Anisha Riggs
Incense cones can be harmful to cats due to the strong scent, smoke, and potential presence of toxic chemicals. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, with 200 million odour receptors compared to our 5 million. This means that a mild scent for a human can be overwhelming for a cat. The smoke produced by incense can also irritate a cat's airways and cause respiratory issues, especially if the cat has asthma or another respiratory condition. In addition, the burning of incense can release potentially harmful chemicals, which can be dangerous for cats if inhaled. While there are pet-friendly incense products available, it is still recommended to burn incense in a well-ventilated room that is off-limits to cats to reduce any potential harm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Overpowering scent | Cats have 200 million odour receptors, compared to 5 million in humans, making them much more sensitive to odours. |
| Respiratory issues | Inhaling incense smoke can be harmful to cats, especially those with respiratory problems like asthma. |
| Airway irritation | The smoke produced by incense can irritate a cat's airways. |
| Toxins | Incense can release potentially harmful chemicals, including toxins. |
| Burns | Cats may be at risk of burns from incense burners. |
| Pet-friendly alternatives | Pet-friendly candles, air purifiers, and Febreze are recommended over incense. |
| Ventilation | If using incense, ensure good ventilation and keep cats out of the room. |
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What You'll Learn
Incense smoke is an airway irritant for cats
Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans. With 200 million odour receptors, scents can be 40 times more intense for cats than for humans. This means that the smell of incense, which is already strong, can be overpowering for cats.
The smoke produced by burning incense can irritate a cat's airways. Inhaling incense smoke can be harmful to cats, especially if they have respiratory problems such as asthma. The smoke can cause irritation to the lungs and even lead to respiratory disease.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named incense burning as a source of indoor air pollution. This is due to the potentially harmful chemicals released during the burning process. These chemicals, along with the smoke, can cause serious health problems for cats, including damage to their respiratory system, burns, and exposure to toxins.
If you must burn incense, it is important to take precautions to protect your cat's health. Keep your cat in a different room, preferably at the opposite end of the house from where the incense is burning. Ensure that the room is well-ventilated to allow the smoke to escape. It is also recommended to use air purifiers or pet-friendly candles to eliminate odours and sanitise the air.
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Cats' heightened sense of smell
Cats have an incredibly heightened sense of smell, with around 200 million odour receptors, which is 40 times more than humans. This heightened sense of smell is vital for cats to gather information, communicate, and explore the world around them. They use their powerful noses to socialise, mate, hunt, and understand their environment.
The vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ, is a second "nose" located in the roof of a cat's mouth. This organ detects scents that the regular scent receptors in a cat's nose cannot. Cats exhibit a behaviour called the Flehmen response, where they scrunch their faces or curl their lips to open the ducts behind their incisors, allowing the vomeronasal organ to detect scents.
Cats rely on their sense of smell for chemical communication with other cats. When cats greet each other with physical contact, such as a gentle head bump, they release pheromones from glands in their faces. These pheromones convey information about the cat's sex, health, dietary preferences, and mood. Cats also use their sense of smell to mark their territory by depositing their scent on objects with glands on their faces, cheeks, tails, and feet, as well as through urination.
The heightened sense of smell in cats can also help them determine if food is safe to eat or spoiled. Additionally, it assists them in hunting by allowing them to detect the presence of other cats or prey in the area.
Understanding a cat's heightened sense of smell is crucial when considering the use of incense around them. The strong scent of incense can be overwhelming for cats, causing stress and annoyance. It is advisable to avoid burning incense around cats whenever possible and opt for safer alternatives to fragrance your home.
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Respiratory disease and irritation from smoke
The respiratory system of cats is pretty sensitive. Cats have around 200 million odour receptors, which is 40 times more than humans. This means that cats are much more sensitive to odours than we are, and the smell of incense can be very strong for them. In addition to the overwhelming smell, the smoke produced by burning incense can irritate a cat's airways and lungs, and cause respiratory problems. Cats with asthma or other respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable to the effects of incense smoke.
Inhaling incense smoke can be dangerous for cats, leading to serious health issues such as respiratory disease and irritation. The smoke acts as a physical irritant to their lungs. This is true of any smoke, including that from cigarettes or vape. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has even named incense burning as a source of indoor air pollution.
