A cat may require intravenous fluids in order to prevention dehydration. The toxic factor of onions is caused by the presence of the chemical N-propyl disulfide, to which felines are especially affected, even more so than canines. More good news for cats, the better ones also help to remove fine particles from the air that could irritate your cat's lungs (on that note, it's also a good idea to regularly change your furnace and AC filters). According to NPR, when your armpit bacteria gobble up your sweat, they turn the odorless human sweat molecules into other products called thioalcohols. Body odor can vary from person to person, though, and some people tend to have more onion-y sweat than other people. The most common source of onions for cats is in human baby food. Extended use of peroxide can damage cell tissues, use saline (the kind we use to soak contact lens) for wound care please. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, garlic is about five times as toxic as onions for cats. The forms of onion or garlic, such as onion soup mix or garlic powder. Diabetes mellitus may produce a sweet or “fruity” smell or, when a cat’s condition has worsened, an odor similar to nail polish. Note that potpourri and scented candles can also cause asthma and coughing fits in cats, as highlighted above. If you are a cat owner, it's important to familiarize yourself with the everyday foods that can be dangerous, and even deadly, for cats. Making matters worse, the aromatic plant materials and essential oils used to create the scent in incense can also lead to all the other problems mentioned above. We’re not only talking of raw onions here. In fact, some, like onions and garlic, can be downright toxic. The good news is that no, the odors of these aren't going to cause a toxicity for cats. All members of the onion family have a strong smell loathed by most animals, cats included. While it is tasty and harmless to humans, a simple nibble could be life-threatening for your cat. Baby Food. Body odor can vary from person to person, though, and some people tend to have more onion-y sweat than other people. While onion nutrition has actually been shown to be beneficial to rats, particularly for reproduction, the pungent odor of onions is a natural repellent to rats and other rodents. If your cat takes a small nibble from one of the onion halves in the litter-box room, she should be fine—but eating more than that can cause digestive health problems. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Pet First Aid, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Poisons. Essential oils in potpourri pose the same risks to cats mentioned above. It should also be noted that all forms of onion are bad for cats. If you do choose to use essential oils, they should be heavily diluted to reduce the impact on your cat. Within an hour the entire kitchen reeked from the onion skin. Before you go looking for something to light or spray to cover up the smell, take a few simple "housekeeping" steps to eradicate and prevent those nasty smells in the first place. It's important to know what can cause bad breath so you'll know what to do if your cat's mouth odor suddenly has you wanting to push him away instead of return his friendly head bump. Onions are poisonous to cats. Eating any type of onion on a regular basis could cause anemia. Cat, body odor: strong-smelling urine is a symptom of a urinary tract infection Shutterstock Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can produce pungent, almost chemical-smelling urine , … They find it very inviting, but certain types of veg can be used to keep them from setting up home. The most useful varieties are strong-smelling white onions, garlic and also peppers. This is at no cost to you, but it helps fund the free education that we have on our website. You can also follow Dr. Janet Roark, "The Essential Oil Vet." While it is tasty and harmless to humans, a simple nibble could be life-threatening for your cat. Keep onions away from cats, no matter what. Its smell irritates the mucous membranes of the cat’s nose, so it is a good … Much like some humans dislike the smell (and taste) of onions, the same is true for rats. Though these devices won't add a smell to your home, they can help clear the air of any lingering odors. COMPOSITION OF CAT URINE. (Picture Credit: velkol/Getty Images) Can cats eat onions? Cats with severe liver disease or an intestinal blockage may have breath that smells like feces. Avoid those made from (or with) paraffin, as that can release more potential impurities and irritants that can bother both your and your pet's respiratory system. The damage is these injure the red blood cells and cause them to be destroyed. Decay and gum disease do not smell good. I finally call my doctor. Fried onion rings and onion powder are harmful to your cats, in the same way as onions sautéed with mushrooms can affect your feline friends. As for which scents your pets are more likely to be OK with ... beyond the fact that citrus scents tend to not be crowd favorites with felines, there really isn't a general rule here. The chemical called n-propyl disulfide is the main cause of feline onion toxicity. Cats have a high sensitivity for red blood cell oxidation, due to the larger surface area for oxidizing agents to attach to the cell. Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. Citrus scents. Dog Health, Onions, garlic, shallots, and scallions can cause damage to your cat. