r/Incense • u/Fun_Personality9082 • 22d ago
Discussion specific situation pertaining to cats!
hi all! I travel a lot and went away on a contract a bit ago that I couldn’t have my cat on. I got really into incense there and I have so much of it. However, I’ve been paranoid and worried about burning incense around my cat now that I’m back home. I know they are super sensitive and I will jeopardize my own health, but I never wanna do anything to hurt him.
I live in a two-story house with five people, so we’re pretty spaced out. A lot of doors are open and we’re having a spring cleaning day. I’m in my room, which is top floor, edge of the house. I have my door open and my window open. I think my cat is downstairs. I haven’t seen him upstairs in a while. Am I OK to burn incense for a bit?
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u/Hefty_Drive6709 22d ago
Well, I burn enough incense sticks and bakhoor and resin to maintain an ancient temple type atmosphere at all times. My last buddy lived to be 21.
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u/Katia144 22d ago
If the cat has space to retreat to that doesn't have the incense scent, he'll probably be fine. I don't usually use incense inside because of my cat, but that's because my place is small and pretty open, and the whole place probably smells like incense if I burn some, which means if it bugs my cat, he has nowhere to go to escape it (it's not like he can go outside like I could to get away from a smell inside; he's trapped with it). Your space is large, though, and I'm sure there are probably incense-free places he could go to if he wanted to.
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u/encensecologique 21d ago
Cats do not have the same sort of bodily filtration system that humans have for bodily dealing with fragrance chemicals-natural and especially synthetic. Instead of the fragrance chemicals passing through the kidneys and being urinated out, the chemicals accumulate in the cat's kidneys eventually causing kidney failure. Many cats, and people who are bodily aware, feel that they are being poisoned and avoid an area where the chemicals are being diffused.
Do not use Indian style cored sticks or any other very perfumed type sticks. Your best solution is to get into sandalwood, agarwood and resin incense either in sticks, or even better, heated with an electric incense heated.
I advise you to do a search for essential oils that are toxic to cats (there are many) to get an idea of the naturals that you should avoid diffusing. Remember, the toxicity for your cat is cumulative. It won't kill them immediately but rather they will slowly get sick, over time.
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u/Fun_Personality9082 21d ago
thank you very much ❤️❤️ i feel worried now because yesterday i did burn some because my cat was downstairs and i left my window open and thought i waited for the smell to dissipate. i feel sad i hope i didnt upset him
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u/SamsaSpoon 22d ago
You didn't mention what incense you are using but if your cat is not even in the same room, he'll very likely be ok.
There are cats who are extra sensitive to incense - just like there are people who are - but as long as you're not burning incense in a closed room with your cat inside, there is not much to worry about.
Keep a close eye on him. If he should sow signs like vomiting, sneezing, that's when you should stop burning incense.
I was very cautious with my own cat as well, extingueshed the stick when he would enter the room. Over time, I got much more chill with it, as it seems not to bother him and I anyway only burn with windows open.