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First Day Back to Homeschool using Charlotte Mason Method

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Yesterday I woke up and decided it was time to start our homeschool routine. We are still enjoying our summer but both kids need a little more structure and stimulation. 

Last year during our RV travels we embraced more of an “unschooling” structure to our school year. We had the opportunity to travel to nearly 40 states, visit all kinds of museums and national parks, and the kids learned so much. 

This year, however, we are home on the farm and have chosen to go back to following the Charlotte Mason Method. 

Here’s the video on our first day back to homeschool. Be sure to subscribe to us by CLICKING here. 

Homeschool Resources: 

Are You Thinking of Homeschooling?

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Our Homeschool Routine video for 2018-2019 is here!!!

Sometimes I think I am. Other people think I am. But to be honest y’all….

I, simply, am not willing to wake up at 6am every morning and be on someone else’s schedule. I’m stubborn. I’ve reached that point of no going back. 

Once you have a taste of freedom, you can’t get it out of your system. 

I can’t imagine going through the hustle of early morning routine, making lunches, and having to be home around 3pm to pick the kids up. 

Not only that, but homeschooling IS SO DANG EASY. I must be honest, it took me a good 2-3 years to really discover my own personal style of homeschooling. And, to be completely honest, I still am refining it. 

Last year we did straight unschooling. 

This year we are going to be (a wee tiny bit) more structured and I did order some curriculum. But what I’m learning is, each child of mine is so different and have their own needs and learning style. I can’t make them fit into my own little box and I must give them the freedom to explore their passions. 

Unschooling taught me to trust my kids more and to allow them to dive DEEP into their passions. 

Homeschooling has also given me the freedom to work from home and YouTube our adventures. And to help all of you who are deciding on if you should homeschool or not, or maybe you are just deciding to homeschool this year and you would love to take a sneak peak at my curriculum and routine…well then check out the video below! 

I’ll be sharing more videos on our homeschool routine, so be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you can see when I post them! 

More stuff on homeschooling: 

Healthy Fats and Your Mitochondria

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I want to get down to the very basics of our health and talk about the importance of  healthy fats and your mitochondria. From our very first introduction to science in elementary school, we learn that the cell is the basic building block of all living things. Our bodies contain trillions of cells, which provide our structure, thrive (or not) on the nutrients we give them, turn those nutrients into the energy that enables us to live and move, and perform specialized functions. Within our cells is the hereditary material that makes you you.

Obviously, it’s really important that we take care of our cells. Let’s look at one of the specialized structures within the cell, the mitochondria—the powerhouses or factories of the cell. They act like a digestive system that takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and creates energy rich molecules for the cell. So important, but things that most of us know very little about.

How healthy your mitochondria is determines how healthy your organs and muscles are—indeed, how healthy you are! Most of us start life with very healthy mitochondria. But that health gets compromised by stress, sedentary lifestyles, free-radical damage, and exposure to infections, allergens and toxin. In this article, let’s talk about one of the chief reasons our mitochondria deteriorate—poor-quality foods and a deficit of healthy ones. More specifically—poor quality fats and a lack of enough healthy fats. We are the ones who determine what kind of fuel we are going to put in our mitochondrial tank, just as we determine if will put gasoline, diesel or something else in our car engines to get the best response.

What Fuel Works Best?

Our bodies use only two kinds of fuel—fats or sugars (glycogen). One groundbreaking expert in nutritional and metabolic medicine, Dr. Ron Rosedale, describes it this way:

Health and life span are determined by the proportion of fat versus sugar people burn throughout their lifetime and so the more fat that one burns as fuel, the healthier a person will be, and the more likely he or she will live a long time; and the more sugar a person burns, the more disease ridden and the shorter a life span a person is likely to have.

The fuel that is burned in your mitochondria (fat or sugar) for energy determines how healthy you will be. We need both kinds of fuel. Burning fat produces more energy and releases fewer free radicals than sugar. However, sugar burns very fast, so is useful during times of emergency. It is extremely critical to our health to learn how to balance the fats and sugars we supply to our mitochondria so they can continue to be the efficient factories that give us energy and health.

