CBD has a lot of benefits for humans but is CBD oil safe for cats? Learn what you need to know about giving your cat CBD oil in our ultimate guide.
We worry about or feline friends’ mental and physical health just as much as our own. The problem is that sometimes, it seems like the solutions for our cats’ troubles come with a long list of side effects. Are there natural alternatives?
The CBD market is booming, predicted to reach a worth of over $20 billion by 2024. People are loving CBD’s anti-anxiety effects around the world. The question is, will it affect cats the same way and, more importantly, is CBD oil safe for cats?
The short answer is yes, CBD oil is safe for cats. However, it’s important to a little bit of research before sharing the CBD oil you use with your pet.
Read on to learn more about how CBD oil can benefit cats and how to make sure you’re delivering it safely.
Does CBD Oil Work on Cats?
CBD oil works by targeting the endocannabinoid system in our bodies. As it turns out, cats have the same cannabinoid receptors as humans!
These cannabinoid receptors are found in the brain, nervous system, and immune system. CBD influences these receptors to ease our body’s reaction to pain and our mind’s reaction to stress. Since cats have this same system, it is possible for them to feel the same effects that we feel when we take CBD on a regular basis!
Benefits of CBD Oil for Cats
There are a number of ways that CBD oil can help your cat and the best news is, you don’t have to worry about vicious side effects. A lot of medications end up creating problems that are almost as bad as the problem they were designed to resolve. Nausea, lethargy, hair loss, and appetite loss are common side effects to a lot of pet pharmaceuticals.
As long as you use the proper dosage, your cat only stands to benefit from CBD oil. Let’s talk about some of the ways that CBD oil can help!
Mental and Behavioral Issues
When CBD is introduced into the endocannabinoid system, it sets neurotransmitters like serotonin in motion. Serotonin makes us feel calm but energized. It helps us to monitor our stress levels and keeps our mood light.
CBD is known to help reduce aggressive tendencies in cats who may bite, hiss, scratch, or otherwise lash out. It is also a great way to ease the stress of separation or situational anxiety. If your cat struggles with your absence or with trips to the vet, CBD may go the right solution for her!
Physical Ailments
Our body is supposed to naturally produce endocannabinoids. Some of them move throughout our nervous system, binding the receptors that send feelings of pain throughout our body.
Cats who suffer from chronic pain or struggle with a tumor or residual pain from cancer treatment may need an extra boost. They’ll still feel useful pain (like getting their paw stuck in the door–ow!) but dull, aching pain could lessen with the use of CBD.
There has also been some success for owners treating the cats for over- or under-eating. This may be the combination of the physical and mental effects CBD has, since abnormal eating patterns in cats often relate at least in part to feelings of anxiety.
Is CBD Oil Safe for Cats?
As we mentioned earlier, CBD oil is safe for cats. However, it is important that you use the right variety and provide the proper dosage. Read on to learn more about how to safely give your cat CBD.
Picking the Right Brand
If you’re reaching for the CBD in your medicine cabinet that you take, yourself, pause. There may be additives or traces of THC in your CBD oil that are fine for you but bad for your feline friend. (There is an important distinction between THC, which has psychoactive effects, and CBD, which doesn’t–THC is never something you should share with animals.)
Rather than sharing what you’ve got, look into brands that sell pet CBD. Ideally, you want to find CBD producers that receive third-party testing and can back up their claims about the ingredients included.
Finding the Right Dosage
Before you begin giving your cat CBD, you should consult your veterinarian. Finding the perfect dosage isn’t an exact science and your vet may be able to offer useful insight on your cat’s mental and physical needs. Plus, if your cat is taking other medications already, it’s important to confirm that they won’t mix poorly with CBD.
In order to find the right CBD dosage for your cat, you’ll want to start small. If your cat weighs 15 pounds or less, start with two drops of CBD oil in the morning and two at night. Do this for about 5 days to monitor any changes in behavior before slowly increasing your dose by a few drops each week.
Larger cats will need a little more CBD to feel the effects. Begin with three drops in the morning and three at night.
The maximum amount of drops you give your cat each day will depend on the strength of your CBD product. The higher the concentration of CBD, the more powerful the dose.
Reap the Natural Rewards of CBD for Cats
As the CBD industry grows, we often hear the question, is CBD oil safe for cats? The answer is yes, as long as you use the right brand and practice dosing with care.
For more helpful information on pet care, bookmark our page and check in with us often!
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