Caution is genuinely sensible here — burning bakhoor produces smoke, and cats in particular tend to have less tolerance for smoke and certain aromatic compounds than humans do, so it’s best kept to a separate, well-ventilated room away from pets rather than burned freely around them.

Why cats especially warrant more care

Cats process certain compounds differently to humans and dogs, and their respiratory systems are more sensitive to airborne particles generally, which is why many vets recommend keeping cats away from any kind of smoke, including incense and bakhoor. Dogs are somewhat more tolerant but still have a far more sensitive sense of smell than we do, so a heavily bakhoor-scented room isn’t necessarily pleasant for them even if it isn’t directly harmful in moderation. If you do burn bakhoor at home, keeping pets in a different room with good ventilation, and not making it a constant daily habit in a small space, is the sensible middle ground.

  • Keep pets, cats especially, in a separate well-ventilated room while burning
  • Avoid making it a constant daily habit in small, enclosed spaces
  • If in doubt about a specific pet’s health, a vet is better placed to advise than general guidance

Birds are worth particular caution too, since their respiratory systems are famously sensitive to airborne particles of almost any kind, including cooking fumes as well as smoke from incense or bakhoor.

Our complete guide to bakhoor and our complete guide to perfume cover safe burning practices in more depth.