is Febreze safe for pets?

We love our pets, and we know you love yours, too. That’s why we take every precaution to ensure Febreze is designed so that it can be safely used around our pets—and yours.

we’ve got the facts

Contrary to rumors alleging that Febreze causes serious illness or death in pets, our veterinary toxicology experts at ASPCA regard Febreze fabric freshener products to be safe for use in households with pets. As with any product, it is important that you always follow label instructions for use. However, should your pet accidentally come into contact with Febreze when it is still wet, ASPCA would not anticipate problems beyond mild skin irritation (which can occur with any product in animals with sensitive skin) or minor stomach upset, if it is ingested.

we know how to keep it safe

As with any product, it is important that you should always follow label instructions for use. Which means that when you spray Febreze, there are a few ways to make absolutely sure you’re doing it in the right way around your cat or dog.

keep pets off wet surfaces until dry

Febreze Fabric Refresher works best when you spray your fabrics until damp. However, should your pet accidentally lay down on that wet surface or lick up the spray, they may (at most, according to the ASPCA) experience some mild skin irritation or minor upset stomach. It’s best to keep them off the furniture until dry.

remove any birds from the room

Like any other air care product, it’s best if you remove a pet bird from the room until the Febreze dissipates. Birds have smaller, specialized lungs and their respiratory systems do not respond well to air care, while your cat or dog can happily get their sniff on.

please, don’t spray your pets

We know Febreze smells good, and wet dog smells like… wet dog. But please never spray any Febreze product directly onto a pet. Febreze cannot and will not de-odor a pet and should never be used to do so.

we always double-check

Our on-staff vets and toxicologists, working with third-party partners like SafetyCall International and the Safety Call Pet Poison Help Line, always make sure our product safety thresholds fall well below any danger zones.

Curious about what goes into a Febreze product before you use it around your cat or dog? Check out our complete ingredient list here.

And if you have any additional concerns you want to chat about, more contact details are below:

SafetyCall International (SCI) Pet Poison Help Line

Dedicated 24/7/365 toll-free number in NA offering free consultation and support with veterinary specialists to pet owners and vets.

Phone: 833-224-2018