How to Treat Cat Fleas with Essential Oils

Can I Use Willow Oil to Treat My Cat's Fleas?

"Is willow oil safe to use around cats in order to manage fleas? Can I use willow oil dabbed on surfaces, impregnated cotton pads, etc?" - EK

Dangers of Essential Oils for Cats

There are a lot of problems in using most of the essential oils around cats. Some of the carriers are considered toxic even in humans. Since cats are a lot more sensitive to carrier chemicals, they can be toxic even if only applied to the environment like you are suggesting.

Even if you are able to buy a pure extract and mix it with a safe carrier, the essential oil itself can be toxic to cats because they do not have the liver enzymes to break down the essential oils.

There are some veterinarians that consider the use of essential oils safe if used in moderation. I am in this category since most of them are not toxic if used in small amounts in a well-ventilated area where the cat can leave. You are obviously aware of this since you pointed out that you were only planning on using it on surfaces and not applied to your cat.

However, there is no evidence that willow oil has any activity against fleas.

Essential Oils to Treat Fleas

The only essential oils that have any activity against fleas include:

• Lemongrass: The scent of this oil is fine for humans and cats, but fleas do not like it and will avoid the cat and the environment in many cases. I would not want to apply it directly to a cat, but you can dilute it with a carrier and use it to spray the environment where fleas are coming into your house. (If you put this onto your cat and they groom themself and consume the oil, it can be toxic and cause severe illness.)
• Lavender: This is a pleasant smelling plant that has some repellent action on fleas. Some sites suggest it's also effective in repelling fleas when applied to the cat. This may be true, but if your cat grooms and consumes this oil it will cause, at the very least, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious problems sometimes occur. This product is fine if sprayed in the environment to prevent fleas from coming into the house, but I would not want to apply it to a cat's body.
• Eucalyptus: This is another oil that smells strongly and repels fleas. It is only good as a repellent if it is strong enough to repel the fleas, and if they are very hungry, they will just ignore it. Never apply this topically to your cat.
• Clove: I am less likely to recommend this since it contains a substance than can be toxic to cats even when aerosolized. It can be sprayed in the doorways outside the house (if your cat is an inside pet), but there are many better alternatives.
• Peppermint: It's not a great repellent, but it does have some mild anti-inflammatory effects on the flea bites.

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So, is there any evidence that willow oil or other essential oils are effective against fleas? No, but there is evidence that willow products contain salicin, the precursor to the drug salicylic acid, which can be extremely toxic to cats.

Salicylic Acid Poisoning in Cats

(1) The signs of salicylic acid poisoning in cats include:

• Not eating
• Vomiting blood
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Death

So, if you link its potential toxicity to its potential benefits, there is no reason to apply willow oil to your cat. I am in favor of using some essential oils around pets, but this is not one of them. Every year, we see more cases of antibiotic resistance, and there is research into the use of essential oils to treat bacterial infections. (2) If you need flea control, you can obtain one of the very effective prescription products from your vet. If you do not have a vet available or cannot take your cat to the vet, there are other effective flea control methods, both chemical and natural.

If your cat does not have a flea allergy, natural flea control methods are fine and safe. If he does go outside, some natural methods like nematodes and diatomaceous earth are safe. But if he has a severe flea infestation, he will most likely need a prescription flea control product that will prevent him from ever being bitten.

Sources

1. Tawfeek N, Mahmoud MF, Hamdan DI, Sobeh M, Farrag N, Wink M, El-Shazly AM. Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Medicinal Uses of Plants of the Genus Salix: An Updated Review. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Feb 12;12:593856. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.593856. PMID: 33643045; PMCID: PMC7908037. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7908037/
2. Ebani VV, Mancianti F. Use of Essential Oils in Veterinary Medicine to Combat Bacterial and Fungal Infections. Vet Sci. 2020 Nov 30;7(4):193. doi: 10.3390/vetsci7040193. PMID: 33266079; PMCID: PMC7712454. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7712454/

This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2024 Mark dos Anjos, DVM