What the Wrong Fuel Does

Today’s Standard American Diet (SAD) has produced sad evidence that it has failed miserably at improving health and increasing longevity. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, 1 in 5 deaths is obesity-related, half have pre-diabetes, diabetes or other chronic illness, and 1 in 3 women and half of all men will develop some form of cancer. The reason? As Dr. Mecola states: “Most people simply eat far too many processed foods, net carbs and too few healthy fats, and too many unhealthy fats, which results in gaining and retaining extra body fat and becoming increasingly insulin resistant.” Let’s take a look at why the SAD diet is failing so miserably.

  • Nearly 1,000 calories per day are added fats (unhealthy ones) and sweeteners.
  • Although the mineral density of wheat has greatly deteriorated, we are consuming 45 percent more grain than twenty years ago.
  • We’ve decreased fruit and vegetable intake
  • Consumption of sugar has skyrocketed, most in the form of unhealthy additives.
  • There’s been an increase in added hydrogenated oils and a decrease in saturated fat.
  • Processed foods make up 63 percent of our calories.
  • Unhealthy genetically modified foods are everywhere—in raw foods, oils, processed foods and more.

What the Right Fuel Does

Supplying  your body with a balance of more healthy fats for consistent energy and good health and limiting the carbs and sugars to just what your body needs in times of emergencies and high-energy activities will keep your mitochondria healthy.

  1. Healthy fat helps control hunger
  2. Healthy fat promotes a healthy metabolism
  3. Healthy fat transports the right vitamin and minerals throughout your body.
  4. Healthy fat insulates and protects your vital organs.

How to Fuel Our Body with Healthy Fats

Dietary fats are essential to healthy mitochondria, and therefore, to healthy people. They give our mitochondria the fuel it needs to supply energy and support cell growth. They allow our mitochondria to protect our organs and keep our bodies warm.

There are four major dietary fats:

  • Saturated fats
  • Trans fats
  • Monounsaturated fats
  • Polyunsaturated fats

The healthiest food sources for good fats are those that are minimally processed. Here are four simple tips for making sure you are supplying your mitochondria with the healthiest fuel.

  • Use healthier kitchen oils—get rid of regular vegetable oils like corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, or plain vegetable oil. Instead use extra virgin olive oil, and organic avocado oil and virgin coconut oil.
  • Include small amounts of healthy high-fat foods—add nuts, avocado or olives in small amounts. Use nut butters, and full-fat yogurt or kefir (if you can tolerate dairy), dark chocolate, and pasture-raised organic beef, salmon, wild-caught tuna, and whole, pastured eggs.
  • Include a good source of Omega-3 fat every day—add foods like fish, flax seed or oil, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. Consider Omega-3 supplements like this one if you do not eat fish.
  • Reduce less healthy fats—ditch the chips or crackers.  Avoid fried foods from fast food joints.

Make a Choice for a Healthy Eating Plan

There are dozens of healthy dietary plans to choose from, including vegetarian, low-carb, blood type, raw, Paleo, Ketogenic, and others. One thing that I find absolutely necessary for my sanity is meal planning. The important thing is to make a choice now to eat the real-food way. I can help you with some specific guidelines in my book, Everyday Natural. Learning to follow a healthy eating plan will ensure that you are supplying your body with the healthy fats it needs.

Be sure the eating plan you follow provides a healthy supply of the nutrients your body needs to be in optimal condition. These nutrients will include:

  1. Alpha lipoic acid, which preserves mitochondrial function, and reduces cellular stress. You can find this in organic meats and vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
  2. Coenzyme Q10, which is integral to the top function of your mitochondria. Get your supply from organic meats.
  3. Acetyl-L-carnitine, which keeps the motors of your mitochondria running smoothly. It increases the fat-burning capacity. It can be found in organic meats and poultry. The redder the meat, the more carnitine.
  4. Vitamin-D, a fat-soluble vitamin. It enhances energy production in the mitochondria of your muscles after exercise. It is difficult to get enough from diet alone, but it is formed when you are exposed to sunlight. You may need to supplement during the winter months.
  5. Add seaweeds to your diet.
  6. Increase your protein consumption with organic organ meats about once a week.

