tea tree oil dangerous to cats?...response from a company

[Tina B and crew]

Not sure if this should go here or Debbie's Cloud. It is health related in a way I guess. Feel free to move it if this is the inappropriate forum.


Traci...you are in agreement with many out there that tea tree oil is never to be used on a cat correct? Are there any "scientific" sources that I can refer to on this subject? I know that it is often discussed on a holistic list I belong to and the concensus is that tea tree should not be used on or near cats. I was browsing through a website that sells natural products for humans and animals (www.mothernature.com) and found several of the products they sell contained not only tea tree oil but other essential oils as well. I emailed the company to ask about this and if they would reconsider selling these products. I also gave them links to several sites regarding tea tree oil and cats. Here is the response I received:

Hi there,

Thank you for your e-mail! We stand by the products we sell 100% and have thousands of satisfied pet customers. A lot of things that are good for humans are not necessarily good for pets - but what is not good for one cat may be just fine for another.

Since the majority of top quality essential oils are 100% pure oil there is always a possibility of skin reaction in humans. Pure oil of any kind should never be applied to the skin of an animal. The pet products manufactured for the market today are all diluted only to a point of detection and not used at full strength. It really is a matter of perspective and we respect your right as a pet owner to live in a life that is acceptable to you.

Thank you for contacting MotherNature.com

Warm regards,
Herby
Customer Service Dept.
MotherNature.com

Am I off base in thinking that they don't care about facts?? I am right about the tea tree oil and it's dangers to cats and dogs arent' I?

[Traci]

Tina, thanks for posting it...and feel free to write them back with a piece of your mind.

Tea tree oil in fact, is toxic to cats. Here's a quick abstract you can quote to that "caring" company..

Tea Tree Oil Toxicity in cats

You can also send them the following:

Aromatherapy, Essential Oils and Cats - Dangers and Warnings (includes toxicology excerpts from professionals in the field)

Tea Tree Oil Toxicities

Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats.

Medline abstracts on Tea Tree Oil, essential oils, mostly human med related: Melaleuca alternifolia, Myrtaceae -- (cyclic terpene toxicity) ....(scroll the page to Melaleuca alternifolia, noted in bold red text).

but what is not good for one cat may be just fine for another.

Oh puhlease...tea tree oil and essential oils are "not good" for ANY cat. This is really bad customer service, not to mention no resource or evidence given to you to support said claims.

The pet products manufactured for the market today are all diluted only to a point of detection and not used at full strength.

An innocent and ill-informed pet owner really doesn't know that, for they are relying on said CLAIM. ConsumerLab.Com would also be a good source, especially tips for sorting out claims vs evidence, ingredients, unregulation of products.

It really is a matter of perspective and we respect your right as a pet owner to live in a life that is acceptable to you.

Purely propaganda, hype and marketing gimmicks. "Perspective" has nothing to do with the validity, safety of the product, nor does it make the evidence. Sounds like a canned response if ever I saw one. I doubt they were even referring to tea tree oil specifically!!

[Tina B and crew]

Thanks Traci...I sent them links to all the sites but one you mentioned in my original email. I know for sure that I will never purchase items from this company if that is how they choose to handle a consumers concern. I sit here shaking my head at their response....

[Tina B and crew]

just sent them another email letting them know that I for one will never order from them.

[Mona]

Tina/Traci~

I was looking up Tea Tree Oil when I came across a forum about cats and could not believe what I read.

A poster stated a remedy for killing fleas as, "mixing tea tree oil with a drop of lavendar oil and put it into a vaporizer" AND mixing some up and spraying the furniture and flooring.

Sometimes I am really horrified that people can be so irresponsible as to use a product without researching it at all.

Thanks for the post Tina.

Mona, Honeybun and Chloe

[Traci]

Let me guess, the poster was a homeopathic or holistic evangelizer. You'd be surprised how many alternative-minded pet owners concoct the most dangerous, ineffective, ludicrous potions for fleas, ticks, mange, skin conditions, heartworm, worms, you name it. (btw, stay clear of PetConsumer Reports, they are the worst for spreading this nonsense)

*SIGH*

Can you provide the link to the forum in question?

[Mona]

I sent you a PM with the links. Mona

[Tina B and crew]

Now now Traci...don't lump all of us holistic types into one category

I firmly believe in holistic medicine and homeopathy, but I keep myself informed enough to make the right choices for myself and my pets...I don't ever buy into all the "faddish" hogwash that is often nonsense.