Short answer: no air freshener is safe for every pet in every situation. It depends on the product, the amount, the ventilation and the animal: cats, birds and rodents are more sensitive than dogs. The sensible approach is low intensity, a ventilated room, never applying it to the animal and asking your vet if your pet has breathing problems.
We sell diffusers and neutralisers, so it would be easy to tell you everything is safe. We are not going to. What we can tell you is how to use them sensibly.
Why animals notice smells more
A dog or cat has a far keener sense of smell than we do. What seems like a gentle scent to you can feel intense to them. They also live close to the floor, where many particles settle, and some, like cats, lick their fur and can swallow whatever stays on it.
Types of air freshener and what to watch for
| Type | What to watch for |
|---|---|
| Spray or aerosol | A lot of product is released at once and tends to end up on floors, fabrics and fur. Never towards the animal. |
| Candles and burners | Flame, heat and smoke. Risk of burns and of being knocked over by curious animals. |
| Reed diffusers | The liquid is within reach: if it tips over, the animal may step in it or lick it. |
| Plug-ins | They always run at the same intensity and are usually at the animal's height. |
| Essential oils in a water diffuser | Take special care with cats: many essential oils are not recommended near them. |
| Nebulising diffuser with neutraliser | Can be scheduled by time and intensity and placed up high. Even so: low intensity and away from the animal. |
The rules we follow
- Low intensity, and only turn it up if needed.
- Never on the animal, its bed, its food, its water or its litter box.
- A ventilated room and a clear way out so it can move away.
- Watch. Sneezing, watery eyes, avoiding the room or no longer using the litter box are signs to switch the device off.
- Rodents and birds: even further away, and in another room if possible. Their airways are very sensitive.
- If in doubt, ask your vet. And if you want to know what a product contains, ask for its safety data sheet. We will send you the one for our neutralisers if you ask.
Neutralise rather than perfume
With animals at home, the goal should not be to add lots of perfume but to remove the smell that bothers you. That is why we recommend a neutraliser formulated for animal odour at low intensity, rather than a strong fragrance. Cleaning first, then the air.
We explain it animal by animal in how to neutralise pet odour at home, with dogs and cats and litter boxes covered separately.
Frequently asked questions
Which air freshener is safe for cats?
There is none we can simply call safe. With cats, the sensible approach is to avoid essential oils near them, not to use sprays next to the litter box and, if you use a diffuser, to run it at minimum intensity, up high and away from their food and litter box.
Can I use a scent diffuser with a dog at home?
Yes, with common sense: low intensity, a ventilated room, never pointed at the dog, and watching how it reacts during the first few days.
What about a hamster, rabbit or guinea pig?
Even more caution. Frequent cage cleaning comes first and, if you use a neutraliser, keep it in the room, away from the cage and at minimum intensity.
Do BENDIS fragrances contain essential oils?
They are perfumery compositions for diffusers. If you need details for a specific product, ask us for its safety data sheet at info@bendis.es and check it with your vet.
What signs show that a smell is bothering my pet?
Sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, avoiding the room, no longer eating in its usual spot or not using the litter box. If you see them, switch the device off and air the room.
If your issue is dog smell, carry on with our guide on how to get rid of dog smell in the house; if it is the litter box, with the one on cat and litter box smell.