If you make a consistent effort to feed your mitochondria properly, you will be on the road to better health. The healthier your mitochondria are, the more efficient your cells are in processing nutrients.

Sources

  1. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/basics/cell.
  2. https://experiencelife.com/article/the-care-and-feeding-of-your-mitochondria/.
  3. http://health-inspiration.com/html/mitochondrial_fuel.html.
  4. https://healthyforgood.heart.org/eat-smart/articles/dietary-fats.
  5. http://www.return2health.net/articles/feeding-your-mitochondria/.

 

The Truth About Essential Oils and Dogs

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After finishing my recent post on essential oils and cats, there was a bit of an uproar in the canine community: “Howl about me? Yip, yip, howl can we use oils?” So this post on essential oils and dogs is just for you and your canine companions. We love being able to support our pugs using essential oils and you should too! There has been just as much confusion and polarizing information online about the use of essential oils and dogs —perhaps more. So it’s time to take a closer look at verifiable information related to the use of essential oils with or around some of our best friends!

Essential Oils and Dogs

Just as cats are unique, and must be cared for in ways unique to their makeup, so too are dogs. Not only are they unique as a species, but there are many different sizes of dogs, so each dog must be cared for uniquely. Essential oils can safely be used with dogs, if you follow the specific guidelines for safe usage. So let’s take a look at some guidelines for safe usage.

Use ONLY pure essential oils.

Not all essential oils are created equally! Online sites, including Amazon, are loaded with fake or watered-down or polluted essential oils. High-quality essential oils can greatly benefit your pet. Because essential oils are lipid soluble distilled from plants, they can be absorbed into cells through the cell membrane. When choosing an essential oil to use with your dog, first carefully consider the quality of the essential oil.

  • Has it been third party tested?
  • Is it a pharmaceutical grade EO that is safe to use topically or internally?
  • Have you consulted with your veterinarian to be sure there are no underlying reasons why it might be unsafe to use essential oils with your dog?
  • Never use aromatherapy or perfume grade essential oils on with your dog. Use only the therapeutic grade essential oils.

I highly recommend dōTERRA essential oils because they have more stringent testing and purity/quality checks that any other company. But even dōTERRA oils must be purchased through a Wellness Advocate (not amazon) to be sure you are getting the genuine oils. Here’s my unbiased tips to look for when buying essential oils. 

Use the recommended dosage for your specific dog.

Dogs cannot metabolize essential oils as quickly as humans, so the essential oils should always be diluted before using. Remember, that in general the smaller the dog, the more you want to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil. A suggested dilution for a mid-sized dog would be to use 3-5 drops and dilute it 80-90 percent in a carrier oil.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Dogs are more sensitive to essential oils than humans are. Essential oils should always be used diluted, even when just inhaling. This is important to remember, as we humans don’t dilute when inhaling directly out of the bottle. Water diffusion is an excellent way to use essential oils through inhalation with your pups.
  • Most issues that dogs have can be addressed with the inhalation of diluted essential oils.
  • Only use essential oils with your dog when needed to address a concern—not to “prevent” a health issue. An example is to have them inhale a digestive essential oil after they eat, when they don’t have any digestive issues. This is not recommended.
  • Do not add essential oils to your dog’s food or drinking water for no reason. See internal application method below for more details on this. 
  • Avoid using essential oils with puppies under 10 weeks of age—use hydrosols instead.
  • Avoid the eyes, nose, and genital areas.

Types of Application for Dogs

The most common ways to use essential oils with your dog is: topically, aromatically, and internally. Use extreme caution when you begin. Just as you slowly introduce new food to your dog, so too introduce essential oils slowly. Start with a small amount, and watch your dog’s behavior. If there is no negative response, but no visible therapeutic effect, you can slowly increase the frequency of application. Each dog has a unique body chemistry, and can tolerate essential oils to a different extent.

Aromatic application

Water diffusion is the recommended aromatic application. Start with 1-5 drops of oil in your diffuser. Monitor your pet’s behavior during the diffusion and always leave a door open in the room you are diffusing so your dog can leave the room if he wants to. 

