Mary Allen
Tea tree oil is becoming increasingly popular. While 10 tons were sold annually in 1990, consumption rose to 165 tons by 2000. It is touted as a true miracle cure for such common ailments as acne, dandruff and psoriasis, fungal infections, muscle pain, open wounds, rheumatism, smoker’s cough, and varicose veins. This spectrum alone is adventurous and makes you think. When used on animals, there are also behavioral disorders and, above all, parasite control (fleas).
Tea tree oil, like other greasy ointment bases (milking grease, Vaseline), initially has undisputed nurturing properties. Otherwise, it contains various terpenes and phenols in strongly varying compositions. These are certainly more or less strongly disinfecting. First and foremost, the quickly evaporating essential ingredients are responsible for the typical smell.
As a “natural” remedy, it has the reputation of being free of side effects. Unfortunately, this is not the case at all for humans and animals. Tea tree oil is a particularly big problem for cats: Because of the phenol content, tea tree oil, like oils from thyme, oregano, or cinnamon, is toxic even in relatively small amounts. Cats cannot glucuronate the phenols. That’s why they can’t eliminate them. It accumulates in the body. Stumbling, trembling and restlessness, chronic emaciation, and weakness set in. If animals are treated quickly, they can recover within 2-3 days. If the oil treatment is continued, the animal will come and die.
For cats, the use of tea tree oil as a flea remedy is particularly dangerous and useless because it is applied repeatedly and often licked off by the animals as part of grooming. Tea tree oils do not contain any insecticidal active ingredients. At best, they might be repellent to fleas because of the smell. But how much should the flea be interested in the smell of its victim given the blood meal it is aiming for? Not least because of the numerous non-toxic, defined, constantly composed, and highly effective flea remedies that are available for cats, you should avoid this experiment.