What are the symptoms if a cat eats Tea Tree?

Depression, lethargy, or dullness, Hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature), Liver injury progressing to potential liver failure, Excessive dribbling (drooling) and vomiting, Shaking, tremoring, "walking as if they're drunk" (ataxia), collapse, and seizures, Sore skin, redness, or chemical burns, Difficulty breathing or breathing with their mouth open

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✕ Toxic

Tea Tree

Q: Is Tea Tree toxic to cats?

Warning: Toxic. Tea Tree essential oil, derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, is extremely dangerous for cats and should never be used on or near them. Cats can absorb the toxic compounds through their skin, by inhaling the oil's vapor, or by licking it off their fur. This exposure can lead to severe poisoning very quickly. The oil contains terpenes, a type of compound that a cat's liver cannot properly break down. This causes the toxins to build up in their system, affecting the central nervous system and liver. Even a few drops can be enough to cause a life-threatening reaction. Signs of tea tree oil poisoning include stumbling or lack of coordination, weakness, shaking, a low body temperature, and vomiting. If you suspect your cat has been exposed to tea tree oil, this is a medical emergency. Wash the oil off your cat immediately with dish soap and water, and contact a veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital without delay.

Melaleuca alternifolia

Tea Tree essential oil, derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, is extremely dangerous for cats and should never be used on or near them. Cats can absorb the toxic compounds through their skin, by inhaling the oil's vapor, or by licking it off their fur. This exposure can lead to severe poisoning very quickly. The oil contains terpenes, a type of compound that a cat's liver cannot properly break down. This causes the toxins to build up in their system, affecting the central nervous system and liver. Even a few drops can be enough to cause a life-threatening reaction. Signs of tea tree oil poisoning include stumbling or lack of coordination, weakness, shaking, a low body temperature, and vomiting. If you suspect your cat has been exposed to tea tree oil, this is a medical emergency. Wash the oil off your cat immediately with dish soap and water, and contact a veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital without delay.

Important Notes

Toxic compounds: terpene-4-ol, alpha-terpinene, and related monoterpenoids; concentrated in essential oil (never use on or near cats)

Mechanism: cats lack sufficient glucuronyl transferase to metabolise these terpenoids, causing rapid toxic accumulation affecting the CNS and liver

Symptoms: drooling, vomiting, ataxia, weakness, tremors, low body temperature, collapse; onset within hours of topical application

Topical application is the most common cause of toxicity — never use tea tree oil as a flea treatment or skin remedy for cats

Any tea tree oil exposure is a veterinary emergency — rinse off immediately and contact a vet

Potentially Toxic Parts

Leaf

Possible Symptoms Reported in Cats

Liver injury progressing to potential liver failure

Hepatic · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Shaking, tremoring, "walking as if they're drunk" (ataxia), collapse, and seizures

Neurological · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Depression, lethargy, or dullness

Neurological · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature)

Metabolic · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Sore skin, redness, or chemical burns

Dermal · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Difficulty breathing or breathing with their mouth open

Respiratory · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Excessive dribbling (drooling) and vomiting

Gastrointestinal · Not explicitly specified in the sources.

Disclaimer: This summary was compiled from multiple sources and is for informational use only. It is not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Toxicity can vary based on the substance, amount, plant part, and individual cat. If you think your cat may have been exposed to a toxic substance, contact a veterinarian right away.