Topical application

In most instances, the recommended method for applying essential oils to your dog is topical application. Start with diluted oils, and add more if needed. Here are some tips for applying:

  1. Rub along the spine—this is the most common and best tolerated application. Add some of your carrier oil to the palm of your hand, and then add 1-2 drops of your essential oil. Then rub your pup along his/her spine, as normal. 
  2. Ear tipping—apply to the tips of your pet’s ears. Avoid this method with long-eared dogs because they may shake their head and get the oil in their eyes accidentally.
  3. Apply to the paws—this is not always well tolerated in small dogs. Be sure to get it on the skin between the paw pads, but be sure to dilute the oils because this is a fairly sensitive area.
  4. Water misting—this is helpful for covering a larger area, such as when you may be misting with a homemade flea solution using essential oils.

Internal application

Exercise caution when using this method. Be sure your dog has no underlying medical condition that might cause problems with internal application of essential oils. If you and your vet feel it is safe to use internal application, a recommended dosage is 1 drop in 2 cups of drinking water or 1 drop mixed with some fish oil and drizzled on wet dog food. If using in food, use in wet food only. Remember that because your dog grooms frequently, in most cases topical application also means internal application. For that reason always use diluted essential oils.

What Essential Oils Are Best?

Dr. Janet Roark has given us a list of her favorite top ten essential oils for dogs. These are:

  1. Frankincense: Supports healthy cellular function, rejuvenates skin, relaxation, balances mood, soothing
  2. Lavender: calming and relaxing qualities, soothes occasional skin irritations, eases feelings of tension, promotes restful sleep, reduces anxious feelings
  3. Helichrysum: promotes a healthy metabolism, promotes vitality and energy, soothing to skin
  4. DigestZen Blend: great for road trips, promotes healthy digestion, soothes occasional stomach discomfort, promotes a healthy gastrointestinal tract, eases feelings of queasiness, helps reduce bloating, gas, and occasional indigestion 
  5. OnGuard Blend: an effective alternative to synthetic options for immune support, supports the body’s natural antioxidant defenses, protects against seasonal and environmental threats, supports healthy respiratory function
  6. Balance Blend: promotes a whole-body sense of relaxation, evokes feelings of tranquility and balance, promotes restful sleep, eases anxious feelings, use on car rides to create a calm environment
  7. Myrrh: powerful cleansing properties, especially for the mouth and throat, soothing to the skin, promotes awareness and emotional balance and well-being, use when tension levels are high, maintains peaceful feelings
  8. Roman Chamomile: Has a calming effect on the skin, mind, and body, soothes the systems of the body, supports healthy immune system function, add to shampoo/ condition for a skin soothing bath, soothes the body and mind, blends well with lavender or the grounding blend, apply over heart  for feelings of well-being, soothes anger and irritability, promotes peaceful rest
  9. Lemon: naturally cleanses the body and aids in digestion, supports healthy respiratory function, promotes positive mood, assists with seasonal respiratory discomfort, helpful at removing grease from skin and hair
  10. AromaTouch Blend: comforting and relaxing effects, lessens tension when applied topically by massage, soothing

There are many other essential oils that may be safe for your pet. Try letting your dog choose the essential oil. Animals like dogs and horses will use their sense of smell to choose plants to eat when they need them for medicinal purposes. Try offering them different oils to smell. Their sense of smell is so precise, you do not need to open the bottle. Most dogs will lick the air repeatedly, which is part of their process of smelling. A dog will turn away from the oil he does not want, and try to lick the bottle or stand close to the one he chooses.

Essential Oils that May Not Be Safe to Use

Some oils should be used with caution with dogs. Some, like tea tree oil, may be too strong. These include:

  • Camphor
  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Melaleuca /Tea Tree
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Wintergreen

 Other that, by and large, should usually be avoided include:

  • Anise
  • Clove
  • Juniper
  • Thyme
  • Wintergreen
  • Yarrow

How to Use Essential Oils on Your Dog

Essential oils enter the bloodstream quickly. The most important consideration is to use only pure, high-quality essential oils. It is fairly easy to spot signs of trouble in how your dog responds. Watch for loss of appetite and trouble urinating, your pet may exhibit running eyes, vomiting, excessive panting, rubbing face, muscle tremors, diarrhea, rashes and drooling.

