table of contents
- Toxicity to cats
- Use with aggressive cats
- Be careful with fragrance lamps with lavender oil
- There is a danger to small animals
The plant from the Mediterranean region is also a very popular guest in our gardens or on balconies and terraces. The intense colors and the pleasant smell not only attract butterflies and bees, but are also found next to them Man and animal a diverse use, for example as a bath additive, to ward off insects or as a seasoning and Medicinal plant. Meanwhile in our latitudes there is next to the real lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) up to 30 other species in a wide variety of colors, from white to pink to blue-violet. The intense but pleasant scent comes from the essential oils of the lavender flowers.
Toxicity to cats
Lavender Toxic to Cats - Just a Myth?
Cats are naturally curious and playful, no matter how old they are. They constantly have to re-explore their surroundings and regularly need a change. Green plants both indoors and outdoors are very popular with cats. They just enjoy it
nibble. Some plants, such as cat grass, can help velvet paws get hairballs that gagging in the stomach during daily grooming (also known as bezoars known). If the cats come across the wrong plant, the consequences for your four-legged friend can be life-threatening.
Many cat owners are still unsettled because the myth that lavender is poisonous for velvet paws has been around for a long time. This rumor is further fueled by the fact that many cats run away as quickly as possible at the intense scent of lavender. For others, however, the smell is magically attractive, such as the scent of valerian or Catnip.
Since now, however, all the plant parts of the lavender non-toxic is also for these four-legged friends no danger. On the contrary, when used appropriately, lavender can improve the well-being of dogs and cats.
Some of the ingredients can quickly get into the body when touched through the skin, among other things they have a very calming effect on the psyche. But this is not the only reason why lavender is so valued, but also because of its effect:
- antispasmodic
- inflating
- cholagogue
- when used externally, it stimulates blood circulation
Use with aggressive cats
Since lavender is completely harmless to humans and animals, it is also popular as Sedatives used. The ornamental and medicinal plant can have a natural calming effect on cats with noticeable behavior problems or on cats who are very nocturnal. It is used here
- dried in lavender pillows or
- as hydrosols, for example as a room fragrance.
The same applies to dogs. The natural sedative provides gentle relief in nervous animals, but is also used for flatulence and indigestion.
The following are preferred:
- Lavender pillow made from dried flowers
- naturopathic preparations based on lavender
The latter are administered via the food or water. However, before using it, it is advisable to find out about one vet to get advice in this regard.
tip: Be careful when using crested lavender and spear lavender. Both contain a very high proportion of monoterpene ketones. If the dosage is too high, a neurotoxic, abortive, convulsive, generally harmful effect can quickly occur.
Be careful with fragrance lamps with lavender oil
The colorless to yellowish lavender oil with its intense, characteristic smell and slightly bitter taste is mainly obtained from the flowers of lavender (Lavandula flos). They contain a highly volatile mixture of substances, the so-called essential oils in a 1.5% concentration. But there are also other ingredients:
- Linalool
- Linalyl acetate
- Fighter
- Cineole
- Tannins
- Flavonoids
- Saponin
- Glycosides
Intensely scented lavender oil is very popular in fragrance lamps. However, cat owners should keep in mind that not all cats like this strong scent. But not only that, it can also be dangerous for the puss in certain circumstances.
A cat's nose is three times more powerful than that of humans. Humans only have up to 20 million olfactory cells, whereas cats have 65 million. That makes it far more intense odor and reacts a lot more sensitive on different smells. Even if lavender is by no means harmful for cats and dogs, the intense scent of the essential oils when used over fragrance lamps can lead to problems, especially for cats.
Toxins cannot be processed in the liver of cats in the same way as humans. With a strong inhalation of the lavender scent it can happen with velvet paws Metabolic problems occur in the liver and, as a result, symptoms of intoxication.
This can be prevented:
- Allow animals to leave the room at any time
- Use fragrance oil sparingly
tip: Be careful when using scented oil from crested lavender and spear lavender. Due to its high concentration, this must be dosed very sparingly. Better still, cat lovers forego this scented oil entirely.
There is a danger to small animals
However, lavender is not entirely safe for all animals. For small animals like
- hamster
- Rabbits
- Mice
- Guinea pig
Lavender is quite poisonous. Due to the high concentration of the essential oil in the plant, rabbits and guinea pigs can mainly be exposed to one Lavender poisoning die. If small animals come into contact with lavender, symptoms of poisoning can quickly occur. The first signs of this are:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- Colic
- cramps
- Paralysis
- Circulatory problems
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Indigestion
- Respiratory paralysis
In the worst case, if the dose is too high, it inevitably leads to death. At the first sign of intoxication, one should be quickest vet be sought out. However, in order to avoid harm to the animals in general, every pet owner is best advised not to give the little four-legged friends any opportunity to come into contact with lavender at all.
