Can I really not have reed diffusers or scented candles?

[Gardenshed86]

I have been reading that these are bad for cats. I have a 3 month old kitten and obviously don't want to harm her in any way. I do like the reed diffusers as they help the house smell nicer especially as having a cat , with the litter and cat food smell everywhere so I feel like I definitely need something to help mask it.
Do you use any air fresheners and reed diffusers if you have a cat and has the cat been ok?

Well you can and you may well not notice that the cat doesn't like them. But they don't, they are so so much more sensitive to smell than us and you are basically making their environment weird.

Why does your house smell of cat food? Ours smells of cat food for the few seconds that pass between us opening it and the cats inhaling it as if they are being starved and that's it.

She doesn't always eat all her food at once , she comes back and forward to it, so there is always cat food sitting out on her plate

I have cats and reed refusers in my bathrooms- they are high up where they can't get them. I've always had scented candles and the cats don't seem fussed by them 🤷‍♀️

They are also harmful to humans, scented products emit all kinds of chemicals.

I use scented candles and wax melts but only where my cat can't get to them and when I'm around. Reed diffusers are more risky as they're always out and can easily be knocked over and are full of horrible stuff, so I wouldn't have them with a kitten.

Thanks, I have them high up on shelves so that she can't reach them

I have a reed diffuser in the kitchen and one in the hall and she doesn't seem bothered by them at all. I only read yesterday that they can be harmful but maybe that's more of the cat trows to eat them or if they are within reach

I use this on a shelf high up near the litter tray - specifically for pet odours and the cats don't seem to mind it
https://www.ocado.com/products/cristalinas-pet-odour-eliminator-reed-diffuser-fresh-air-533825011

Sadly these strong smelling things are not good for cats, especially young ones. Some cats will cope better than others though.

It's not just cats that hate them. Lots of humans too! I'm pretty certain that we're going to find out that they cause all sorts of problems for lungs. They give me an instant headache. So imagine the poor cat must hate them.

We've always used scented candles and wax melts around our animals and have never had any problems. I think, in the nicest way, MN can sometimes be a bit extreme over what is unsafe around animals - in reality, millions of people have animals and use scented products without issue.

Of course if the animal is visibly suffering, that's different though.

You know you can't have lilies either don't you? Why not try some other fresh flowers though, will smell much nicer than an air freshener

We have reed diffusers in places which are inaccessible to the cats, and only have a candle lit if we are physically present in the room and can supervise.

As a pp says, the real danger is bunches of flowers with lilies in them. The pollen is fatal to cats. All they need to do is get some of the pollen on their fur as they brush past, and lick it off their fur when they groom themselves. All flowers in the lily family should be avoided including in the garden.

We have reed diffusers and cats and it never crossed my mind to worry about it. The diffusers are on a mantlepiece or high shelf so the cats can't access them, and they have never shown any reaction at all.

I always light a candle in the evening, it’s on the mantelpiece where the cat never goes. I wouldn’t chance them on the dinner table where he is liable to leap up though!

My neighbour was very pleased with the beautiful bouquet of lilies I received a few weeks ago. I felt so guilty giving them away but I wouldn’t have them over the door.

Cat biscuits smell a lot less than wet food.

Yes! I can’t be in the same room as a diffuser without having an asthma attack.

I also feel so strongly about reed diffusers, candles etc as they give me both migraine and asthma - sometimes it's a race as to which kicks in first.

If your cat isn't eating all the wet food at once just put less down or introduce dry food. Having wet cat food down all day won't work in the summer as flies lay eggs in it. And cat litter should only smell briefly - either clear it up or change cat litter brand or both.

Could you put smaller portions of food out?

I'm one of those pet owners that go to extreme lengths to make sure their pets are kept safe, well and happy. However we've always had those reed diffusers without issue. I didn't know there were issues with reed diffusers and cats. I don't have the plug ins because I know that they're really not great for them. I have one reed diffuser at the moment which is kept completely inaccessible to the cats. They've never seemed bothered by them at all. However if you do want to avoid them and try to manage the cat smell, I make sure I wash fabrics and wipe down the cat tree regularly. I keep the place well ventilated and run an air purifier regularly. I've found that the better quality wet food doesn't smell bad and I make sure to dispose of the old food and wrapper in a way so that they don't make the bin smell. There are ways to manage the smell without masking it. I find brushing them a couple of times a week keeps their fur smelling fresh. I don't think the place smells too much of cat!

Exactly, they really affect the air quality and emotionally toxins. I wouldn't have anything like that in the house.

Emit toxins not emotionally toxins!

Never even crossed my mind. We have diffusers, and the cat chooses to sleep in rooms with them. If he was really bothered he wouldn't stay there!

Also have lilies in the garden, and have had them in the house.....There are so many hazards around and about outside, literally hundreds of plants in the garden. You can get too wrapped up in these things.

Thing about lilies is that even a couple of grains of pollen can be lethal to cats.

One of mine likes to chew on any cut flowers we have in. So any bouquets with lilies in are accepted gratefully and then immediately go straight in the bin.

There are loads of flowers you can have in your garden, it's not worth the risk.

I’ve got scented candles and diffusers in loads of rooms. The cats appear oblivious.