dogs and cats, but it's especially dangerous to cats. https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/11/why-does-my-cat-go-crazy-over-the-smell-of-bengay/, https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/mint-poisoning-1, https://www.pestsbanned.com/cats/do-cats-like-mint/, Do Black Cats Shed? Editors Note: The slideshow 8 Things You Should Never Do to Your Cat was not created as a definitive and complete guide to cat care, but rather as a reminder of the small daily interactions many established cat owners have with their beloved companions. Unfortunate-because menthol sprays could relieve arthritis pain in elderly dogs. Common ones include diphenhydramine, pseudoephedrine, and dimenhydrinate. I backed up and he leaned forward towards me and looked like he was going to lunge at me, mouth slightly open. Aspirin sensitivity can occur in both dogs and cats, particularly cats. It relieves pain. Always supervise the amount of loose catnip or catnip buds your cat is exposed to. If a cat likes a scent, it can become obsessional. USA pennies minted after 1982 are 97.5% zinc. Ensure that your window screens are sturdy and limit window openings to an inch or two when youre not around to keep Kitty safely indoors. Luckily she is a HUGE cat lover and didn't really mind. That's so funny that you brought it up! She is a medium hair cat. Cats like menthol because they are likely to confuse it with another herb from the mint family: catnip! Ylang-ylang. Do you still have any queries related to cats or want to share some experience with your feline friend, why don't you join us on Facebook with other cat lovers? Because the fragrance of menthol is similar to that of catnip, cats enjoy it. These machines release water vapor into the air in the form of fumes that can be very helpful for humans. But its regarded as toxic for them if it is ingested. 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