6 Best Air Fresheners for Maine Coon Cats in 2024

As tempting as it is to empty a whole can of Febreze when your Maine Coon has a particularly stinky poop, air fresheners are one of the most dangerous things for cats to be around.

Luckily, there are options available that aren’t just cat-safe but leave your rooms smelling heavenly while effectively removing odors. This post reviews six of the best air fresheners for Maine Coon cats, and some of them may be slightly unconventional but nifty alternatives.

It also discusses what you should look for in cat-friendly air fresheners and how you can safely use them around cats. So if you’re ready to enter purrfume paradise, read on.

A Quick Look at the Best Air Fresheners for Maine Coons

---

Exploring 6 Best Cat-safe Air Fresheners in 2024

1. Enviroscent Plug-in Scent Pod

As one of the very few air fresheners on the market that are actually ‘clean’ and free from harmful chemicals, Enviroscent’s plug-in scent pods may be the most cat-friendly option there could be.

These scent pods come with warmers that you can plug in, so they release their scent slowly and aren’t overbearing. The red poppies and rosewood scent, in particular, is quite light and doesn’t contain oils that are toxic to cats, such as tea tree or eucalyptus. You can find a complete list of the ingredients on Smartlabel.

Because these pods don’t contain VOCs, even the stronger scents don’t spread as quickly, which works in favor of households with sensitive cats. In fact, they’re best to use in small rooms only, as they’re too light and dissipate too slowly in larger ones.

They’re also free from other toxins such as formaldehyde and phthalates, both of which are known to cause nasal and eye irritation.

If you’re looking to remove odors or mask particularly pungent smells, this won’t help much. But if you want something cleaner and lightly scented, this is the scent pod for you. Do note that they use fragrance oils in it, so you should still take precautions and keep it out of your cat’s reach.

---

2. Biokleen Bac-out Lavender Fabric Refresher Spray

Not all fabric refreshers are safe to use around pets, but the Biokleen Bac-out fabric refresher spray is plant-derived and all-natural, making it safe for even sensitive felines.

Using natural scents and deodorizers, the spray removes most odors from carpets, sofas, and clothes. It’s particularly useful on rugs used near your Maine Coon’s litter box, which can stink even after vacuuming.

Just do a few good spritzes of the product all over the area, leave it for 5-10 minutes, and then use a dry paper towel or cloth to soak up any excess. It’ll be left smelling clean and lavender-ish, but nothing overbearing.

The smell dissipates after some time and isn’t very long-lasting – something felines will certainly appreciate – but the odors are removed and the whole fabric smells clean and fresh. That’s exactly what you want from a fabric refresher spray that’s safe to use around cats. Just make sure your cat doesn’t walk on the surface while it’s still damp with the product.

Bac-out doesn’t contain artificial fragrances, ammonia, or other harsh-smelling chemicals, and its plant-based formula ensures your cat doesn’t get watery eyes or a runny nose. Because of its natural ingredients, it may not be effective for removing pungent odors of pee or poop, but it certainly freshens up the space – perfect for everyday use.

---

3. Grab Green Room and Fabric Freshener

Grab Green is committed to using natural, biodegradable ingredients in their products, which is why their thyme and fig leaf room and fabric freshener is a good choice to use around Maine Coons.

It’s not too powerful and smells natural and slightly fruity rather than artificial and harsh, leaving your room and fabrics with a lingering scent of freshness. Of course, the biggest selling point of this small local business is the use of natural odor neutralizers like zinc ricinoleate and essential oils that dissipate to spread the scents.

Providing full disclosure of ingredients on their website, the product doesn’t contain any phthalates, formaldehyde, or VOCs that can trigger asthma attacks and other allergic reactions in felines. You’ll still have to use it sparingly, though, as essential oils shouldn’t be ingested or inhaled by cats.

Just a few spritzes of the product on your sofas, carpets, and bedding does the trick. While the initial scent doesn’t last too long, you’re still left with a lingering fresh smell on fabrics and in the air.

Do note that if you spray it on hard surfaces like kitchen counters or furniture, it’ll dampen it and leave behind some liquid. You’ll have to be careful not to let your cat step in those areas if it does happen.

---

4. Grow Fragrance Bamboo Air and Fabric Spray

With Maine Coons in the house, especially if they’re easily triggered by aerosols or harsh smells, a mild scent that doesn’t overpower their sense of smell is a godsend. This is why the Grow Fragrance bamboo air and fabric spray is a winner – it doesn’t just spruce up rooms with its pleasant scent but also assures you of its toxin-free formula.

The bamboo scent in particular is light and refreshing. It doesn’t smell floral or fruity – just nice and clean, so it’s great for felines who can’t tolerate strong citrusy or floral scents.

Made with an entirely plant-derived formula, the spray ensures there are no harmful VOCs or phthalates in it that are found in aerosol cans. In fact, you can find a complete list of the ingredients for every scent on their website – the small, family-owned business really believes in transparency and the use of natural ingredients.

Although it won’t linger very long in the air, it does leave a lasting freshness on fabrics, leaving the whole space smelling clean and pleasant. And even though you get only 5 oz in a bottle, you get peace of mind, happy cats, and a pleasant-smelling house – a combination hard to achieve otherwise.

---

5. Fontana Spiced Latte Wax Melt

Okay, this one isn’t really an ‘air freshener’, but you’ll love it as a safer alternative to make your space smell nicer. Wax melts are the more subtle sisters of a candle, and the Spiced Latte wax melt from Fontana may be the best scent for your fur-dominated household.

