Why Cats and Dogs Don't Like the Smell of Citrus: Never Tease Your Pets This Way
If you have a furry “friend” living at home, you could not help but notice that he tries with all his might to avoid contact with citrus smells.
Why do pets wince and run away when they see cut oranges and lemons? We will try to find the answer to this question in this article.
First of all, it is worth recalling the recommendations of veterinarians, who insist that teasing a pet in this way is unacceptable.
The reason is essential oils, which are abundant in the peel of fruits. Since dogs and cats have very well-developed olfactory receptors, the smell of citrus fruits is too strong for them.
However, animals try to avoid this smell not only because of the irritation of receptors.
The fact is that essential oils are toxic substances that can cause poisoning even in humans, and the metabolism of our smaller brothers is even more vulnerable to such compounds.
Of course, the negative impact of essential oils on animals has not yet been studied well, but there are already cases (and documented ones) where pets have died because of them.
The most dangerous essential oils for cats, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, include cinnamon, citrus, clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, and others.
The most toxic oils for dogs are pine oil, tea tree oil and wintergreen.
