CBD Oil For Cats

As CBD continues to gain more attention for its possible therapeutic and pain management effects for human beings, it’s no surprise the trend has extended to our mammals. Like people, cats can experience a variety of emotions that can influence their behavior, including fear, pain, aggression and anxiety. But you may not have to experience that anymore! CBD is capable of inducing a sense of tranquility in cats, reducing anxiety as well as treating pain. 

If you own a cat, you may be concerned about your cat’s health but reluctant and afraid to give it CBD due to concerns that CBD may make your cat high. The good news is that it doesn't, however, your reservations are well understood. In this article, we outlined everything you need to know about CBD for cats, including what it is, how it works, if it is safe for your cat and benefits of CBD oils for your cat.

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Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a product made from the Cannabis Sativa plant. CBD is a member of the cannabinoid family, which can be extracted from this plant. Once extracted, it is combined with a carrier oil and can be ingested or administered topically to enjoy  its many therapeutic benefits. Unlike THC, CBD’s counterpart, CBD doesn't produce a "high" or any other kind of intoxication. 

All mammals have an endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoids are produced by the body and they are similar to the cannabinoids in cannabis and nearly all body functions are impacted by these endocannabinoids. In stressful situations, or when experiencing pain, CBD acts as these endocannabinoids and binds to multiple compounds in the body to help bring the body back to a state of homeostasis (an internal body balance). 

For instance, by  stimulating the serotonin receptors in their brain, CBD can reduce anxiety  levels in your cat. While CBD for cats can help ease pain, anxiety, and enhance general well-being, it should be used as part of a wellness regimen rather than as a cure. You should still let your cat play and exercise as much as it  can.

The short answer is no, CBD will not get your cat high. 

While the cannabinoids, THC and CBD can both be extracted from industrial hemp, CBD oil products made from industrial hemp have very minute to no amounts of THC (<0.3%).

Therefore, CBD oil offers all the benefits of the cannabis plant without the psychoactive effects of THC.

There are presently no generally accepted doses for cats in the industry. As the cannabis market continues to expand, more resources will be devoted to research on the best dosage for cats.

For anxiety, it is suggested that for every 10 pounds your cat weighs, 1-5mg of CBD oil can be administered once or twice a day.

However, do not neglect to read the label of your CBD oil for further instructions. Additionally, the dose required to achieve desired results may differ from cat to cat. Ensure you carry out test doses starting from lower doses and monitor your cat’s response to determine if larger doses are required. 

Yes, CBD is generally regarded as safe for cats as long as the THC content is very low or completely absent.

A study on the tolerance of CBD and THC in healthy cats has shown that  CBD is safe for cats even at levels as high as 30.5 mg/kg. Side effects were more common with oils that contained THC.1

However, there can be some side effects to giving your cat CBD oil, such as gastrointestinal distress and mild drowsiness.

If you are giving your cat prescription medications, make sure you see your veterinarian before using CBD. 

If you are looking for drug-free treatments for your cat’s anxiety, you may find our CBD oil for pets can be the natural solution for a happier, calmer kitty. Discuss use with your veterinarian first. 

Few studies have been carried out on the effects of CBD oil in cats however, there have been no reports so far on overdosing a cat on CBD oil. 

High doses of CBD oil may however cause your cat some discomfort.  In this case, your cat may experience drowsiness, sluggishness or develop stomach discomfort. Ensure you administer low doses of CBD oil and monitor your cat’s responses before increasing the dose. 

Much like human beings, when used on cats, CBD has similar benefits in terms of reducing pain and anxiety, treating seizures and reducing  inflammation.

Moving to a new home, adjusting to new cats or people in the house, traveling, or visits to the vet are just a few events that might make your beloved cats anxious. CBD can be an effective and natural solution to reduce anxiety for cats without any negative side effects.

Watching your cat undergo a seizure can be terrifying. Seizures are usually caused by the abnormal stimulation of neurons in the brain. If your cat has seizures, you should visit your veterinarian to find out the cause and explore the possibility of exploring CBD as a treatment option. 

The National Institute of Health found in research that CBD has the potential to greatly reduce  epileptic seizures in rodents and shows CBD to be an effective therapeutic anti-convulsant.2

It is  difficult to see your cat experience chronic pain. Cats with chronic discomfort may benefit from using CBD oil either temporarily or over the long term. When your cat is in discomfort, CBD oil can serve a dual purpose of easing their pain while  maintaining their calmness.

Let us now consider the pros and cons of CBD oil for cats. 

Cons

Exploring the benefits of CBD oil for cats is relatively new hence, research available on its effects are not many. 

