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CBD Oil For Cats: How Does It Work?
With CBD oil becoming popular for treating many health conditions in humans, it’s just logical to ask whether it can also benefit our feline friends. The short answer is a clear yes! Mr. Whiskers can benefit from the healing powers of CBD as much as we can. Find out about CBD oil for cats, the conditions it can help with, and how to dose it.
CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis. Unlike the main psychoactive component THC, CBD doesn’t get you high. With studies suggesting its use for pain management and as a potential treatment for conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, neurological disorders, and many others, CBD is currently a very hot topic. If you’re a cat owner, you may be interested to learn that CBD can also benefit your four-legged friend!
HOW DOES CBD FOR CATS WORK?
As is the case with humans, cats have an endocannabinoid system that regulates important physiological functions such as immunity, mood, sleep, and pain. Cannabinoid receptors are found all throughout the body, including the brain, nervous system, and immune system. What makes cannabis so special is that its active compounds can bind or influence these receptors. And in the same way humans can benefits from the outcomes of CBD, so can your feline friends!
HOW CAN CBD HELP YOUR CAT?
Despite a mounting body of evidence on the positive effects and potential applications of CBD, the field of cannabis-related medical research is still new. Mainstream parties are finally accepting that a previously demonised substance actually poses a wide range of therapeutic applications. As such, there are few in vivo studies of CBD on cats; however, there is a wealth of anecdotal and preliminary reports that support its therapeutic action.
Among the conditions CBD can help alleviate in cats are:
- Aggression
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Lack of energy
- Inflammation
- Infections
There are also more serious health conditions where cat owners have reported seeing good results when administering CBD oils. These include common feline diseases such as arthritis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma, which are conditions where inflammation is often the root cause. CBD is largely known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, helping to fight both the root causes and symptoms of various conditions.
Among people, CBD is used for treating seizures, such as those experienced by patients suffering from a rare form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome. There is evidence that CBD is also effective for reducing seizures in cats.
HOW TO DOSE CBD FOR CATS
Cats are obviously much smaller than humans, which means they will normally require much lower doses of CBD than we do.
If you purchase a CBD oil product made specifically for cats, make sure you read the recommendations for correct dosing that come with the product. You can also use CBD oils that are intended for people, as long as you make sure to use them in the proper low dose.
According to some veterinarians, 0.1–0.5mg of CBD per kg of your cat is recommended. Individual doses may vary depending on the specific condition your cat is suffering from, among other factors. Remember, less can be more. It is always better to start with low doses first to see how your cat responds.
RECOMMENDED DOSAGE OF CBD FOR COMMON CAT CONDITIONS
- Arthritis: 0.5mg/kg twice daily
- Asthma: 0.5mg/kg twice daily
- Inflammatory bowel disease: 0.2mg/kg twice daily
- Pancreatitis: 0.1mg/kg twice daily, gradually increasing to 0.5mg/kg twice daily
- Chronic upper respiratory tract infections: 5mg/kg twice daily
- Seizures: 0.5mg/kg twice daily and then increase gradually—maximum dosage for treating seizures can be up to 3mg of CBD per kg weight of your cat
Know that CBD doesn’t normally work overnight. Sometimes it can take several weeks for you to observe its effects on your pet. Therefore, when you administer CBD, be patient and consistent, carefully observing your cat so you can find the optimal dosage in due time.
As a rule, it’s a good idea to wait a week or two before upping the dosage. Repeat this process as recommended until you notice its effects.
ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS OF CBD OIL FOR CATS?
There shouldn’t be any negative side effects when you give CBD oil to your cat in appropriate doses. Too much may cause your cat to become sedated, but this is not life-threatening.
While CBD is generally safe to give, know that you should never administer cannabis or cannabis-derived products that contain THC. Cats are even more sensitive to THC than humans. While you may enjoy being high from THC, your cat would find it very unpleasant.
Many pet owners say that CBD has helped improve their cat’s and dog’s health and well-being greatly. This suggests that CBD oil can be an effective and safe way to treat your cat for various health conditions. Give CBD oil to your cat and let the results speak for themselves!