If you must burn incense, it is important to take precautions to protect your cat's health. Restrict incense burning to one well-ventilated room that your cat does not have access to. Ensure the scent is not too strong by opening windows to let the smoke escape. It is also recommended to use air purifiers to eliminate pet odours and keep the air clean.
There are safer alternatives to incense for keeping your home smelling pleasant, such as pet-friendly candles made with non-toxic materials like soy wax, coconut wax, beeswax, or vegetable wax. However, even these candles should be lit out of your cat's reach and avoided if your cat has asthma or respiratory issues.
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Potential toxins in incense
Burning incense emits smoke, which can contain particulate matter that is easily inhaled and may have negative health outcomes. A 2021 study confirmed that some of these particulates are carcinogenic and can cause cancer. The particulate matter in incense smoke also contains irritants, which can lead to respiratory issues such as asthma and chronic inflammation in the body.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named incense burning as a source of indoor air pollution. The smoke released during the burning process contains harmful constituents, which can be inhaled and are considered comparable or even more harmful than passive smoking. The incomplete combustion of incense leads to the emission of carbon monoxide (CO), which has been detected at levels exceeding indoor air quality standards.
Incense is typically made from plant materials combined with essential oils, but mass-produced incense often involves more chemicals. Analysis of incense stick ash has revealed the presence of toxic heavy metals and oxides, including calcium oxide, silica, alumina, ferrous, potassium oxide, phosphorus oxide, and magnesium oxide.
The potential toxins in incense smoke and the associated health risks are a growing concern, with evidence suggesting negative effects on human well-being and a potential threat to public health. While the largest study on the link between incense use and cancer found that the risk is very small, other studies have shown that burning incense increases the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are linked to cancer.
Overall, while incense has been used for thousands of years and can provide many benefits, recent research highlights potential health dangers, particularly when inhaled, and the release of toxic chemicals during the burning process.
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Safer alternatives to fragrance your home
Burning incense can be harmful to cats. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, so what may be a mild fragrance to us can be overwhelming for them. The smoke can also irritate their airways and cause respiratory issues, especially if they already have asthma or other respiratory problems. The burning of incense can also release potentially harmful chemicals.
- Reed diffusers: Reed diffusers offer a long-lasting fragrance that can last up to 4 months for a 6-ounce reed diffuser and up to a year for a 15-ounce one. The reeds soak up the fragrance oil, and once it reaches the tip of the reed, it evaporates into the air.
- Stovetop potpourri: This is an inexpensive way to fill your home with fragrance. Simply toss some aromatics into a pot of simmering water. Ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, cardamom pods, citrus peels, fresh ginger, pine sprigs, and almond or vanilla extracts can be used.
- Room mists: Room mists are great for a quick burst of fragrance. They can be paired with longer-lasting fragrances from scented candles or reed diffusers.
- Essential oil diffusers: These are great if you like to create your custom fragrance blends. The PURA Smart Device is a plug-in smart diffuser that enables you to create a custom fragrance experience with the touch of a button or via a smartphone app.
- Non-toxic candles: Candles made from beeswax, soy wax, or sustainable palm oil are safer alternatives to paraffin candles. Beeswax candles are a good option as they are used in their original state without any bleaching or chemical processing. They also have a long shelf life and can help improve indoor air quality by releasing negative ions that bond to positively charged particles in mould spores, dust, and other air pollutants.
- Wax melts: Wax melts are flameless and do not have a wick, so they do not produce soot or smoke. They gradually release fragrance as they are warmed up, and the wax itself does not evaporate, only the scent.
- Air purifiers: Air purifiers can help eliminate pet odours and improve indoor air quality.
- Baking soda: Baking soda can absorb odours to some degree. Place some in a mason jar with a perforated lid and put it near smelly areas, ensuring it is in a location where your cat cannot knock it over.
- Natural fragrances: Natural fragrances such as citrus peels or cinnamon sticks can be used in stovetop potpourri or simply placed around the home to provide a subtle fragrance.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense cones can be bad for cats. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, so what may be a mild and pleasant odour for you can be overwhelming for your cat. The smoke produced by incense can also irritate your cat's airways and cause respiratory issues. It is best to avoid burning incense around cats.
There are safer ways to fragrance your home. You can try using pet-friendly candles, air purifiers, or Febreze. Baking soda can also absorb odours to some degree.
If your cat licks up incense dust and ash, you should call the ASPCA poison control hotline and ask them for advice.
