How to Clean Cats With Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil with a variety of human uses from disinfecting to treating acne. It has almost as many uses for pets, as a popular flea controller, skin conditioner, disinfectant for wounds, even tick remover. Careful use of diluted tea tree oil can prove to be an effective remedy for common problems your cat may have.
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Things You'll Need
- Tea tree oil
- Olive oil
- Small dish
- Cotton balls
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Towel
- Tea tree oil pet shampoo
Instructions
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If your cat suffers from ear mites, make an ear mite solution with diluted tea tree oil. Combine 10 drops of tea tree oil and 1 tbsp. olive oil in a your small dish. (Do not exceed 10 drops.) Apply to your cat's ears with a cotton ball, allowing some of the oil to run into the ear canal. Massage your cat's ears for 1 minute, then completely remove all remaining oil using a cotton ball. Repeat this procedure daily for 1 week.
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To rid your cat and home of fleas, add 5 drops of tea tree oil to 8 oz. of water in a spray bottle. Apply this spray to your cat's coat and rub it in. Then towel dry your cat with a clean towel. There is a good chance your cat will lick his fur and ingest some of the spray, and some cats are more sensitive to essential oils than others. If this is a concern for you, avoid using tea tree oil flea spray.
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Commercial tea tree oil pet shampoos are widely available in pet stores, natural foods stores and online. Tea tree oil in these shampoos is diluted and combined with other ingredients such as aloe and mint to improve the condition of your cat's skin. Simply use it to bathe your cat as you normally would.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult your veterinarian about using tea tree oil on your cat, to be sure you use it safely and do not unintentionally harm your cat.
Never use more than the recommended amount of tea tree oil in any of the recipes above to avoid harming your cat.
Undiluted tea tree oil (and any other essential or aromatherapy oil) is extremely toxic and dangerous to cats. Never allow your cat access to undiluted essential oils, and never use undiluted essential oils on your cat. As a precaution, do not allow your cat to ingest the diluted form of the oil and be sure to completely wipe the remaining diluted oil from your cat's ears and coat after any treatment.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit cat image by jeancliclac from Fotolia.com