There are several common things for which you can use an essential oil with your dog. Here are some of the more common uses:

  • Allergies—it is recommended that you work with your vet to determine the source of the allergy, since addressing the root cause will help to prevent the itching. Recommended oils are frankincense, lemon, lavender, and peppermint.
  • Ear Infections—cleaning the ears regularly with a natural ear cleaner is essential. Recommended oils are diluted frankincense, geranium, lavender and basil.
  • Seizures—a recommended oil to use is frankincense.
  • Transitions—use when bringing a puppy home, transitions between homes, or adding a new animal. Recommended oils: lavender and myrrh.

3 Recipes for Homemade Essential Oil Solutions for Your Dog

1. Soothing Muscle Aches

  • 2-3 drops of Copaiba
  • 3 drops of Lavender
  • 1 tablespoon of carrier oil

Mix in a glass roller ball bottle, and rub the roller on the area, and then massage.

2. Flea and Tick Repellent Spray

  • 1-2 drops of Lavender
  • 1-2 drop Eucalyptus
  • 1-2 drop of Geranium
  • 1-2 drop Lemongrass
  • 2 tablespoons of carrier oil

Add ingredients to 8-oz. glass bottle, fill with water, and shake well before using.

3. Calming Mist for Dogs

  • 3-4 drops Rosemary
  • 3-4 drops Roman Chamomile
  • 3-4 drops Lavender

Add to an 8-oz. glass spray bottle, fill with water, and shake well before spraying. Try spraying the mist into your palms and massaging your dog’s neck, back and chest to help them relax.

Get Started

Essential oils have so many benefits for dogs, and can work wonders. Be sure you are offering your canine best friend this natural, beneficial option for addressing health and wellness concerns. Just be sure to do your research, and do not go essential oil crazy. I recommend that you begin by using an essential oil with your dog for about two weeks, and then give your dog a break for two to three weeks. Watch out for signs of problems and monitor your pet’s behavior. Most importantly, listen to your dog, and don’t force an essential oil on your pet. Always consult your vet if you experience symptoms or issues you cannot understand or resolve.

Resources

  1. Dr. Janet Roark, DVM, is a veterinarian with a specialty in Veterinary Aromatic Medicine. She has multiple resources available at: https://www.facebook.com/EODVM/, and online at: http://essentialoilvet.com/about/.
  2. Dr. Eric Zielinski (“Dr. Z”) is trained as an aromatherapist, public health researcher and chiropractor, and has become the #1 source for Biblical Health and non-branded essential oils education. He can be accessed at: https://drericz.com/essential-oils-for-dogs/.
  3. “DoTERRA Essential oils for dogs,” available at: https://healinginourhomes.com/essential-oils-for-dogs/.
  4. Nayana Morag has a specialty in Animal Aromatherapy, and has studied Ttouch, animal acupressure, 5 element theory, and Aromatic Energetics and Kinesiology. She has available an Animal PsychAromatica Online course, available at: https://www.essentialanimals.com/courses/introduction-essential-oils-horses-dogs-online-course/.

Sources

  1. https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-vet-janet-roark-dvm/dr-roarks-top-10-essential-oils-for-dogs/1795528864005945/.
  2. https://drericz.com/essential-oils-for-dogs/.
  3. https://www.sitstay.com/blogs/good-dog-blog/essential-oils-for-dogs.

 

 

The Truth About Essential Oils and Cats

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There have been several recent Facebook posts or blogs questioning the use of essential oils around cats. Some have been people who fear they have “poisoned” their cats because they diffused essential oils in rooms where their cats had access. Others have claimed that essential oils should never be used on or around a cat.

Others of you have been honestly questioning what the real truth is about essential oils and cats. I thought it was time that we took a real close look at verifiable information related to the use of essential oils with or around cats.

