As cat owners, we all want our cats to stay healthy and happy, and we do our best to provide them with the best living environment. However, there are some things that many people overlook, like the scent in the house. We often think that pleasant-smelling things are good for our cats, but in reality, these scents may already be making them uncomfortable.
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Spicy Foods
Cats always seem to stare at us with eager eyes when we’re eating. Can we feed them a little bit of what we’re having? Yes, but be cautious about certain ingredients. Avoid feeding your cat foods that contain onions, garlic, or chili peppers. Both onions and garlic contain thiosulfates, which can cause anemia in cats even in small amounts. The capsaicin in chili peppers can create a burning sensation in a cat’s mouth and nose, and can damage their digestive tract if ingested. Even if you don’t feed them these ingredients directly, the lingering smell from dishes like stir-fried chili meat or onion meat can trigger your cat’s instinct to flee.
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Perfumes, Aromatherapy, Air Fresheners
After spraying perfume and smelling all fresh and nice, you might feel the urge to cuddle your cat and let them enjoy the fragrance too. Or, you might use an air freshener or mint-scented product to make the room smell better. While these scents may be pleasing to us, they are a “scent disaster” for cats. Cats use their sense of smell not only to navigate their environment and hunt but also for communication and sensing emotions. Strong artificial scents can interfere with their ability to process normal scent signals, causing discomfort and anxiety. Studies show that in environments with high concentrations of artificial fragrances, the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in cats can increase by 30%–50%, leading to behaviors like excessive grooming and decreased appetite. Menthol in mint can also stimulate a cat’s olfactory and nervous systems. Perfumes and air fresheners often contain artificial fragrances and chemical additives, which can overload a cat’s sensitive nose. Therefore, it’s best for cat owners to avoid using strongly scented products. If you want to grow plants, choose non-toxic options like cat grass or begonias.
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Alcohol and Disinfectants
When your cat gets its fur dirty but doesn’t need a bath, what do you do? You might use a wet wipe, perhaps thinking that alcohol wipes will clean it better. After adopting a cat, many owners become more focused on sanitizing their homes, using alcohol to wipe furniture or disinfectants to clean the floors. However, the strong smells of alcohol and cleaning chemicals can irritate and burn a cat’s respiratory and digestive tracts. Cats tend to lick their bodies and surrounding objects to clean themselves, and if they come into contact with surfaces that have residual chemicals, licking can lead to burns in their mouth and digestive system, causing vomiting or even bloody stools. For the health of your cat, make sure the area is well-ventilated when using chemical products, and allow the odors to dissipate before letting your cat back into the area. When choosing cleaning products, it’s best to opt for pet-safe, gentle cleaners and avoid those with strong chemical components. If your cat accidentally comes into contact with a chemical product, rinse it off with plenty of water and seek medical attention promptly.
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Citrus Scents
Lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits, as well as products containing citrus extracts, such as hand creams or air fresheners, can also be harmful to cats. These products contain limonene, and research shows that when the concentration of limonene in the environment reaches a certain level, more than 70% of cats will exhibit avoidance behaviors, with some even showing symptoms like drooling and sneezing. Additionally, if cats lick their fur that has come into contact with citrus substances, they may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal reactions. If you use citrus-scented cleaning products at home, make sure your cat doesn’t come into contact with them. However, if your cat keeps scratching a piece of furniture, you might try spraying a citrus scent there—just make sure your cat stays away!
