Cats are well-known for being independent and capable animals. Many cat owners can agree that these felines are often low maintenance and can even help make your home pest-free. Cats can offer comfort when they are in the mood to cuddle and can even help alleviate stress and anxiety from you.
Cats offer a lot of benefits to your health. They can help you sleep better, lower your risk of heart disease, and can even make you look even more attractive! And as they help you in improving some aspects of your health, taking care of theirs is also crucial for you. Often as they get older, they experience weaker immune systems, changes in appetite, mobility issues, and even separation anxiety.
You may have heard of CBD and its potential not only on humans' health but also on animals. If you're thinking of purchasing a CBD pet product for your kitty, knowing the appropriate product and CBD dosing for cats is crucial for their health.
Read more to find out what you need to know about CBD for your cat.
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is a compound seen in cannabis along with THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. The difference between CBD and THC is that cannabidiol is non-psychoactive, which means that anyone (or any animal) who uses CBD will not get "high."
In addition, studies that have been conducted about CBD show possible health benefits in treating pain, anxiety, arthritis, and even cancer.
How Does CBD Work in Cats?
Your cat (and all vertebrates) have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that plays an essential role in modulating and processing different body functions. As CBD enters your cat's system, it interacts with their cannabinoid receptors called CB1 and CB2.
According to PubMed.gov, CB1 receptors are seen in the central nervous system like the brain and the spinal cord, while CB2 receptors are primarily found in immune cells and peripheral organs. These two receptors send signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
Studies have shown that CBD has antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have also shown that CBD helps enhance the functionality of cannabinoid receptors.
By binding with these receptors, CBD can provide many benefits to cats, including stress management, pain relief, and aggression reduction.
Benefits of CBD on Cats
#1 Can Help Alleviate Anxiety and Stress
Like humans, cats also experience anxiety and stress. These can be due to a change in the environment, travel, conflicts with other cats, separation anxiety, health problems and more.
Prolonged stress in cats can lead to poor grooming habits, a decline in health, behavioural issues, and more. And often, some pet owners may not realize that their cat is already experiencing anxiety or stress, which could worsen the problem even more.
CBD helps reduce your cat's stress levels while improving how the mind responds to stress signals. A study has shown that CBD can help alleviate anxiety and stress by moderating the stress hormone production and influencing the receptors in the brain responsible for moderating neurological activity and mood regulation.
#2 Reduce Epileptic Seizures
Many health concerns cats experience are similar to humans. Unfortunately, having epileptic seizures is one of them. A seizure occurs when an abnormal level of electromagnetic activity happens in the brain caused by brain damage or other problems in the brain.
Several studies have already shown promising results amidst the need for more research to be done on CBD and its effect on cat epilepsy. A study made by CBD Origin showed promising results even if there is still more research that requires to be done on CBD and its effect on epileptic seizures on cats. A study made by the American Epilepsy Society in 2015 shows that CBD effectively decreases the severity and frequency of seizures by nearly 50%.
#3 Help Stimulate the Appetite
Having a healthy eating habit is beneficial for your pet. But there may be instances that your cat may have a decreased appetite caused by several factors. This can be mood issues, dental problems, and other health-related conditions.
Dr. Linda Ross, an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinarian Medicine, explains that "Poor appetite just means your cat isn't feeling well." Once you notice that your cat is not eating correctly, try to figure out the cause.
While the reason may vary, CBD may help stimulate your cat's appetite and relieve possible issues of your feline's poor appetite. Some issues your cat may experience are the following:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Stress
- Mood disorders
- Inflamed bowel syndrome
#4 Additional Treatment for Arthritis and Joint Pain
Other health issues that cats experience are arthritis and joint pain. Although more commonly seen on older cats, it can still be found on felines of all ages.
Arthritis can cause constant pain, reduced mobility, low energy, and other symptoms that can make your cat uncomfortable. Although arthritis has no cure, CBD can help make your cat feel more comfortable, which can help them be more agile and mobile. The inflammation commonly observed in arthritis and joint pain can be reduced with the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD.
In addition, Seapet.com states that CBD desensitizes your cat's vanilloid receptor. This receptor is responsible for pain reception.
Is CBD Safe for Cats?
According to PetMD, an online authority for all things about pet health, CBD is safe for cats based on reports from veterinarians and pet owners who use CBD for their felines.
The real issue with using CBD on cats is finding the proper dosage. Cat owners who use CBD for their pets say that they may develop an upset stomach or become sleepy after taking CBD. This is especially the case when there is excess carrier oil (a type of fatty oil that aids the body to intake CBD). These problems, however, are easily resolved when CBD is discontinued or when the dosage is lowered.
CBD Dosing on Cats
To prevent any side effects that carrier oil may give, it is crucial to identify the appropriate dosage of CBD for your feline.
You must consider a lot of factors when deciding on the most therapeutic dosage for your pet. These factors vary depending on the cat's body weight, diet, age, and health condition.
According to CBDClinicals, there is no official guideline on how much the dosage of CBD or CBD oil should be taken to treat any specific health concern on both humans and animals. Some sites may say that the rule of thumb in CBD dosing for cats is 1mg to 5mg for every 10lbs. You can start from 1mg and increase the dosage steadily until the desired result for your cat is reached.
Conclusion
Picking the right CBD product for your cat may feel a bit overwhelming as there are a lot of options CBD products can offer to your pet. That is why it is your time to be informed about how CBD works on cats and how it affects your feline's body. With possible health conditions, they may have, as well as the proper CBD dosing for your cat.
When choosing a CBD product, check if these products are third-party tested, meaning that independent organizations reviewed the product's accuracy.
It would help if you also look into how you will administer CBD to your cat. It may be better to mix CBD oil into their food or use treats to give it to them.
Consult your pet's veterinarian to ensure the correct dosage for your feline, depending on their condition, so that you can use CBD for your cat in the best possible way.
