Has your naughty creature ever jumped up on the kitchen counter to lick anything edible? How many times has she gotten herself into trouble by nibbling on something that shouldn't have been in her stomach? Oh no, oregano can cats eat?
spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce Making Italian-inspired dishes without your preferred flavorful herb is simply impossible.
You use oregano almost every day in your cooking. You no longer find it surprising that oregano leaves are everywhere you look.
You can't deny that you've seen your curious animal prowling around your herb garden on numerous occasions, but... You haven't really thought about it much. When she has perfectly good cat food waiting for her in her bowl, why would she eat herbs?
So, are cats able to eat oregano? The fact that NO is the answer to your question might surprise you. Oregano is one of the culinary herbs that should not be consumed by cats.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) warns that giving your little muncher oregano in any form could result in dangerous digestive problems and other health issues. Amazed after reading that? Let's get started!
Table Of Contents:
- What is oregano?
- Can cats eat oregano?
- When my cat eats oregano, what will happen?
- Can cats eat dried oregano?
- What about oregano oil?
- What other herbs should your cat avoid?
- What herbs are safe for your cat?
- Can cats eat oregano? Final verdict!
What is oregano?
Greek for "joy of the mountains," Origanum vulgare is the name of the plant that produces the aromatic herb known as oregano, which is commonly used to describe it.
This unusual name is appropriate because oregano grows wild on Mediterranean mountainside, in addition to being grown for culinary purposes.
Oregano is frequently used to enhance the flavor, appearance, and texture of tantalizing sauces and a variety of Mediterranean dishes.
Because it has a more subtle flavor, dried oregano is more widely used than fresh. You can use fresh oregano right out of your herb garden, and it has a very potent aroma.
An excellent antibacterial agent for infections is fresh oregano. It is packed with antioxidants that protect against viruses and bacteria.
Additionally, it's a fantastic source of calcium, manganese, iron, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
Humans enjoy oregano so much, but your canine companion might not. Let's investigate the reasons why cats cannot consume oregano.
Can cats eat oregano?
Oregano is sadly not one of the many extremely beneficial herbs that are completely safe for cats to consume. Unfortunately, oregano is toxic to cats in all forms, whether it is consumed or applied topically.
Even having an oregano plant in their herb garden is inappropriate for pet parents. Although this fragrant herb may have many health advantages for you, it is harmful to your pet.
Unfortunately, oregano is toxic to cats because it contains essential oils. They contain phenols and terpenoids, two organic chemicals that exist naturally.
The digestive system of cats differs from that of humans. As a result, your cat's digestive system lacks the enzymes required to degrade and eliminate these chemicals.
More specifically, the glucuronyl transferase enzymes necessary for your cat's liver to remove toxic substances from its body are absent.
Phenols and terpenoids build up in her body because she lacks the ability to digest them, leading to a variety of health problems.
We can safely say that you should keep oregano out of your home at all costs! Cat parents should at the very least make sure to keep any oregano plants, oils, or seasonings out of the reach of their furry child.
If your dog decides to have a feast after discovering your herb garden (or even your hidden oregano stash), there are a lot of things that could go wrong. Here's why it's better to err on the side of caution.
When my cat eats oregano, what will happen?
Let's say your cat unintentionally consumes a small amount of something that may contain a trace amount of oregano.
Perhaps your first thought is to run to your computer and look up "Can cats eat oregano?" While that is an entirely reasonable response, there is no need to panic.
Your cat shouldn't suffer any severe harm from ingesting a small amount of oregano. She might feel sick to her stomach and have symptoms like diarrhea, excessive thirst, and nausea. She should be fine once the oregano in that tiny amount leaves her system.
The issue arises when pet owners are ignorant of the risks that this flavorful herb poses. They may believe oregano oil is completely safe to use on their cat because it is used medicinally in many household remedies.
The phenols and terpenoids in oregano oil are highly concentrated. Daily consumption could result in liver damage, severe gastrointestinal distress, and oregano poisoning.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shallow breathing, difficulty walking, oral irritation, loss of appetite, and other anorexia-related symptoms are among the most typical symptoms of oregano poisoning.
Using a lot of oregano oil may also cause heart problems, high blood pressure, and fast heartbeat. In addition, your cat may experience excruciatingly uncomfortable skin irritations if oregano oil gets on her skin or fur.
Contact your veterinarian right away if you experience any of these signs. You must be completely honest about any home treatments you may have given your cat. This will hasten the diagnostic process and ensure that your cat receives the necessary medical care.
Can cats eat dried oregano?
It is safe to say that neither fresh oregano nor oregano oil should be present near your cat. Make sure your cat can't get to any oregano plants you have. Additionally, under no circumstances should you use oregano oil on your cat.
