Incense sticks or cones are flameless objects that help freshen up your home. They are often used for religious purposes in certain cultures. Being flameless makes them a safer alternative to tea lights and candles used for diffusing the scents of essential oils. But what about our pets? Is incense bad for cats?
Despite being flameless, incense sticks and cones emit smoke. Smoke can be harmful to cats and kittens as it can trigger respiratory issues. Certain essential oils, aromatic plant materials, and other ingredients used in incense can also be toxic or poisonous to cats. Continue reading to learn how incense harms our pets.
How Incense Affects Cats
Incense often emits harmful smoke and airborne particles, which can irritate pets’ airways. Even if the incense is all-natural, it could contain plant-based ingredients that release volatile chemicals, which can irritate your cat’s delicate respiratory system.
The respiratory passages in cats are particularly narrow compared to those in humans and other larger animals. Cats mainly inhale through their nose, which makes them more sensitive to any irritants they inhale. Their narrow airways are also more prone to obstruction and inflammation.
To make matters worse, cats have sensitive immune systems that react strongly to allergens like smoke and dust. All these factors make them more sensitive to airborne particles and allergens. Old cats or cats with underlying health issues like asthma and kittens with undeveloped immune systems are particularly susceptible to smoke-related allergens.
Signs of respiratory allergies in cats include wheezing, coughing, choking, sneezing, difficulty breathing, watery eyes, nasal congestion, etc.
Potential Risks of Burning Incense Around Cats
Respiratory Issues
This is one of the main reasons why the answer to the question “Is incense bad for cats?” is yes. Cat guardians must avoid burning incense sticks or cones around their pets because the smoke from these items can trigger asthma or bronchitis in cats. Compared to humans, cats have a sensitive respiratory system, and they could suffer from issues like wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties near smoke and dust.
Things can get even worse for cats with these pre-existing conditions. If a cat has been diagnosed with acute respiratory infection, then incense smoke could worsen their symptoms of breathlessness, coughing, wheezing, frothy mucus, weakness, and lethargy.
Irritation and Toxicity
Incense sticks and cones often emit tiny particles that could irritate your kitty’s eyes, nose, and throat. Some artificial incense sticks are dipped in charcoal and sawdust, and these particulates can be harmful to your pet.
Many petroleum-based incense sticks are known to emit strong fragrances that can cause throat and eye irritation. You might think essential oil-based incense is safe for cats. After all, they are all natural, right? Wrong! According to the experts, many essential oils, like wintergreen, bergamot, peppermint, ylang ylang, tea tree, cinnamon, and pennyroyal oils, are extremely toxic to cats and can cause dangerous symptoms in them.
Are Certain Types of Incense Safer for Cats?
To answer this question, let us first consider the difference between natural and synthetic incense.
Natural vs. Synthetic Incense
Natural incense is made from natural ingredients like resin, wood, plants, and essential oils. They usually do not have any chemicals, which makes them moderately safe for use around pets. However, just because something is natural does not mean it won’t trigger an allergic reaction in cats. As mentioned earlier, many essential oils are extremely harmful to cats. So, avoid natural incenses containing those essential oils.
Synthetic incenses are bad for humans and pets. They contain petroleum, sawdust, and other ingredients that can irritate the airways. They also burn with an unpleasant smoke.
If you wish to use incense that is safe for your cats, look for natural ones containing resin, wood, and pet-safe essential oils. Natural, unscented incense usually has a subtle fragrance. It usually does not cause any irritation to the eyes, airways, and throat. An added advantage is that they burn longer than synthetic incense. Always burn the natural incense in a well-ventilated area, away from where your cats rest. Only then can cats and incense coexist safely.
Stick, Cone, and Resin Incense
As far as the safety of use around cats is concerned, incense sticks and cones both have the potential to irritate your cats’ eyes and airways. The main thing to look for when buying incense is the ingredient list. Look for natural ingredients that burn with a cleaner smoke and have a subtle fragrance.
In general, incense sticks made with natural ingredients tend to burn more gradually than cones, so you can choose them if you have pets. Avoid synthetic incense, which burns rapidly and emits harsh smoke. These have a negative impact on the air quality in your home and are, in general, not safe for use around pets, especially if they contain petroleum-based ingredients.
Tips for Using Incense Safely Around Cats
Pet guardians must use caution when burning incense around their fur babies.
Remember: your cat has a heightened sense of smell and may react differently to different scents.
Always opt for pet-safe incense sticks and avoid ones containing essential oils like pennyroyal, tea tree, or wintergreen.
Make sure your cat has the option to leave the room, if needed, if they find the scent overpowering or unpleasant.
Keep incense sticks and cones away and out of reach of curious and naughty cats.
Ensure proper ventilation and air circulation in the room, so the smoke does not get concentrated in one area.
Always monitor your pet’s reaction to the incense. If they appear to be in distress or are constantly sneezing, breathing through their mouth, or coughing, please refrain from using the incense.
Cat-Friendly Alternatives to Incense
Safe Pet-Friendly Air Freshening Options
You can use pet-safe options for freshening up your home around cats and kittens.
Buy pet-safe candles without essential oils and phthalates. Place them in a safe place, out of reach of your curious cat.
Diffuse pet-safe essential oils in areas away from where your cat sleeps.
A mixture of baking soda and vinegar or activated charcoal is also a natural, pet-friendly way to remove odors and keep your home smelling fresh and clean.
Natural Ways to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Here are some proven ways to keep your home smelling fresh without harming your cats:
Regularly clean your house. Empty litter boxes and wash them regularly.
Use odor-neutralizing solutions and ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and activated charcoal for cleaning smelly places in the house.
Boil a few citrus or orange peels in water and toss in a few sticks of cinnamon, cloves, vanilla beans, or some sprigs of lavender. The aroma will leave your home smelling fresh and clean.
Baking cakes or cookies with vanilla can make your home temporarily smell great!
Plant odor-neutralizing plants like bamboo palm (reed palm), Boston fern, spider plant, Gerbera daisies, Areca plant, Dendrobium orchids, and moth orchids. Not only do these plants remove indoor air pollutants and odors, they are completely safe around cats and also easy to care for.
Conclusion: Should You Burn Incense Around Cats?
We hope this guide helps you answer the question “Is incense bad for cats?”
It is generally best not to burn incense around cats, especially synthetic incense, which contains petroleum products, sawdust, etc. Even certain natural incenses containing essential oils could harm your cat. Incense creates smoke, which could result in respiratory issues like sneezing, coughing, and wheezing in cats. Incense and cats with asthma and respiratory infections are particularly a bad combo, since these health issues make them even more vulnerable to the smoke.
If you must burn incense for religious purposes, do so in a well-ventilated area. Choose natural incense made of wood, resin, and natural fragrances. Keep the incense away from your cat as far as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some cat-friendly alternatives to incense?
Pet-friendly candles, Febreze@ Fabric Refresher, and solid air-freshener sprays and plug-ins are generally safe around cats.
What incense is calming for cats?
Frankincense, myrrh, chamomile, and ginger are usually calming for cats.
Should you burn candles around cats?
It is best not to burn candles around cats, as they could emit volatile organic compounds and petroleum products that can harm your cats' respiratory system. Even natural candles contain essential oils that can be toxic to cats. Cats and kittens could also accidentally knock down the candles, resulting in fire hazards.
