Is Bag balm safe for cats?

A cat’s paw pad can occasionally become dry and calloused given the many different types of surfaces it walks around on. It would be much safer to use paw balms made specific for pet use but you could consider using bag balm as an alternative if you don’t have any pet balm at home. This, however, should only be a last resort and should only be used if your vet gives you the green light.

Bag balms can serve the same purpose as a regular pet balm and help keep the cat’s paw pads moisturized. It may also help soothe the discomfort a cat might feel from a cracked nose or from a hot spot. Some cats have been known to go crazy for the scent of bag balms. Others may not enjoy the distinct smell as much.

It might be considered safe to apply topically but what if a cat was to accidentally ingest the bag balm while it licks the affected area? The petroleum component of bag balm isn’t toxic to cats but the active ingredient (8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate) could cause health problems if a cat was to ingest a bit too much of it. Some cats may show digestive symptoms like vomiting if they lick and ingest too much of the bag balm. You should take the cat to the vet straight away in such cases.

To summarize, it’s generally considered safe to use bag balm on cats but there are still plenty of safer alternatives if you would prefer to err on the side of caution.