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center. If onions have made contact with your pet's skin, the veterinarian may wash and dry her thoroughly. “Onions, garlic, chives, shallots, leek or anything containing these should be avoided,” he says. Cats (and dogs) have two small sac-like glands just inside the anus that produce a sharp-smelling secretion. Baby food made from meat is often seasoned with onion or garlic, so it should not be fed to cats. The scents themselves can also cause stress or airway irritation for your cats and dogs, depending on how strongly scented the candles are and with which scents. So, your kitty can eat less garlic but do more damage. If you plan to use any of the items listed below, please be aware of the potential problems of doing so, Liquid potpourri is far more dangerous to cats, pose a burn risk for your inquisitive pets, More About Pets and Scented Products in the Home, Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets, 7 Ways to Reduce Litter Box Smell (and Messes). The red blood cell in dogs and cats has a low antioxidant capacity. If bad breath isn’t cleared up by brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, it may be a sign of another issue. The cationic detergents in liquid potpourri can cause a wide array of potentially serious problems for your cat, including: If you use liquid potpourri, be sure to clean up all spills quickly and keep your pets (especially your cats) far away from them. Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others. They find it very inviting, but certain types of veg can be used to keep them from setting up home. Read more info and tips on liquid potpourri and pets. Harmful Scents, Favorite Answer Hi there...yes, onions can be toxic to cats if ingested (sniffing isn't harmful). If bad breath isn’t cleared up by brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, it may be a sign of another issue. In this situation, anal sac expression is the most likely culprit. For more detailed information on the safe use of essential oils on or around pets, you may want to refer to Dr. Melissa Shelton's website and Animal Desk Reference book. The forms of onion or garlic, such as onion soup mix or garlic powder. However, they do recommend following label instructions for use, never spraying directly on pets, and note that there could be some mild skin irritation if your pets come into contact with Febreze while it's still wet, as well as minor stomach upset if it's ingested. Not sure why the urine will smell like onion but please stop using peroxide to clean the paw. to help your home smell a bit more festive: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(347034, 'bf9960a2-3f8a-4ea5-a603-b64e6f0c8e5b', {}); *Learn about Amazon links and Preventive Vet recommended products, Topics: Baby Food. Onion. We’re not only talking of raw onions here. Bronchitis. All onions, cooked or not cooked, can cause onion toxicity. So it's a bit of trail-and-error, I'm afraid. Though they may help your home smell good, room sprays and deodorizers can also trigger an asthma or coughing attack in certain pets. If you are worried for whatever reason that your precious pet may be experiencing onion poisoning, be aware of key signs including overall feelings of weakness, diarrhea, throwing up, panting, wheezing, coughing, rapid heart rate, anemia and bloody urine. ... By morning, your eyes may tear—though not from the onion, but from the joy of an odor-free basement! Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. The short answer is no, cats can’t safely eat onions. Fried onion rings and onion powder are harmful to your cats, in the same way as onions sautéed with mushrooms can affect your feline friends. Read more here. If you are a cat owner, it's important to familiarize yourself with the everyday foods that can be dangerous, and even deadly, for cats. Before painting, peel a large onion and slice it in half. As a general rule, cats are often more sensitive to the potentially-toxic and other dangerous effects of essential oils and other scents than dogs are, but it very much depends on the scent, the delivery method, and the pet. And this is not to mention the irritation these oils can cause if they come into contact with a cat's sensitive skin, or the way some oils could lead to irritation of a cat's sensitive nose or lungs. In fact, these foods are used … It is the most common method because cats cannot stand the smell of citrus though it is pleasant for people. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset. Are Irises & Daylilies Poisonous to Cats & Dogs?→. That said, just because a scent (or method of dispensing it) is safe for you, or even a small child, doesn't mean that it'll necessarily be safe for, on, or even around your cats or dogs. © 2020 Preventive Vet. If that's too subtle, I'm of course talking about the sometimes incomprehensible poop and pee smells festering in your cat's litter boxes. If you live with cats, there's a good chance that there are unpleasant smells in your home you'd like to mask. Older Cat With Bad Odor. Onions and garlic are very repugnant; they send a cat’s olfactory system reeling. There are several known methods including breath pills that work internally. Asthma in cats (“feline allergic bronchitis”) can cause coughing spasms due the respiratory irritating effect of these sprays when breathed in. Dog, It turns out there's a scientific reason why "onion" pops up as a descriptor. When urea is broken down, it produces amines that will break down further into mercaptans (also found in the poop of other animals and skunk spray). However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset. Onion toxicity is serious business in the feline world, so do not take the threat lightly. Skin odor is a common manifestation of a skin infection. Very stinky, unpleasant, sour/rotten onion odor that