Featuring notes of coffee, clove, and ginger, this scent reminds you of all things cozy and fall-related. It isn’t citrusy or herbal-y – something cats seriously detest – and isn’t overbearing at all.

In fact, these wax melts are super subtle scent-wise and are only fit for a small area that you want to smell nice. They won’t work for you if you want a large room to be noticeably scented or for masking odors, but they might be one of the few things that your sensitive cat can be at peace with.

Made with beeswax and coconut oil, this is an all-natural wax melt that doesn’t release harmful toxins in the air, unlike paraffin, which results in harmful long-term effects. This particular scent doesn’t contain any essential oils toxic to cats, so it’s a pretty safe option to use around felines.

Each puck can burn up to a good 20-25 hours, so you’re really getting some bang for your buck with these wax melts.

---

6. Attitude Air Purifier

Made with activated charcoal – nature’s best odor remover – and mild scents, this air purifier from Attitude works well for households with asthmatic cats.

Not only is it made with naturally derived ingredients, but it gets the job done effectively. The activated charcoal present in it is powerful enough to remove odors and air contaminants from your space, making it the perfect fit for rooms with stubborn litter box smells.

It’s the safest kind of air freshener you can use around cats, as there aren’t any toxins, VOCs, or flames involved. Just pop open the lid, peel off the seal, close the lid, and place it wherever it stinks.

You can select from five different scents (we suggest green apple and basil as it smells very fresh) and the container will release it slowly over time. It’s mild and not overpowering, so it’s only very effective in smaller rooms. Larger spaces will require at least two or more of these to remove odors and release a noticeable scent.

The container also has adjustable vents, so if any of the scents are a bit much for your cat, you can narrow down the vents or close them completely if you don’t wish to use it.

---

Why Aren’t Most Air Fresheners Safe to Use Around Cats?

Air fresheners are generally unsafe for everyone – pets and humans, both. But for cats specifically, they can cause serious illnesses or at the very least, a lot of discomfort.

Most of them, especially aerosol cans, contain volatile organic compounds. In simple terms, VOCs are molecules that turn into gas to dissipate in the air, resulting in the quick spread of the scent. The problem is that a majority of these molecules are highly irritating to a cat’s nasal passages.

Some of these harmful chemicals include phthalates and formaldehyde, which are known to be very toxic to pets. Common signs and symptoms of cats not taking well to air fresheners include:

• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Coughing fits
• Vomiting
• diarrhea

Your cat may not react instantly – it may take up to a few hours to show any signs of discomfort, especially if you’ve been using plug-in diffusers. Ingesting any residue leftover from air fresheners can cause lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and more severe symptoms, calling for an emergency visit to the vet.

Some issues manifest after long-term exposure, such as asthma – one of the most common illnesses in cats residing in households where air freshener use is frequent.

What Air Fresheners Are Safe to Use Around Cats?

The solution to your odor problems? Using air fresheners that don’t contain VOCs and other harmful chemicals. Don’t just rely on the labels that say ‘pet-safe’ or ‘clean’, as they can be seriously misleading.

Check the back label yourself for ingredients such as 1,4-dichlorobenzene, phthalates, benzene, d-Limonene, formaldehyde, and xylene. If you see mentions of any such chemicals, the air freshener is likely not safe for your Maine Coon (or you).

Your air freshener shouldn’t have essential oils toxic to cats, such as tea tree oil – a particularly hazardous substance that can even be fatal. Only a few essential oils are relatively safe for cats, and even those should be used in heavily diluted forms.

Choosing an air freshener with a mild scent is just as important as ensuring safe ingredients. It should never be overbearing and should smell light and natural and not artificial and harsh.

Most cats absolutely detest citrusy or strong floral smells, so it’s a good idea to stick to something that smells more ‘fresh’ rather than fruity or floral. Remember – if it’s too strong for you, it’s even worse and almost suffocating for your cat.

For cats that have asthma, even potpourri and scented candles can trigger an attack and coughing fits. For such felines, not using any kind of scents – whether pet-safe or not – is the best way to go.

The takeaway? Cats don’t take well to most air fresheners, so for their safety, you need to be very, very selective in your choices.

How to Safely Use Air Fresheners Around Maine Coon Cats

Even with safer alternatives, you’ll need to take some precautionary measures to be able to safely use the air freshener with a fur baby in the house.

For room and fabric sprays, ensure you spray just enough for the area to start smelling nice, but not so much that the fabric becomes damp. Spraying too much can also cause hard surfaces such as the floor or the furniture to become damp and slippery. This is unsafe for cats who can walk in these areas and then lick their paws, ingesting essential oils and chemicals.

When you use sprays, make sure your cat isn’t in the vicinity and allow it to enter the room only when the liquid has completely dried up.

In case you’re using a scented candle, ensure that it’s kept in a place where the cat can’t reach it and that you’re always present to monitor the situation. Better yet, keep your cat in a different room if you must use it.

Diffusers aren’t quite safe either because they make it very easy for your cat to inhale or even ingest essential oils. If you do use it, steer clear of oils that are highly toxic to cats, such as tea tree oil. Whatever oil you choose, make sure it’s highly diluted and diffused slowly throughout the room.

No matter what your choice of air freshener is, it’s always safer to remove your cat from the vicinity or at least offer them a way out of the room in case they feel the need to escape. Use air fresheners only after you ensure ventilation in the room by opening windows and doors, and try to keep your cat from stepping on areas where you spray it.