What about dried oregano, though? Can cats eat dried oregano? Let's just say that if you find your cat munching on some dried oregano behind closed kitchen cabinet doors, there's no need to freak out.
Phenols and terpenoids are much less concentrated in dried oregano. It is much less likely to seriously harm your cat's health. Don't rule out the possibility of diarrhea, vomiting, or even an upset stomach.
Your feline friend may have trouble digesting dried oregano if she is a particularly sensitive cat. She should be fine once the aromatic herb leaves her system, though.
It's crucial to note that in the event your cat has a severe reaction to dried oregano, you should call your veterinarian.
However, to briefly respond to your inquiry, cats cannot consume dried oregano. Cats cannot consume this aromatic herb in any form.
Although dried oregano may not be as harmful as fresh oregano, it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your furry friend.
What about oregano oil?
Oregano oil is inedible by cats. As previously mentioned, the high concentrations of phenols and terpenoids found in oregano oil make it extremely toxic to cats.
They could result in liver damage that is permanent, severe gastrointestinal distress, and oregano poisoning.
In the world of cats, oregano essential oil is the worst and most dangerous variety. It must not be a part of your cat's diet in any way.
It also goes without saying that you shouldn't apply it as a medical treatment to your cat's skin or fur (the way you would typically apply it to yourself).
Unbelievably harmful to your feline friend, the majority of essential oils. Citrus oils, pine oils, lavender, bergamot, tea tree, eucalyptus, thyme, oregano, cinnamon, Keep your cat away from any of these oils if you have any in your home.
The use of diffused essential oils has gained popularity in recent years. Sadly, if your dog inhales some of those oregano oil droplets, she could suffer from serious health problems.
Not only are these oregano essential oil droplets hazardous in and of themselves, but your cat runs the risk of contracting foreign body pneumonia if she accidentally inhales any of them. Keep an eye out for symptoms like watery eyes and nose, drooling, vomiting, and trouble breathing.
It's time to contact your vet right away if you notice any of these. Also, stop using essential oils in the vicinity of your feline friend.
What other herbs should your cat avoid?
You now know that oregano is safe for cats to consume, but you still have questions about other herbs. Is it necessary to remove the entire herb garden in order to keep your dog safe from harm because oregano is so harmful to it?
Maybe, then? However, there are many herbs and plants that are completely safe for cats to consume. Because your feline friend might be interested in giving them a nibble or two, you should get to know them.
The health of your cat could be seriously harmed by a number of herbs and plants, on the other hand. You should stay away from herbs like mint, lemongrass, chamomile, chives, and tarragon, to name a few.
According to the ASPCA, mint is toxic to cats. The essential oils found in mint's leaves, flowers, and stems can cause mint poisoning. It's a shame because cats adore mint because it tastes similar to their favorite herb, catnip.
You guessed it—lemongrass also contains essential oils that could eventually cause harm to your pet. Lemongrass poisoning, which presents with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, a swollen abdomen, and excessive urination, may result from consuming too much lemongrass.
Although the dangers of chamomile may not be as great as those of some of the other herbs on this list, it does contain a number of dangerous compounds, including tannic acid, anthemic acid, chamazulene, bisabolol, and volatile oil. If consumed excessively over a longer period of time, it can have serious negative effects.
Because they contain disulfides and thiosulphates, chives are toxic to cats, just like all other foods from the onion family. These substances have the potential to rupture the red blood cells in your cat, which can result in anemia.
What herbs are safe for your cat?
If you want to give your cat's diet some variety, you might want to look into herbs that have been approved for use by cats by the ASPCA.
Catnip, dill, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, and basil... Please feel free to let your pet enjoy the advantages of these aromatics.
The most popular herb in the world of cats has to be catnip. Because it offers so many nutritional and health advantages, place this plant in every room of your home. It lessens bloating, pain in the stomach, and stress. It's also a fantastic tool for preventing feline boredom!
Cilantro is a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support the bones, joints, muscles, immune system, and coat of your cat. This plant can be a powerful ally in preventing the
Thyme can help your cat's digestive system work better. It not only prevents bacterial and fungal growth.
But it can also aid in your cat's elimination of bothersome hairballs.As you can see, there are a ton of better herbs than oregano that you can give to your cat!
Can cats eat oregano? Final verdict!
Cats cannot consume oregano. This fragrant herb is not regarded as safe for feline consumption, according to the ASPCA. If you give your cat too much oregano, it could cause digestive problems, oregano poisoning, and even irreversible liver damage.
Put those oregano plant pots away for the time being; it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your canine companion. Good fortune!
great
ReplyDelete