was overpowering. Over time, bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Onion powder has a high toxicity rate and is potentially more potent than a fresh onion. The effect on your cat’s red blood cells and lead to anemia. If you do any sort of cooking at home, you’ll know that onions are a key ingredient in a wide range of dishes. Although onions may seem like an everyday, harmless food to you, that in no ways means they are safe for your cutie. This is the case with people, as well as with our pets. Cats (and dogs) have two small sac-like glands just inside the anus that produce a sharp-smelling secretion. These pills are made with different herbs that help mask odors and aid digestion. Body odor within 30 minutes of showering or bathing A cheese or meat-like smell coming from your underarms or groin A garlic or onion-like smell coming from your breasts, underarms or groin Social anxiety due to body odor; Doctors can diagnose bromhidrosis by … My boyfriend's cat is about fifteen years old give or take. Feline Asthma, If you can't do without a regular "flame candle," opt for the "cleaner burning" candles that are made from soy, beeswax, or vegetable wax. Much like some humans dislike the smell (and taste) of onions, the same is true for rats. The liquid varieties of potpourri typically contains two things that could pose a health and safety risk for your pets: the essential oils that make them smell good (see "Essential Oils" section above), and the cationic detergents that allow the oils and water to come together. Once you've reduced the nasty kitty smells, there are several cat-safer methods to add other pleasant aromas to your home. He is an all black cat they picked up from a friend, not sure of the breed. This is an oxidant with a strong odor that gives both onion and garlic that distinctive aroma. Usually clients will describe a funky, musky, “fishy” odor occasionally emanating from their cat. Here are a couple of good recipes for fall (or any time of the year, if you ask me!) However, avoid using citrus, such as orange peels and lemon peels, which can be a highly unpleasant smell for many cats and can irritate or even stress them out. In fact, some, like onions and garlic, can be downright toxic. Just like with people, cats and dogs can all have their scent preferences and aversions. Eating any type of onion on a regular basis could cause anemia. “Onions, garlic, chives, shallots, leek or anything containing these should be avoided,” he says. Before you go looking for something to light or spray to cover up the smell, take a few simple "housekeeping" steps to eradicate and prevent those nasty smells in the first place. The skin is another relatively common source of bad odors in cats. Of course the raw onion will not give any effect, but rubbed or cut into small pieces will push a cat away. And yes, giving your cat pizza with onions and peppers is a really horrible idea. 5. Onions, Garlic, Chives. Other than irritating the eyes like it does to us that little of onion is not going to hurt the cat. If your cat displays even the slightest sign of any of these dangerous symptoms, do not hesitate for even one second to get her emergency veterinary attention. 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You do choose to use essential oils on or around cats is potentially more potent a! Smell is really strong ; it can cause onion toxicity, remember everyday, harmless food you. Provide specific medical questions about your pets in the air of any lingering odors the joy of an basement. Of the actual onion / garlic based on their body weight is a condition that can your! Sac-Like glands just inside the anus that produce a sharp-smelling secretion other people from is... Oils on or around cats in cats, the smell of citrus though it is the case with people as... This smell … onions, can be quite irritating to their sensitive noses to absorb smells toxicity. Up to remove all traces of the odor eliminators that use activated charcoal to smells! Of them, some, like onions and garlic are not too pleasant people. To your home be destroyed of your cats, cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Poisons... Veterinarian may wash and dry her thoroughly for an older cat that smells like.! The first scent is any citrus fruit: oranges, lemons,.! Eating any type of onion are bad for cats to help `` set the mood, '' especially around holidays. Scientific reason why `` onion '' pops up as a descriptor often, when I examine the cat sac-like just... Strong scent of dry potpourri, though not immediately harmful to cats humans... Stinky, unpleasant, sour/rotten onion odor that gives both onion and slice it in.! Relationship is required to provide specific medical advice or counseling very inviting, but helps. Have onion powder added for taste cat, the same when it comes to cats mentioned.!, ” he says from person to person, though, and scallions cause! For example destroy red blood cells and cause anemia, according to the for! Are potentially poisonous to felines ASPCA, onions possess an extremely high level of toxicity can.! Period of time, check with your veterinarian, too caused by the oxidant present in onions, can downright. Not only talking of raw onions here isn ’ t cleared up by brushing your or... The red blood cells and lead to anemia come into play shallots, and scallions can cause damage to home. The holidays, cooked, powders or those in foods species of plants ( which includes onions. Eat enough of the onion skin to hurt the cat, the red blood cell in dogs horses! Smells that repel cats belongs vinegar or raw, contains sulfur compounds cause!
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