Additionally, Since research is quite new in this area, dosing may also prove difficult as it is still unknown what an appropriate and safe dose of CBD for pets would be.

Pet owners may be at risk for purchasing CBD oil with unlisted ingredients that are potentially toxic to their cats, such as THC. This is why it is important to ensure your brand of choice is reputable and reliable like BATCH which also provides a CoA from a third-party lab. 

Pros

Pet owners who have enjoyed the benefits of CBD have testified to its many positive properties. It has been reported that CBD has been able to reduce anxiety, discomfort, joint pain, and chronic pain as well as inflammation in cats.

The market for CBD pet products is expanding as a result of these favorable experiences. Furthermore, as more research is being conducted, we are only scratching the surface of the benefits that can be gotten from CBD oil for cats.

Choosing the best CBD oil for your cat is very important. It is important that your CBD oil of choice must be high quality. Product labels and adverts can be misleading and sometimes hard to understand hence emphasizing the need that your chosen brand has a CoA obtained from a trusted third-party lab. 

A few guidelines to help with choosing your product: 

• Find a product that clearly specifies how much CBD it contains 
• Ensure it’s free of heavy metals and pesticides 
• Make sure it contains preferably no THC or less than 0.1 as THC can be harmful to cats 

Additionally, your cat's needs will also determine the best CBD oil for your cat.  

At Batch, you can try our quality  CBD oil for pets  extracted from ethically sourced hemp.  You can also shop our collection of high-quality products at BATCH. 

The entourage effect is a relatively new scientific theory. It's suggested that the effect happens when hundreds of cannabis compounds mix together and cooperate in the CBD mixture to achieve a stronger impact than any single compound could produce.  

Third-party testing is very important in selecting high-quality CBD oil. These labs test products to detect any potential contaminants and determine the actual percentages of CBD and THC concentrations within the product.

The extraction method involves the process through which CBD is gotten from industrial hemp to make the  oil. The extraction method as well as the solvent used to separate cannabinoids each has an impact on the quality of CBD. The best extraction method is one that makes a potent CBD oil while effectively eliminating contaminants. The CO2 extraction method is presently the most preferred one.

The general dosing rule for cats is 1–5 mg CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight. As a general rule of thumb, if your cat has a more severe condition like seizures or cancer, then your cat will need more CBD. Starting small and gradually increasing until you find the proper dose for your cat is the best way to determine how much to use. 

Because potencies vary by CBD product, it’s important to read the label to determine the amount of CBD to offer. 

The dosage to give your cat will vary depending on its size. The common recommendation is about 1 to 5 milligrams per 10 pounds.

We advise that you experiment to find the right amount and how often to use it. Ideally, you'll want to start out with a lower dose and see how your pet reacts and check for calming effects. 

If it works well, your cat should  feel calm and relaxed. If there seems to be no improvement, you can increase the dose gradually until there is an improvement. 

For anxiety, once or twice a day may be effective. To control pain, you can give your cat CBD every 8 hours or However, we recommend you check in with your vet before administering. 

CBD oil can just be that remedy you need to calm your anxious cat and generally improve the well-being of your cat. It is important, however, to obtain your cat’s CBD oil from a reputable and reliable source like BATCH. This is important to avoid any unwanted side effects in your cat. Don't forget to seek medical advice from your veterinarian especially if your cat is on any other medication. Feel free to contact us today to also learn more about our other CBD products!

Sources

1. Kulpa JE, Paulionis LJ, Eglit GM, Vaughn DM. Safety and tolerability of escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2021;23(12):1162-1175. doi:10.1177/1098612X211004215
2. Jones, Nicholas A., et al. “Cannabidiol Exerts Anti-Convulsant Effects in Animal Models of Temporal Lobe and Partial Seizures.” Seizure, vol. 21, no. 5, June 2012, pp. 344–352, 10.1016/j.seizure.2012.03.001.
3. Kulpa, Justyna E, et al. “Safety and Tolerability of Escalating Cannabinoid Doses in Healthy Cats.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, vol. 23, no. 12, 26 Mar. 2021, pp. 1162–1175, 10.1177/1098612x211004215. 
4. The Essential Insight into the Wellbeing of UK Pets PDSA ANIMA al L W WELLBE EI I in NG G REPORT PAW. 2018.

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No, CBD will not get your cat high. CBD is known for its wellness benefits achieved without any psychoactive effects

The short answer is yes, but we recommend you seek out a pet-specific CBD. While human CBD oil is typically safe for pets, it’s possible that CBD for humans can contain ingredients or even a level of THC that could be dangerous to your cat. 

CBD for cats can support relaxation which leads to better sleep.

CBD oil has been recommended by veterinarians as an effective therapy for anxiety in cats.