How Could CBD Oil for Cats Help Your Pet ?

Did you know that CBD oil may be effective for domestic animals like cats and dogs? That’s right, the substance can help your pets like it helps you and your family. If you have wondered how to use CBD oil for cats, you have come to the right place. Research shows the plant’s positive impact on inflammation and other conditions affecting cats. In fact, some veterinarians suggest CBD oil for a wide variety of conditions in cats including inflammation, anxiety, and pain. This article provides information on CBD oil for cats.

What Is CBD Oil?

Marijuana and hemp are two varieties of the Cannabis Sativa plant. The Cannabis Sativa plant has hundreds of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The two most popular compounds are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the chemical compound that makes an individual high or feel euphoric. CBD products that come from the marijuana plant usually contain more than 0.3% THC and are illegal in most US states. On the other hand, CBD from the hemp plant usually contains less than 0.3% THC and is federally legal in the US. It’s commonly used to treat a wide variety of health conditions in humans and domestic animals alike. 

It’s important to look for a CBD product that contains less than 0.3% of THC when shopping for CBD oil for cats. This is important because marijuana and THC can be harmful to your pets. You should always remember that the cat’s body is quite different from the human body in many ways. It may process the supplement differently than a human. That’s why it’s best to consult a qualified veterinarian before you introduce any new supplement to your cat’s routine.      

How CBD Oil for Cats Works 

All animals, including cats, have an endocannabinoid system that regulates important processes in their bodies. Cats produce internal or endogenous cannabinoids that are similar to the cannabinoids in cannabis. These chemical compounds play an important role in maintaining homeostasis in the animal by facilitating communication between the brain and vital organs of the body. In fact, endocannabinoids tell the body how to respond to external stimuli while maintaining balance in the body. This process is called homeostasis and is responsible for the overall health and well-being of the animal. Almost all bodily processes of the animal are affected by endocannabinoids in some way.

When the endocannabinoids don’t do their job properly for whatever reason, discomfort is the result. That’s where phytocannabinoids like CBD come into the picture. Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that come from plants. They can pick up the slack for whatever endocannabinoid deficiencies you may have. This will help restore the brain-body communication process and bring back homeostasis. When a cat’s system is under stress due to environmental reasons, CBD can help bring everything back to a state of homeostasis. That’s how CBD oil helps your pet to maintain overall health and well-being.

Side Effects

Most experts recommend CBD oil for cats because it can provide natural solutions with few ill effects. However, like with any other medication, CBD oil does have a few side effects when the dosage is not correct. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues and sedation. If your pet exhibits these symptoms, you should discontinue the use of CBD, and the symptoms should disappear. Every cat has a different body and requires different doses depending on its size and health. You should consult a veterinarian before administering CBD oil to your pet. 

Administering the correct dose is the best way to prevent any side effects of CBD. Additionally, you should opt for CBD from hemp (not marijuana) to prevent adverse psychological effects. CBD from marijuana that contains more than 0.3% THC could have negative effects on your pet. Furthermore, high amounts of THC can be toxic to your pet. CBD from hemp contains less than 0.3% THC and is a safe choice for humans and pets alike. CBD products are not officially regulated in the market. Therefore, you should purchase products from a credible source to avoid wasting your money on low-quality or illegal products.

Benefits of CBD Oil For Cats?

Arthritis 

Recent research shows that arthritis is a prevalent problem for cats. In fact, 61% of cats that are six years and older have the condition in at least one joint. 82% of cats over 14 years of age suffer from full arthritis. Arthritis in cats usually leads to constant pain, lack of energy, decreased mobility, and many other symptoms. CBD oil is packed with anti-inflammatory benefits. It may help reduce inflammation of the joints in cats. CBD may also help decrease the level of pain in the animal by desensitizing the brain’s vanilloid receptor.

Mood

CBD may also help improve the mood of your cat. If your cat is always “grumpy,” it may be due to low levels of energy or unbalanced hormones in the animal. CBD may help alleviate stress & anxiety which are often the root causes of grumpiness. Also, CBD works synergistically to maintain homeostasis in the cat’s body by interacting with receptors in its brain. This process helps regulate hormone production and enhance the mood of the pet. 

Cats suffer from environmental stress and anxiety just like humans. In fact, they experience the same unpleasant signs and symptoms that we experience. Conflicts with other cats, changes in their environment, health issues, and poor relationships with humans are some of the most common stressors for cats. Although moderate stress may make your pet grumpy, long-term stress and anxiety are bad for its overall health and well-being. It may lead to declining health, behavioral issues, poor appetite, and many other problems if you allow it to persist. 

Most owners find it difficult to identify abnormal behavior in cats because let’s face it– cats are weird. Ignoring problems could amplify them and create more serious issues over time. CBD helps alleviate stress & anxiety in your pet by moderating the stress hormone cortisol. CBD influences the receptors in the brain that are responsible for mood regulation and neurological activities.

Seizures

CBD oil also helps reduce the occurrence of epileptic seizures in cats. Cats can suffer from epilepsy and experience seizures at varying degrees. Seizures occur due to abnormal levels of electrochemical activity in the cat’s brain. Brain damage and injuries are usually the cause of such imbalances. Research is still ongoing regarding CBD for the treatment of epileptic seizures in cats. Nevertheless, there are very promising results from the studies so far. One study showed that CBD was highly effective in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures with a median reduction rate of 45.1%. 

Appetite

Decreased appetite is another condition that affects many cats. It occurs due to a wide variety of problems including mood problems, dental problems, and other health conditions. Poor appetite means the cat isn’t feeling well. If your cat has a poor appetite, CBD oil may help. It can stimulate the appetite of your cat by addressing mood disorders, hormonal imbalances, stress, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome issues.

Dosage of CBD Oil for Cats

This video from Dr. Elliot Altman is a great resource regarding CBD dosage for cats. The most important thing is to start with a lower dose and gradually increase the dose to fit the needs of your pet. A common starting dose is between 1-5mg per 10 pounds of body weight. It’s better to start with the dose your vet recommends and test the response of the pet.

There are many variables that affect the correct dosage of CBD oil for your pet. The weight of your pet is the most important in this regard. Heavier subjects require a higher CBD dosage while a lightweight cat may require a lower dosage of CBD. The concentration of CBD in the product is another factor to consider when determining the correct dosage for your pet. When ingesting CBD sublingually, it is important to know how much CBD is in each milliliter of the tincture.

The specific benefits you are looking for is another factor to consider when determining the correct dosage. A cat with anxiety may require a different dose of CBD compared to a cat with severe arthritis. Serious health issues may require a higher potency while less demanding health issues may need less.

Popular CBD Oil for Cats

There are three popular types of CBD oil for cats.

Raw CBD Oil or CBD Isolate – This is a pure distillate that contains only CBD and no other compounds. 

CBD Hemp Oil – CBD hemp oil contains less than 0.3% THC but may have some other natural compounds.

Full-Spectrum CBD – This is an oil that comes from industrial hemp and contains the full-spectrum of cannabinoids. Tanasi specializes in full spectrum hemp extracts that contain less than 0.3% THC.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many reasons you may want to consider CBD oil for cats if your pet suffers from any of the aforementioned maladies. The research shows that CBD is safe and effective. You should still always consult a veterinarian before giving CBD to your pet. However, studies show that any possible side effects are very minimal unless you opt for very high doses. Also, see this article for additional information on CBD for cats.