is lavender safe for cats

Lavender is not safe for cats. It contains compounds called linalool and linalyl acetate, which cats cannot effectively metabolize due to a lack of certain liver enzymes. Exposure to lavender, whether from the plant, dried form, or especially essential oils, can cause symptoms in cats such as drooling, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, lethargy, tremors, and in severe cases, liver damage. Essential oils are particularly dangerous as they are highly concentrated and can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested. Even just smelling lavender from a diffuser can irritate a cat's respiratory system. Therefore, it is best to avoid having lavender or lavender products around cats to keep them safe.