Anisha Riggs
Incense is a popular way to create a pleasant aroma in your home, but it's important to consider the potential health risks for your pets. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, so what may seem like a mild scent to you could be overwhelming for your cat. In addition, the smoke from incense can be dangerous to cats, causing respiratory issues and even burns. Some sources suggest that it is best to avoid burning incense around cats altogether, while others recommend taking precautions such as using pet-friendly products, ensuring proper ventilation, and keeping cats out of the room where incense is burned.
Characteristics of cats breathing incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effect on respiratory system | Smoke from incense can cause upper respiratory issues like watery eyes, coughing, sneezing and congestion in cats. It can also lead to serious long-term damage to the lungs and an increased risk of chronic respiratory problems such as asthma. |
| Allergies | Cats can rarely have allergies to incense and its smoke, which can lead to them struggling to breathe. |
| Toxins | Incense contains toxins which can be harmful to cats. |
| Burns | Cats can burn themselves by touching incense while it's lit. |
| Stress | Cats can feel overwhelmed by the smell of incense and this can stress them out. |
| Lethargy | Burning incense can make cats feel lethargic and generally unwell. |
| Safer alternatives | Pet-friendly candles, air purifiers, and Febreze are some alternatives to incense. |
| Precautions | If you must burn incense, ensure your cat is in a different room, ideally at the opposite end of your home. Keep the windows open and have a fan on for ventilation. |
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What You'll Learn
Incense smoke is harmful to cats
Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans. What is a mild and pleasant odour for you can be 40 times more intense for your cat. The scent of incense can be overwhelming for them, and they may find it stressful.
Cats are also very sensitive to smoke. Inhaling smoke can cause upper respiratory issues such as watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and congestion. It can also make cats feel lethargic and generally unwell. In rare cases, cats can have an allergy to incense and its smoke, which can lead to them struggling to breathe.
Burning incense regularly in your home can lead to long-term smoke exposure for your cat, which can cause ongoing damage to the lungs and an increased risk of chronic respiratory problems such as asthma. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named incense as a source of indoor air pollution, and the incense smoke can significantly affect the air quality of your home.
The quality of incense can vary, and burning incense that hasn't been made to a high standard may release certain compounds, some of which may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to both pets and people.
Therefore, it is recommended to keep cats away from incense smoke as much as possible. If you must burn incense, ensure your cat has access to a well-ventilated room away from the incense, or better yet, take them out of the house entirely.
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Cats' heightened sense of smell
Cats have a powerful sense of smell, which is far more advanced than humans'. The human nose contains about 5 million olfactory receptors, while a cat's nose contains up to 200 million. They can also detect higher frequencies than dogs and can determine the direction a sound is coming from by sensing differences in the time of arrival and intensity of the sound received by their two ears.
Cats' sense of smell is one of their most important tools for receiving information. They use it to socialise, mate, hunt, and explore the world around them. For example, outdoor cats can use their sense of smell to determine if other cats or mice are in the area. They also use it to determine whether food is safe to eat, and to detect if other cats are sick or healthy.
Cats' sense of smell is so strong that they can use it to communicate. They do this through physical greetings, such as gentle head bumps, which release pheromones from glands in their faces. These pheromones communicate information about the cat's sex, health, diet, and mood. Cats also use their sense of smell to mark their territory, depositing their scent on objects and other cats with their scent glands, located on their feet, cheeks, face, and tail, as well as with their urine.
Cats' whiskers are another important sensory tool, helping them to detect even the smallest changes in their environment, including air currents, air pressure, temperature, and wind direction. They also aid navigation at night, acting as a type of radar.
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Respiratory issues caused by incense
Cats have a sensitive sense of smell and lungs that are more susceptible to harm than humans'. Inhaling incense smoke can cause respiratory issues in cats, including inflamed sinuses, congestion, coughing, and sneezing. The smoke released from burning incense contains particulate matter that can be easily inhaled and potentially cause negative health outcomes. Cats are at risk of experiencing these adverse effects due to their heightened sensitivity to inhaled chemicals.