The Science Behind Essential Oils and Cats

Let’s start with a basic understanding of cats. Cats are a unique animal species—just as dogs are unique and humans are unique. Cats are, well, cats! So the protocols used to treat or nurture cats has to be unique to their species. One example of this in the current misinformation out there about cats is that all essential oils are toxic to them, because they are “deficient” in their liver enzymes, and cannot metabolize essential oils. The fear is that the oils could build up over use, cause horrible side effects or even death.

But cat experts—veterinarians, some with specialties in Veterinary Aromatic Medicine, are able to share more specific truths about the metabolism of cats. Beginning with—it’s a completely different metabolic set than ours because, well, cats are cats. They aren’t “deficient” in enzymes any more than humans are deficient in fur. They have a unique metabolism, and must be treated uniquely as cats.

Cats can metabolize essential oils, and they will not build up over time when the oils are used correctly for cats. Cats take much longer to eliminate a drug than a dog…or a pony…or you or I. The amount of time it takes the liver and kidneys to break down and filter half of the amount of a drug is called a half-life. A half-life for a cat is almost 38 hours. A dog needs only 9 hours. A pony only 1 hour. For most medical purposes, a drug clears a human’s system in 5 half-lives (each drug has its own half-life, ranging anywhere from seconds to days).

Cats have less ability to metabolize an enzyme called glucuronyl transferase than other species. That makes them more susceptible to all kinds of toxicity, including plant, NSAIDS (aspirin, Tylenol), chocolate, caffeine, lead, many types of pesticides, and, in the case of impure essential oils, even essential oils.

For that reason, the important things for us to deal with in this post will be:

  1. What essential oils are pure enough to use on cats?
  2. What specific essential oils should never be used on cats?
  3. What specific essential oils are safe to be used on cats?
  4. What ways can essential oils be administered to cats?

1. What essential oils are pure enough to use on cats?

It’s not hard to find essential oils to buy. But, buying a good one…a pure one…can be a challenge. Online sites, including Amazon, are loaded with fake or watered-down or polluted essential oils. Let me give you a few guidelines for spotting the good stuff!

  • How it looks: Try this test—place a drop on white printer paper and let it dry. It there’s an oily ring left behind, it’s not a pure essential oil (except for a few exceptions that are naturally heavier in consistency and color).
  • The price: It’s smart to be wary of an essential oil with a super-low price tag. Remember that it takes a roomful of plant material to fill just one bottle of essential oil, and some botanicals are scarce.
  • The name: Make sure the plant’s Latin name is listed on the label, or on the webpage. Otherwise you might be getting a hybrid.
  • The container: All essential must be stored in dark blue or amber glass bottles to keep the oil from degrading from ultraviolet radiation.
  • The feel: Rub one drop between your fingers. True essential oils should never feel thick or greasy.
  • How it pours: The bottle should ideally have a plug that controls how many drops come out. It should never have a plastic or rubber dropper pipettes, which can break down and taint the oil.
  • How it’s cultivated: Essential oils should never be raised where they have been contaminated by pesticides. Oils labeled “wild-crafted” have been harvested in the wild, away from pesticides. Make sure the oils are organic.

I highly recommend dōTERRA essential oils because they have more stringent testing and purity/quality checks that any other company. But even dōTERRA oils must be purchased through a wellness advocate (not amazon) to be sure you are getting the genuine oils. Here’s my ultimate guide for buying the best essential oils. 

2. What essential oils should never be used on or around a cat?

It is important to avoid certain essential oils for DIRECT (topical)  application. While research shows that cats have a decreased ability to metabolize some of these oils, it does not mean they are completely unable. 

Here’s a list of oils that you should use cautiously around cats. It’s important to note that most of these oils are on the list because of gross misuse of the essential oil by the owner. This means the oil was applied undiluted and over 5-10 times the recommended amount. 

These oils should not be applied topically and used in diffusion only (with a door left open for the cat to leave the room).

