Does your cat enjoy the occasional treat of human food? Maybe your cat likes the smell of oregano but not the actual taste. Or maybe your cat likes oregano, but you don’t know how much is too much for your feline friend.
With all these facts in mind, it’s crucial to know which oregano products should be avoided by your cat.Like humans, cats who ingest even small amounts of stuff containing oregano can experience side effects such as vomiting, seizures, and lethargy.
The oil in oregano is particularly dangerous to kitties. Cats who ingest as little as 0.1 mL of oregano oil can suffer from excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures.
However, some cats may develop even more serious symptoms after ingesting only a small quantity of oregano leaves or basil leaves or ingesting a small amount of oregano oil.
Can Cats Eat Oregano?
Cats should not eat highly aromatic plants like oregano.
Essential oil from oregano has potent antimicrobial properties, and it can cause severe stomach upset in dogs if mistakenly ingested.
Glucuronyltransferase digestion enzymes in cats’ livers prevent cats from properly metabolizing and absorbing certain amino acids such as tryptophan, methionine, and cysteine.
Oregano is possibly toxic to cats as they usually do not tolerate herbs and spices due to their high amount of essential oils that bring about gastrointestinal distress and vomiting in felines.
Cats have a particular inability to deal with phenols and terpenoids.
Oregano may be hazardous to cats if given in significant quantities; however, most cats will not eat more than a very small amount even if given the chance.
Is Oregano Safe For Cats?
As stated by the ASPCA Poison Control Center, the signs of toxicity in cats are vomiting, depression, tremors, and diarrhea.
It is not safe for cats to eat dried herbs or to groom plants that have dried tips or stems.
All toxic plants are the sole responsibility of the owner to avoid altogether.
Oregano contains essential oils that can affect the liver in your cat and cause a variety of symptoms including lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.
Unlike humans, cats do not have enzymes in their bodies that break down essential oils as efficiently as people do.
Your cat is harmed by just smelling it, so it’s best to play it safe and keep oregano out of your home and garden — especially around your cat.
You should thus keep oregano bowls in cupboards or drawers where your cat can’t gain access to them and then trip and fall on them.
Is Oregano Oil Safe For Cats?
Oregano in any form is not good for your cat, but oil is even worse.
Your cat will die from its overdose of any concentration of the essential oil of oregano or from ingesting it.
Neither topically nor orally administering oregano oil to your cat is safe or healthy for any pet, human or feline.
Compounds that are detrimental to feline health include phenols, methyl alcohol, and thymol.
Is Oregano Toxic To Cats?
Yes, cats are very sensitive to the essential oils of oregano that are present in various supplements.
Oregano leaves, both fresh and dried, contain essential oils that can be toxic to cats if ingested.
Essential oil of oregano is toxic to cats and can cause neurological damage and death if ingested.
Can kittens eat oregano?
Kittens’ immune systems are still developing, so anything they eat could upset their stomachs or lead to other health problems.
In general, stick to cat food when feeding animals.
As a result, do no feed your feline any form of oregano, whether fresh or dried, nor should you allow it to eat any plants in your garden that feature this herb in them.
Oregano’s toxicity isn’t affected by the place the plant grows, meaning that no matter whether the plant is grown in Italy or Cuba, it is still toxic to cats.
Can Oregano Kill Cats?
Every pizza has oregano as a hidden ingredient; you just can’t taste it.
Before you feel sorry for your cat and call your vet immediately, you should know that only certain varieties of oregano can be dangerous for cats.
Typically growing wild in the Mediterranean region, the varieties that do pose a risk to cats are Greek wild oregano and Mexican wild oregano.
Also known as Mexican marjoram, this spice has been found to be toxic to cats when ingested in large doses.
In the worst-case situation, cats that eat oregano may have low blood sugar, blood clotting issues, and liver damage.
There are different forms of oregano and cats are sensitive to a wide range of chemicals found in these varieties.
The most common type is called “dried leaf.” This form has a high concentration of the compound rosmarinic acid and is toxic to cats.
If the cat ingests this substance in large quantities, it can cause kidney damage and even death.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Hot Cheetos?
What To Do If Your Cat Ate Oregano?
Oregano or any other herb or plant that shouldn’t be ingested by cats can cause serious problems for your feline friend.
The amount of oregano consumed and the time frame over which the toxin is elevated in the blood will be used to determine the seriousness of your cat’s condition.
If your cat shows any signs at home, including vomiting or diarrhea, alert your veterinarian. Take any containers of herbs or plants outside with you so your pet won’t try to eat them again.
The oregano may cause kidney toxicity, so blood tests will not immediately show evidence of it.
