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Natural anti flea and tick product.

22 10:45:05

Question
Is this safe to use on rabbits and cats?  My cat likes to groom my rabbits.

Active Ingredients:

3% Peppermint oil
4.5% Cinnamon oil
4.5% Lemon Grass oil
5% Clove oil
5% Thyme oil

78% Other Ingredients:

Vanillin,
Isopropylmyristate

Thanks.

Answer
Dear Tom,

Any of the herbal oils listed above can be harmful in large quantities.  Just because a product is listed as "Natural" doesn't mean it's safe!  Plants produce those compounds to kill or deter herbivores, and I would not put them on my rabbit or cat.  

In particular, Lemon Grass Oil is dangerous to rabbits, as it contains limonene (toxic to rabbits).  Clove oil can be hallucinogenic in large quantities, and thyme oil, containing toxic thymol, is also risky.

The vanillin is probably there as a scent agent, and the isopropylmyristate is just the inactive carrier liquid.

If your cat and rabbit have a flea or mite problem, then I would recommend Revolution (selamectin), a topical medication that is not toxic to mammals, but acts as a neurotransmitter agonist in certain species of invertebrates (fleas, mites, roundworms).  The compound in selamectin is specific to those pest species, unlike the plant oils above, which are toxic to many different types of animals.

You can ask more about Revolution at your rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who can also sell it to you, if you think it sounds right for your cat and bunny pals.

I hope this helps.

Take care,
Dana