Are Cedar Chips Safe for Dogs and Cats? | Double Tree

Are Cedar Chips Safe for Dogs and Cats?

If you're adding cedar chips to a yard, garden, or dog area, the safety question is the right one to ask — and the honest answer depends on how you use them and which animal you mean. Here's a straight, no-hype breakdown for Double Tree Forest Products incense cedar wood chips.

The short answer

  • Dogs: Incense cedar chips are generally well tolerated as outdoor ground cover, in garden beds, dog runs, and landscaped areas, when used as directed.
  • Cats: Used as outdoor garden and landscape cover, incense cedar chips are generally fine. We do not market our chips as cat litter, and aromatic cedar is not recommended for litter-box use.
  • Small caged pets (hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds): We do not recommend aromatic cedar shavings as bedding for small or caged animals. Their enclosed environment and sensitive respiratory systems make any strongly aromatic wood a poor choice. This is a bedding caution — it does not apply to outdoor yard or garden use.

Why the aroma matters

Cedar's natural insect-repelling power comes from its aromatic oils. Outdoors, in open air, that aroma disperses and simply makes the area less inviting to pests. Inside a small sealed cage, those same oils concentrate — which is why the responsible guidance for small-pet bedding is to choose paper or aspen instead. Context is everything: open-air landscaping is a very different situation from a closed enclosure.

Using cedar chips safely around your pets

  1. Use them as intended — outdoor ground cover, garden beds, pathways, dog-run footing, and landscape decor.
  2. Give pets normal outdoor access; the cedar aroma naturally encourages animals to leave the chips alone rather than chew them.
  3. Don't use aromatic cedar as small-animal cage bedding or cat litter.
  4. As with any landscaping material, discourage pets from eating large amounts, and check with your veterinarian if your animal has a known sensitivity.

An honest note

Plenty of sites give a flat "yes" or "no" — the truth is more useful. For outdoor yard, garden, and dog-area use, incense cedar chips are a natural, good-smelling choice families use every day. For inside a small pet's cage, pick a non-aromatic bedding. Matching the product to the use keeps everyone happy — pets included.

Looking for natural, great-smelling cedar for your yard and garden?

Shop Incense Cedar Wood Chips

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This page is educational guidance, not veterinary advice. Use cedar products as directed; for any specific health concern about your animal, consult your veterinarian.