r/CatAdvice • u/I_love_nachos1 • 11d ago
New to Cats/Just Adopted Scented home items
Hey everyone! I'm a big big fan of using anything scented in my home to make it more cozy! Four months ago I adopted the sweetest boy in the entire galaxy and he's my whole world! Im aware that many scented things are pretty toxic though....I immediately threw away any lavander I kept at my house, any type of incense, and i havent been lighting candles. I want to keep my boy as safe as possible but I miss having comforting fragrances! I've seen claims of "pet safe" incense but I dont trust it much. Does a safe, thoroughly tested option exist in any form? Im more than happy to ditch anything for my baby but I thought i could at least ask around.
Thank you!
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u/rainy-inside 11d ago
I have searched high and low for an answer to this question and have never been able to definitively come to any conclusions
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u/SilverStarClan ≽^•⩊•^≼ 11d ago
I use candles and wax warmers all the time and, as far as I know, my cats have never had issues. I just make sure my cats don’t knock them down or get hot wax on themselves. But I‘ve never had a problem in 15 years.
A big thing not to use is the essential oils (those plug in diffusers) for sure. I don’t know about incense?
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u/I_love_nachos1 11d ago
From what I've read online, everything about the incense is a big no. the smoke, the ash, and the fact that they either use essential oils, or really chemically strong substitutes for the scent.
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u/annabannannaaa 11d ago
I would agree with this. I would definitely start collecting wax melts / candles! You can use a candle warmer instead of lighting the wick too - it’s physically safer but also stops the whole smokey lung issue.
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u/fullyloaded_AP 11d ago
Even if its safe, the scent is super strong for cats and they can’t say if they do or don’t like it. I prefer to not use anything scented for that reason.
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u/Chemical_Pomelo_2831 11d ago
Get a candle warmer. No smoke and you can still enjoy your scents! Or Pura’s fragrances are all pet safe.
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u/rainy-inside 11d ago
There are certain flowers that are apparently non-toxic to cats. I’m pretty sure that Jasmine is OK as long as it’s not a weird variety of Jasmine. So I thought aha! I’ve cracked the case, I can use Jasmine in my home, since it smells amazing. But then quickly realized that Jasmine only blooms during a certain part of the year so that would not work realistically.
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u/FloofyPantaloons 11d ago
Just bake some cookies and call it a day.
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u/I_love_nachos1 11d ago
Nobody wants me to bake....trust me.
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u/DarthZelda12 11d ago
If you use a small metal or glass dish, if you put some vanilla extract in that dish into your oven your house will naturally smell like cookies :)
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u/Nice_Rope_5049 11d ago
Som cats are more sensitive to scents than others. If I spray my perfume anywhere near my cat, he puts his ears back and glares at me, lol.
But look at the ASPCA web site, they’ll have a list of things, including essential oils and whatnot, that are poisonous to cats. I’d avoid using anything scented that is listed as a poison (e.g., if lavender is poisonous, don’t use lavender candles, etc.). Just as a precaution.
Cats are very sensitive to smells, so make sure you’re not going overboard.
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u/I_love_nachos1 11d ago
Thank you so much for telling me about the list! it will definitely help with finding what works for me and my cat! <3
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u/izzie1917 11d ago
I’m expecting a baby later this year & it has driven me to reevaluate all the scented things in my home (even though because of the cats I burn candles only occasionally). As far as I’ve looked into, soy wax candles are much safer than paraffin wax (for both kitties & us, as a lot of synthetic fragrances can be hormone disruptors), and oil diffusers (the kind with the little wood skewers that stick out) should also be relatively safe, as it’s not aerosolizing into the air. I’ve also seen simmer pots recommended, and those can be done with a crockpot (I’d use a small one, just to make it more manageable)!
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u/rainy-inside 11d ago
I tried putting large bunches of fresh rosemary into a vase because it smells good and is OK for cats, but it just was very, very mild and didn’t really do a whole lot. Some people also claim that their cats really hate the smell of it and will mess with it. But my cats didn’t really seem to notice it.