When incense burns, it releases smoke that can quickly spread throughout a room and the rest of the house, making it difficult for cats to avoid. This smoke is a known irritant to the respiratory tract of cats, causing symptoms such as watery eyes and congestion. Cats may also feel lethargic and generally unwell after being exposed to incense smoke. In rare cases, cats can have an allergy to incense, which can lead to difficulty breathing.
Frequent or prolonged exposure to incense smoke can cause even more severe medical problems for cats. Incense smoke has been linked to respiratory inflammation, sinus infections, and an increased risk of chronic respiratory issues such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Long-term exposure to incense smoke can cause ongoing damage to a cat's lungs and increase the risk of lung cancer.
To minimize the potential harm to cats, cat owners should avoid burning incense made from essential oils, synthetic fragrances, and Nag Champa, as these types of incense contain harsh chemicals that can be toxic to cats. It is recommended to opt for non-toxic and natural air fresheners or diffusers instead. If incense is used, it should be burned in a well-ventilated area with open windows and doors to allow cats to leave if they are bothered by the smoke.
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Incense ingredients and toxicity
Incense is usually made from natural materials such as sage, resins, oils, wood, and herbs and spices. However, even though these ingredients are natural, the smoke and smell can harm cats. The smoke released from burning incense has a pleasant smell but can also contain particulate matter that can be inhaled and possibly have negative health outcomes.
Burning incense releases harmful chemicals like benzene and toluene, which are also found in cigarette smoke. These pollutants can hurt a cat's lungs and irritate their skin. Cats have a stronger sense of smell than humans, and the incense scent can overwhelm them, causing stress or anxiety.
Some incense contains unsafe essential oils that can make cats sick or even be deadly. Cats can be harmed if they eat incense or breathe in its toxic fumes. The smoke can irritate a cat's lungs, even in healthy cats, and can lead to shortness of breath, lung inflammation, and asthma.
A study in 2021 confirmed that some of the particulate matter in incense smoke was carcinogenic, meaning it could cause cancer. Burning incense may also trigger asthma and has been associated with an increased risk of developing respiratory allergies.
In summary, while incense may contain natural ingredients, the smoke and fumes can be toxic to cats, causing respiratory issues, stress, and even serious health conditions like asthma and cancer.
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Safer alternatives to incense
Burning incense releases a carcinogen called benzene into the air, which can cause serious health issues for both humans and cats. Cats have smaller and more sensitive lungs than humans, and the smoke from incense can cause them to struggle to breathe, feel lethargic, and generally unwell. Therefore, it is important to consider safer alternatives to incense.
One alternative is to use essential oil candles, air sprays, or diffusers, as these do not produce smoke. Essential oils can also be dripped into baking soda, shaken, and left to sit, releasing mild fragrances over a long period. Resins, wood chips, granulated incense, and kneaded/paste incense can be indirectly heated instead of burned.
If you are looking for ways to make your clothes and living space smell nice, sachets full of aromatics can be placed in drawers and cupboards. Baking scented goods in the oven, such as cinnamon apples, can fill your home with pleasant aromas.
If you are using incense for meditation, essential oils such as sandalwood or frankincense can be used instead.
It is important to note that some people are allergic to certain herbs and materials, so it is recommended to experiment cautiously with different ingredients if this is a concern.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not safe for cats to breathe incense. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, so what may be a mild and pleasant odour for you can be 10 to 50 times stronger for your cat. The smoke from incense can also cause respiratory issues and damage to your cat's lungs.
If you want to burn incense with your cat in the house, it is important to take the necessary precautions. Keep your cat in a different room, ideally at the opposite end of the house from where the incense is burning, and ensure that the room is well-ventilated. It is also important to be mindful of the type of incense you are burning, as some plants that are safe for humans can be toxic to cats.
Signs that your cat is having difficulty breathing or is experiencing respiratory issues include watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and congestion. If your cat is displaying any of these symptoms, it is important to seek veterinary advice.
