Is CBD Oil Safe for Cats?
Pet owners are always looking for a healthier and safer way to treat their sick pets, and alternative medicines like CBD have proven very effective in that respect.
CBD oil has fast healing mechanisms and various functionality, which has gained them quite popularity for treating different ailments in humans and pets, especially dogs and cats.
However, there are no substantive classical medical studies that explore the side effects of using CBD on cats, but some holistic veterinarians are using it to treat various conditions and ailments, such as; inflammation, anxiety, and pain.
This limits the widespread adoption of using CBD as an alternative form of treatment in veterinary medicine. It also gets many people asking if CBD oils are safe for cats or not.
We have their best interest at heart. Therefore, this article provides answers to important questions about the use of oil CBD.
After reading through, we are confident that you’d have the right information to make an informed decision regarding if you should give CBD-related products to your cat or not.
Table of Contents
What is CBD oil?
However, it differs from the other CBD products in the sense that it doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), i.e., it doesn’t have a psychoactive effect when consumed.
They are known to contain a high CBD concentration, which gives the oil its therapeutic and medicinal effects.
As a result, when CBD is extracted, it is usually mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, avocado, etc. to form CBD oil, which can then be given orally to pets to treat different diseases.
Now that we know what CBD is let’s look at the benefits of using them for pets, how it works in pets and humans, and other relevant things you need to know about using CBD.
How does CBD oil for cats work?
Like the human system, cats also have an endocannabinoid system, which plays a significant role in keeping them healthy.
The nervous system regulates the production of Endocannabinoids. It travels in the bloodstream by attaching itself to every cell throughout the body, transmitting encoded information and messages. The transmitted messages help the body to know how to respond or react to different kinds of stimuli from disease-causing agents.
It’s not hard to deduce that CBD also provides extra support to the cats whenever the endocannabinoid system is deficient, just like humans do.
We need to quickly mention that, even though there aren’t many studies to confirm the speculations above, their products are appreciably effective for cats in treating anxiety, stress, and other related conditions.
One study discovered that giving large doses of these substances to cats can cause adverse side effects. The same study also found out that cats tend to absorb and ingest CBD differently than pups, which necessitates the modification of dosage if you ever have to use it for cats.
What are the benefits of CBD oil for cats?
Research has shown that Cbd provides soothing relief to symptoms of different medical, psychological, and neurological conditions.
This benefit and relief provided by this substance also transcend to cats as they also possess an endocannabinoid system.
Although the way cats respond to it may vary, evidence has shown that giving your cat these substances would help treat;
- Infections
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Tumors
- Joint pain
- Overall wellness
Besides the fact that they come in handy to manage the different conditions mentioned above, it also serves as an excellent neuro-protector, which helps treat neurological disorders in cats such as seizures and epilepsy. Thus, we can never overemphasize that they play substantial health benefits in cats and humans alike.
However, while these substances have numerous benefits, there are many precautions to take before using them for cats. That is why we always ensure that cat owners consult a veterinarian before the cat begins to use it.
This is to check and confirm that it is safe for the cat based on its overall health condition at the time of examination. It also helps decide the potential interaction these substances will have on whatever medication the cat is already on.
Once you have confirmed that the oil is safe for use, you also need to make sure the pet use this substance as prescribed by the veterinarian to see desired effects and not overdose them.
What’s the difference between CBD for cats and humans?
Many oils are made specifically for pets, such as CBD treats and chews, CBD oil for cats, and spays, which can be added to pet food.
This begs the question if these pet-specific products are any different from the one for humans? Please, continue reading to discover the answer to that and much more.
The straightforward answer to the question above is that there is no distinct difference between the two types of products.
This is because CBD oil made for pets is manufactured in pretty much the same way as humans. Both have a minute amount of THC, the active component in all of the products.
However, specific products for pets are produced with additional flavor peculiar to them(like peanut butter or bacon), making the composition much more delicious for them to try.
Besides the additional flavor added to pet-specific products, there isn’t any noticeable difference between the kinds of CBD, which is consumed by humans and that which is labeled CBD oil for cats.
Can you give human CBD oil to cats?
There is a specific kind of Cannabidiol that humans take, which helps treat conditions like inflammation, anxiety, etc. The question now is if you can give the same to your pets.