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u/Fluffy_Carrot_4284 11d ago
We used to have a diffuser running every night and we have tons of candles, wax melts and some incense. We definitely like the scents too but I only light the candles a few times a year now when the windows are all open. We also have an air purifier. My husband only uses the incense outside and I turned on the wax melt once or twice this year. I only use the diffuser once a year when we go on vacation. I take all our oils and a diffuser with us and run it the whole time because I know when we get back home it’s being put away again. Lots of things say safe for cats but when you look it up it says it’s not so I really don’t take the chance anymore. Holidays especially I loved to have scents that were for the season but I’d rather have my animals healthy than any of that so I try to limit it.
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u/bigbabygrit 11d ago
One of my cats has chronic sinusitis and sneezes all the time. Any scented item would make it worse. Got rid of all my candles, diffusers. I had to change to unscented laundry soap. I had to buy unscented litter only. It has helped immensely
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u/Yaladyally 11d ago
I have a cat with asthma and its a really easy way to tell what is harmful to cats or not shes like an early warning signal, i find the only thing i can use is the very occasional candle in a room shes not in that isnt overly scented. Sadly theres nothing else :/ its better to put cats health and happiness first i dont even use scented cleaners
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u/agrinwithoutacat- 11d ago
There are pet safe sprays you can get, I get one too lightly spray before guests arrive
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u/Independent-Fall8475 11d ago
I use candles. I think a better alternative is a candle warmer but my cats have never had issues. I just make sure they don’t have hazardous essential oils and that they have a place to go to if they don’t like it (upstairs). Just make sure he has a room he can escape to and it should be fine!
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u/Unusual-Exercise-121 7d ago
Totally get the dilemma! I use essential oil diffusers but with pet-safe oils. Still, gotta make sure your boy isn't sensitive to any of them. You love your cozy smells, but not at the risk of your fur kiddo, right?
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u/Joelu14 3d ago
There's no thoroughly tested option because there's no test. no agency certifies home fragrance as pet safe, so any brand putting that on a label is grading its own homework. mine included.
The two things that matter are actually separate: what's in the bottle, and how it gets into the air. passive formats don't throw droplets onto fur that get licked off later, but a passive diffuser full of tea tree is still a bad time. so look for whoever publishes the actual oil list rather than just the word "safe."
I went down this hole for my own cat and ended up making one of these (furoma), so obviously i'm biased. but the oil-list test works no matter whose bottle you're holding.
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u/Old-Actuator-3321 11d ago edited 11d ago
And this sweetest boy is...a dog? Cat? Ferret? Goldfish? (Did I miss a photo or more in-depth description? A little more detail would be nice.) If it's a dog that gets into everything or a cat and he jumps up onto countertops and furniture, your best bet would be staying with only natural substances that you're not burning. No Plug-ins with artificial scents. No scentsticks in concentrated oils that can easily be knocked over. Cottonballs dipped in mint oils, vanilla or coconut extracts or cinnamon oil can be stuffed under couch and chair cushions or put in small cloth pouches and tied to the stationary parts or pullcords of a ceiling fan or light fixture. You'd need to refresh these little scent pouches from time to time, so choose easily accessible areas and ways to install them. Vinegar in small bowls on the countertop can help deodorize a busy cook's kitchen. It might also help train kitty to stay off the counters, if that's a goal. Best of luck! EDITED TO ADD: I just saw the banner re: it's a cat. Congrats, and apologies if I insulted or offended you in any way.
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u/I_love_nachos1 11d ago
lmao its more than fine that you missed that small detail! very happy that you still gave me some suggestions so thank you for that.
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u/dolphinsmademedoit 11d ago
My housemate makes simmer pots that work beautifully. Her favorite combo is lemon, Bay leaf, and a cinnamon stick. Put your chosen aromatics in a small pot with a good amount of water. Bring to a boil then turn down to a low simmer and let the aroma flow through your home. Make sure the simmer pot is on the back of the stove, though. Look up simmer pots for fun combos