Cinnamon is a spice that many of us keep in our homes for flavoring drinks and desserts with its spicy aromatic warmth. But should you be worried about exposing your cat to this spice?
While the APSCA Animal Poison Control page lists cinnamon as non-toxic to cats, there are actually quite a few things to be aware of when it comes to using this spice safely around cats.
Cinnamon does become toxic over a certain level, so it is not truly considered safe for cats. You do need to be careful to make sure that your cat isn’t exposed to this spice in high concentrations.
Interesting facts about cinnamon
Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of the cinnamon tree. There are two different varieties, Cassia and Ceylon, known as Cinnamonium cassia and Cinnamonium verum. The Ceylon cinnamon is considered the true cinnamon variety.
The dried curls of cinnamon bark are sometimes called quills.
Cinnamon trees can grow up to 60 feet tall.
Ceylon cinnamon trees are native to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Cassia cinnamon trees are native to China.
Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are responsible for 99% of the world’s cinnamon production.
Image Credit: Pexels, Pixabay
Why is cinnamon bad for cats?
Cinnamon contains a compound known as coumarin. Cats can’t break down this compound within their livers, and exposure to high concentrations of cinnamon can cause both allergic reactions and toxicity.
Cinnamon toxicity can ultimately lead to liver failure or failure of other organs.
Types of cinnamon cats can be exposed to:
Cinnamon essential oil
Cinnamon tree bark
Powdered cinnamon spice
Cinnamon diffusers
Foods or drinks flavored with cinnamon
The type of cinnamon with the lowest risk here are food and drinks, plus powdered cinnamon. The level of coumarin in any of these types is quite small, so it’s unlikely that your cat would have an allergic reaction.
A much bigger risk comes from the use of cinnamon essential oil. This has a higher concentration of coumarin. If you’re diffusing cinnamon essential oil in your house or have used it on your hands and then go pet your cat, you are exposing your cat to a potentially toxic level of coumarin.
Signs of toxicity or allergic reactions to cinnamon
Some cats can show signs of cinnamon toxicity or have an allergic reaction to exposure to cinnamon.
If your cat got cinnamon on their skin, then the signs to watch out for include:
Irritation
Redness
Burns
Rash
If your cat has ingested, inhaled, or absorbed cinnamon:
What to do if your cat is exposed to high levels of cinnamon
If your cat has been in contact with cinnamon, particularly the essential oil variety, then keep a close eye for any of the symptoms we’ve listed above.
Call your vet immediately if your cat develops any symptoms, even if they seem small.
Some cats may not show any symptoms, so it might still be worth scheduling a vet exam to put your mind at rest.
For cases of topical exposure, your vet may thoroughly flush the area to remove all traces of cinnamon.
For ingestion or absorption, your vet will want to evaluate the level of toxicity and potential damage to your cat’s internal organs. They will likely want to keep your cat in for treatment. Vitamin K is sometimes used as an antidote to coumarin toxicity, but your vet will decide on the best treatment protocol, depending on the severity of your cat’s condition.
The sooner you seek treatment for your cat, the better the chances of recovery.
Wrapping it up
Preparing, eating, or drinking anything containing cinnamon in your house is unlikely to trigger an allergic or toxic reaction in your cat. Just be sure to safely clean away any leftovers, like cinnamon sticks left in cups.
If you have a spillage of cinnamon powder, try to move your cat to a different part of the house while you clean it up. Avoid getting any powder on your hands that could then get transferred onto their bodies.
You might decide not to use any diffusers or essential oils containing cinnamon around your cat. We would recommend taking extreme care if you do want to use these around your cat. Make sure no essential oil gets spilled somewhere that your cat could sniff it accidentally. Never pet your cat if you have essential oil on your hands.
Knowing the risks of keeping different types of cinnamon safely around your cats is the first step in deciding whether using it is something you’re comfortable with.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