Well, the answer is “Yes,” you won’t be harming them by giving them some to use, as long as it is a full-spectrum oil or hemp oil, contains THC not more than 0.3%, pure, and doesn’t have any sugar or artificial flavors.
It would help if you started with a lower dosage than a human would typically consume since it will take much less to affect cats than it will for humans.
You should also always consult your pet’s veterinarian about the right dosage to administer to cats based on their body weight, metabolism, and the overall health status of the animal before they begin consuming it, especially if they are on other medications.
Can CBD oil hurt cats?
As cat owners, You might be concerned about the risks CBD-related products pose to your cat. Though it provides incredible health benefits, a high concentration of it leads to adverse side effects that may inhibit your cat until you either discontinue the drug or have its dosage reduced.
So, what effects can they have on cats? And how long do they last?
They contain a meager amount of THC; therefore, your cat can’t get “high” using it irrespective of their size or weight.
But when overdosed, it may cause adverse effects on them. For example, if your pet consumes a large amount, it may become lethargic and uncoordinated, which in turn would cause it to stumble around and become restless.
How long these effects last vary for each cat, but most would recover within a matter of hours. There are also no long-term adverse symptoms of overdosing.
Therefore, it is safe to say that CBD oil would not hurt your cat usually; however, you have to regulate the dose it consumes.
Risks and concerns about CBD oil
The fact that there are limited research and lots of uncertainty on using this product on pets makes their usage sketchy a bit.
More perplexing is the lack of intensive supervision and documented regulation on the manufacture of this product. This makes finding a consistent and pure source of CBD products difficult.
The number of CBD products out there which are contaminated with potentially harmful substances is also grossly worrisome.
We have said it before that certified veterinarians know companies with strict quality control measures, and they should always be your first point of contact before administering or purchasing CBD-related products for cats.
How quickly does CBD oil work in cats?
Though limited in number, some studies have shown that it takes about 15 – 45 minutes for the substance to take full-effect in a cat’s system.
It will then work and last for about 4 – 6 hours depending on the breed of the cat, the ailments or conditions affecting the cat, and the cat’s metabolism rate.
However, CBD’s overall effect on the cat is cumulative, which implies that the product’s daily usage is what would result in ineffectiveness.
Is CBD oil legal?
Irrespective of how well it works for cats, there is the issue of legality. CBD oil is a cannabis product that contains less than 0.3 percent THC and is not a restricted substance.
Although the lack of restriction on CBD, CBD oil, and other CBD products is not FDA approved, they don’t have a dosing guideline.
This implies that you have to discuss the course of treatment with your veterinarian, and the legality of using CBD products in your state would determine if or not he would be able to proceed with treating your cat.
As for the promulgations on the legality, or otherwise, of using these products, Richter (a veterinary activist) put it so well when he said that “In a perfect world, your veterinarian would be able to discuss this treatment as an option for your pet, but depending on where you live, your veterinarian may or may not be legally at liberty to have this conversation with you,”
And in another similar quote, he said that “Even if you live in a state where cannabis is legal, it can be illegal for a veterinarian to tell a pet owner how to appropriately use these products.”
Thus, it is paramount to discuss your veterinarian before you start giving this medication to your pet.
Conclusion
It is very safe for cats to take CBD-related substances, especially full-spectrum oil or hemp oil. Nevertheless, pet owners should always make sure they make purchases from premium manufacturers that clearly state the amount of THC and other active chemicals on their products’ labels. They should also have a third-party testing report and don’t have a history of inaccurate labeling.
It is quite essential to administer the CBD oils properly to get the desired benefit. You should measure the appropriate dose prescribed by a veterinarian on a spoon and have your cat consume it. If it doesn’t consume it, you can have the oil mixed with treats on the spoon and fed to them.
Starting with a small dosage can’t be overemphasized, especially when introducing your them to it. You may begin to test with 1 mg to 5 mg and see how the cat responds before gauging the full dosage.
The emergence of new research and studies is still in their infancy stages, but so far, so good, we have been able to address the safety of using CBD oil. The research available has also shown that CBD presents a holistic approach to managing different conditions and ailments.
So, if we have to pass a verdict, we would say that CBD is safe for pets.
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