  • Basil
  • Birch
  • Cinnamon 
  • Clove 
  • Eucalyptus 
  • Fennel
  • Melaleuca 
  • Oregano 
  • Peppermint 
  • Thyme  
  • Wintergreen
  • Citrus oils 

Here are some simple tips to be sure you are not exposing your cat to essential oils:

  1. When diffusing essential oils in your home, always leave a door open so your cat is not confined to one room. 
  2. Never pet your cat after applying these essential oils to your own skin.
  3. Keep your oils stored where your cat cannot reach them.
  4. Don’t use toxic oils to clean anything your cat could lick or rub (example: if your cat likes to jump on your counters and/or lick up spills on your floor, avoid using citrus oils in your cleaning solution).
  5. Use only higher dilutions of essential oils on your cat. You should be heavily diluting any essential oils you apply on your cats. 

3. What specific essential oils are safe to use on cats?

Let’s begin with this caution: As we discussed earlier, cats take much longer to metabolize chemicals than many other animal species—including humans—so all essential oils should only be used infrequently on cats.  There are at least five essential oils that most experts feel are very safe for cats when used sporadically and topically (with heavy dilution of 1 drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon – 1 tablespoon). These are:

  • Cedarwood
  • Frankincense
  • Geranium
  • Helichrysum
  • Lavender

There are many others, but these are considered to be the safest. Others may include:

  • Rosemary
  • Marjoram

Essential oils should always be diluted when used with cats. Also, because just as every human is unique, every cat is different, and you should always consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about the effect of essential oils on your cat. The vet can give you some bloodwork reports to ensure your cat has no underlying disease.

4. What ways can essential oils be administered to cats?

There are several ways that essential oils can be used with cats. Water diffusion is a very safe method. If you are diffusing an essential oil that might be toxic to cats, be sure you are not diffusing where the cat’s food and litterbox are kept, and make sure the kitty is not “locked” in the room with the diffuser. Most cats will simply go away if they don’t like an oil being diffused. Dr. Janet Roark, DVM, says this: “I find that most often, though, she needs the oil as much as I do, and sleeps as close as she can to the diffuser. The Protective Blend is one of her favorites!”

  • Try making a litter box powder with 1 cup of baking soda and 3-4 drops of an essential oil of your choice. Stir the mixture well and let it sit overnight to saturate the baking soda. Then sprinkle this on your cat’s litter box.
  • You can apply oils topically (very diluted) using 1 drop to a teaspoon or tablespoon of carrier oil, and using just a drop of that mixture. Apply along the cat’s spine or rub the tips of the ears.
  • You can also make a natural insect repellent for your cat using essential oils. To repel fleas, use 1 drop each of lavender, rosemary, and cedarwood with a tablespoon or so of distilled water, and spritz your cat once a day.
  • A repellent for ticks can be made using 1-2 drops each of geranium and lavender in a tablespoon or so of distilled water.
  • If your cat has ear mites, you can try a mixture of 1 drop of Rosemary diluted with a teaspoon of carrier oil, then use a cotton swab barely dipped in the solution to clean the ear. Rosemary inhibits ectoparasites and reduces inflammation.

In Summary

Hopefully this article has soothed your troubled spirit about the so-called dangers of using essential oils on your cat. Caution is always the best option, but make your choices based on verifiable, credible information—not online hearsay or biased opinions that are causing pandemonium.

Essential oils are must be respected and used with care. When you see someone on Facebook freaking out about poisoning their cat with essential oils, there’s a few things that I encourage you to use your common sense about.

  1. What brand of essential oils were used?
  2. What’s the lot number, brand, purchase date, dosage, length of use, and prior health concerns? 
  3. Did the cat recently receive vaccinations or given flea and tick medication? Trust me people, these are far more dangerous than essential oils. 
  4. Is the cat laying on blankets and bedding that has been washed with dangerous fabric softeners?
  5. Is the cat eating dried kibble that has no nutrition in it? 
  6. Is the cat breathing in second hand smoke or unhealthy room fresheners like plug ins or air freshener sprays?

Let’s be smart and look at each fear-based article with a critical eye! 

Sources

  1. https://mailchi.mp/84d05339fa01/cats-essential-oils-research-references.
  2. https://www.prevention.com/beauty/natural-beauty/7-signs-your-essential-oils-are-fake
  3. http://roberttisserand.com/2011/06/cats-essential-oil-safety/ 
  4. https://www.facebook.com/pg/EODVM/notes/?ref=page_internal