Cinnamon is a common spice that we use in food, beverages, or even for decoration. However, it’s also used as a repellant for cats. So, can cats eat cinnamon? Is it safe for them?

According to ASPCA, cinnamon is not toxic to cats, dogs, or horses. However, only in small amounts. Large amounts of this spice could lead to health issues. Most cats don’t like cinammon and that is why it is often used as a repellant. And since their sense of smell is very sensitive, most of them hate the smell of cinnamon. However, you’ll find some cats being attracted to it out of curiosity.

Is Cinnamon Good For Cats?

Cinnamon won\’t hurt your cat in small amounts. However, it can be toxic to cats when fed in excess or when they’re exposed to it for a long time. This is because, unlike humans, cats lack the enzymes responsible for breaking down a cinnamon compound known as coumarin, causing it to build up in the cat’s system. In a worst-case scenario, it can cause a toxic reaction.

Reasons Why Cats Shouldn\’t Eat Cinnamon

Coumarin has a wide range of uses, from medicinal applications to rat poison and kills rodents by inducing liver failure and hemorrhaging. However, the type of cinnamon we use in our food contains lower amount of coumarin, it’s still not safe to let it accumulate in their system.

How Cats Get Exposed to Cinnamon

There are several ways how cats can come come in contact wih cinnamon. Here are the most common:

1. Ingesting

This is the most common way. Cinnamon is useful to treat diabetes in people or heart diseases and improve heart health by lowering blood pressure. In some cases, cat parents may actually intentionally feed cinnamon powder to their felines, assuming that it will be beneficial for their health.

Cats can accidentally end up ingesting the spice.

• Perhaps you’re using a cinnamon stick in a mug of hot cider or in your pumpkin pie recipe and your cat decides to give it a lick.
• You’re using a cinnamon tree to repel other critters from your garden.
• Maybe your cat even licks ornaments that you made that contain cinnamon.

2. Inhaling

If you are using an air freshener or diffuser containing cinnamon additives or cinnamon essential oil, your cats may inhale it. Unlike Cinnamon trees and powders, cinnamon essential oils are toxic to cats. So avoid using it in your diffusers. Cats can also accidentally inhale small doses of cinnamon powder, especially if you’re baking with it.

Symptoms of Cinnamon Toxicity

Cinnamon toxicity or allergic reactions to cinnamon don’t happen often. However, it can happen, and here are some ogf the symptoms so that you might diagnose it based on the method of exposure.

What To Do If Your Cat Eats Cinnamon

If your cat eats a small amount of cinnamon, nothing may happen. But if you notice any of the effects mentioned above, call your vet as soon as possible. The biggest mistake you can make is to try and treat the cat yourself. Treatment of cinnamon toxicity depends on the mode of exposure and the symptoms your cat is experiencing.

It takes a qualified vet to rule out any other issues your cat could be suffering from. For instance, vomiting and diarrhea are also symptoms of eating cream. And once they establish its cinnamon toxicity, they can begin treatment based on the reaction the cat is having. Allergic reactions will have a different treatment compared to respiratory issues.

Most cats will recover soon from exposure to cinnamon, as in most cases it\’s just an allergic reaction. Just make sure you seek veterinary care as soon as you note any signs of toxicity or allergic reactions, so that it won\’t cause any organ failure.

Conclusion

Cats shouldn\’t eat cinnamon. There are many healthy foods you can feed your cat or repellants for your garden, but cinnamon is among foods that are bad for cats. Excessive amounts of cinnamon are toxic, and it gets even worse if they inhale it or when it gets to their skin. You have to be careful when handling cinnamon around your cats, and opt for alternative methods to deter cats.

What do you think about cinnamon? Has your cat ever been exposed to it? Did you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below…