Is Incense Bad For Cats?

Updated on November 23, 2022

Table of Contents

Is Incense Harmful To Your Cat?

Incense produces fumes that are very harsh on your cat's delicate nose. These fumes may irritate your cat's eyes and throat, causing him to sneeze and cough.

There are two main types of incense that shouldn't be used at all. One type produces a lot of smoke, and the other type produces a strong smell. Both of these types of incense can cause major health problems for your cat.

Make sure that any incense you purchase doesn't produce fumes that are too harsh for your cat. You can find incenses that are safe for cats.

What Is Incense?

What Is Incense?

There are two types of incense: natural and synthetic. Natural incense comes from plants, whereas synthetic incense is created using chemicals. Both types of incense smell great, but there are differences between the two.

Natural incense smells amazing, but it doesn't last very long. You'll notice that after a couple of hours, the scent starts to fade away. Synthetic incense lasts longer, but it isn't nearly as pleasant smelling.

Both types of incense are used for various reasons, including relaxation, meditation, and spiritual purposes. However, if you plan on burning incense at home, you should only buy natural incense.

Whether you burn natural or synthetic incense, you'll enjoy its relaxing aroma. Try out some of these tips to keep your cat healthy and happy.

Why Are Incenses Harmful To Cats?

There are three main issues with using incense for cats:

Smoke Inhalation

Cats inhale a lot of smoke through their nose. As a result, they are at greater risk of developing respiratory problems if exposed to smoke inhalation. Burning incense is a common household activity that exposes cats to harmful chemicals and pollutants.

If you notice your cat coughing after being near a burning candle or incense burner, try to keep them away from the source of the smoke. You should also clean out any candles or incense burners regularly to prevent the buildup of dust and debris that can irritate your cat's nasal passages.

You can also reduce your cat's exposure to incense smoke by using a diffuser instead of regular incense burning. Diffusers emit less smoke and fewer toxins than traditional low-quality incense burners.

Smell Sensitivity

However, keep in mind that cats have very sensitive noses and they may not enjoy the smell of incense. You should never burn incense near your cat's litter box. Burning incense close to where your cat sleeps or eats is also dangerous.

You could end up scaring your cat away from those places. Instead, place incense somewhere else in your house. Your cat may find the sweet-smelling incense calming and comforting. But if he doesn't like it, he'll let you know. He may start scratching himself or his bedding. Or he may try to rub against anything that smells like incense.

Keep in mind that cats are highly sensitive to strong odor sensors. If you burn your favorite vanilla incense in your home, make sure that it's placed somewhere else in the house. Don't leave it anywhere near your cat's food or litter box. And don't burn it near any furniture or carpeting that your cat likes to sleep on.

Fire Risk

Unfortunately, cats are also very curious about burning materials. Even if you keep your house free of open flames, you can never completely eliminate the possibility of a cat getting near something that looks like it might burn.

That's why it's important to pay close attention to any open flame in your home. You can't have eyes on your cat every second, but you can try to minimize the chances of her accidentally coming across something that looks like it may catch fire.

Keep your cat away from open flames and candles. Keep your cat safe by keeping dangerous items out of reach. Don't leave matches lying around or place them where your cat can find them.

Pet-friendly Methods For Making Your Home Smell Good

Pet-friendly Methods For Making Your Home Smell Good

There are many natural ways to make your home smell good without using any chemicals. One way to eliminate unpleasant smells is to dust regularly.

You can also use fragrant plants, such as rosemary, sage, and lemon balm. Keep these plants out of reach of your cat and place them in containers that won't easily tip over.

Other Scents That Are Harmful To Your Pets

Here are some other scents that are harmful to your pets:

Essential Oils and Pets

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to use essential oils around your pet. Some people enjoy using them to cleanse their homes, others use them to treat various ailments, and still, others use them to relax and calm themselves.

Whatever your reason, there are several precautions you must take to avoid any negative impact of incense on cats:

Potpourri

Cats are very sensitive to strong and pleasant odors, especially those that are strong or unpleasant. A potpourri is a great alternative to using chemical fragrances. However, there are certain types of potpourri that should never be used around cats. These include: Liquid potpourri, Essential oil potpourri, Dry potpourri.

Scented Candles

Scented candles can be great for setting the mood at night, but if you're using scented candles, make sure you keep them away from curious pets and children. You should also avoid leaving a lit candle unattended near your cat or other animals.

Air Fresheners

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to keep your house smelling nice without using any kind of aerosol air freshener or air purifier. However, if you've ever had a cat or dog with asthma, you'll probably want to avoid using any kind of air spray or deodorizer. These products can irritate your pet's lungs and cause coughing fits.

How Can I Enjoy Incense Even If I Own A Cat?

There are three alternatives to incense available if you own a cat and you want to enjoy incense without harming your feline friend.

Keep It Out Of Reach

Keep any incense out of reach for your kitty. You should never leave it anywhere where your cat can find it, and you should definitely not let him play with it. Instead, try placing it somewhere else in your house where he won't be able to reach it.

You might think that your cat is smart enough to avoid inhaling smoke, but unfortunately, that isn't true. Cats are extremely curious, and they'll figure out how to get into trouble no matter what you do. So, it's best to keep it out of reach for your furry friend.

Ventilation

Incense is a great scent for cats, but there are certain precautions you should take if you decide to burn it. One of the biggest concerns is the particles created by the concentrations of incense smoke.

These particles can cause respiratory issues and asthma in cats, so make sure you keep the area where you burn incense well-ventilated. You can open up a window, but it may not be enough. Another option is to place a fan near the incense burner.

Use High-Quality Products

You don't want to buy cheap products because they'll end up being harmful to your cat. You should only purchase high-quality products if you really want to give your cat a healthy environment.

High-quality products are those that are produced using a centuries-old process that involves mixing raw ingredients into a powder. Then, they're mixed with honey to make the kind of dough that's used to roll onto a plain bamboo stick, which makes it easier to light and burns cleaner.

Smell is one of the human senses which can flow through the whole body. I am the Founder of NeoCandle.com where we talk all about scented candles. Known as Candace the Candle Girl, I know pretty much all there is to know about scented candles. I make and sell them on Etsy and Ebay - so be sure to ask if you have any burning questions :) (pun intended ;) )

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