Caring for your Cat with CBD-Infused Pet Products

• Many people know about pet products that contain CBD, but for most people, their first thought would be towards the multiple dog-related products that contain CBD. Initially, CBD products were focused towards catering dog owners.
• Since there was more research conducted on CBD for dogs than there is on CBD for cats, accessibility to CBD products for cats is lesser than CBD products for dogs. 
• CBD oil studies have shown it may benefit cats with:
• Anxiety
• Aggression or grumpiness
• Loss of appetite
• Asthma
• Constant hiding and fear of strangers, fireworks, and lightning
• Crying without a cause
• Lack of energy

Our feline friends can benefit from the healing powers of CBD just as much as humans and dogs. So we’ve put together a guide to help you care for your cat with the help of CBD-infused pet products.

What is CBD?

Short for cannabidiol, CBD is one of over 80 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. It’s the second most famous compound after THC, however, unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive effects, and so it won’t get you or your pet high.

CBD use is spreading like wildfire all over the United States because, unlike products that have THC, CBD products like oils, capsules, and pet treats can be shipped to all 50 states. That’s because CBD-only products come from the hemp plant, not the marijuana plant. 

According to the Farm Bill of 2014, any Cannabis Sativa L. plant with 0.3% THC or less is considered hemp and is therefore legal to extract CBD from. 

CBD for cats: How it works

Similar to humans, cats have endocannabinoid systems (ECS) that regulate bodily functions like sleep, mood, pain, appetite, and immunity. Humans and cats’ bodies comprise cannabis receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, and we also produce our natural cannabinoids, known as endocannabinoids, that bind to these receptors. So CBD for cats augments their endocannabinoids system, much like how vitamin C supplements would boost our immune system.

CBD for cats: How it can help

There are countless shared anecdotes of how CBD for cats can significantly improve their lives, and even help you save on some veterinary expenses. There isn’t a ton of scientific research yet to back these claims though. 

CBD for cats is widely known to help make cats more comfortable toward the end of their lives. If your cat is suffering from cancer or any other terminal illness, then CBD for cats can help them live longer than expected in way lesser pain and discomfort than they would have experienced otherwise. 

Besides the reasons we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, CBD can help cats deal with serious medical issues like:

1. Arthritis

CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects help manage arthritis in many cats. People have reported their cats being more agile and playful after regular dosages of CBD.  

2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

This disease is also caused by inflammation and so CBD for cats has been known to improve symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. 

3. Pancreatitis

This is another disease caused by inflammation and is also very common amongst cats with IDB. Usage of CBD along with a low-fat diet can greatly improve a cat with pancreatitis’ quality of life. 

4. Asthma

Another inflammatory disease, kitties that have been given regular dosages of CBD have fewer asthma attacks. 

5. Chronic upper respiratory infections

Because CBD is involved in the body’s immune function, it can help cats deal with chronic viral infections. 

6. Seizures

The only time that the FDA prescribes CBD is to treat seizures in children. But this quality of CBD can also benefit our feline friends. CBD can drastically decrease the frequency of seizures in humans, especially in intractable forms of epilepsy, and it seems to work the same way in cats. 

7. Skin conditions

Since cats have cannabis receptors on the skin, rubbing CBD oil on any itchy patch of their fur can vastly improve the irritation that might accompany the condition. CBD is known to provide anti-fungal properties and boost skin healing.

No matter what, it’s always important to consult your veterinarian before administering a dosage of CBD to your pet. You can even consider a consultation with a holistic vet in case you think that yours is a bit old-fashioned. But you must never stop your cat’s current medications and replace them with CBD without consulting a vet first. 

CBD for cats: Dosage

The correct dose of CBD can make all the difference in both cats and humans. A good rule to remember is that ‘less is more. But according to a holistic vet, Dr. Angie Krause, DVM, there are specific dosing recommendations for different illnesses in cats. 

• To treat Arthritis, a dosage of 0.5 mg of CBD per kilogram of your pet’s weight twice a day is ideal. 
• To treat IBD, the ideal dosage recommendation is 0.2 mg of CBD per kilogram of your pet’s weight, twice daily.
• For pancreatitis, she recommends 0.1 mg/kg twice daily, which you can gradually increase to 0.5mg/kg twice daily.
• To treat asthma, Dr. Krause recommends 0.5mg/kg twice daily.
• For chronic upper respiratory infection 5 mg/kg twice daily is recommended.
• To treat seizures, a dosage of 0.5mg/kg twice daily and a gradual increase is ideal. Per Dr. Krause’s observations, it takes up to 3mg/kg for CBD to help cats with seizures. 

It is important to remember that CBD can take up to two weeks to a month to take effect, so don’t expect an overnight cure. It may take you a little time to figure out your cat’s ideal dosage, but patience is key.

In terms of which CBD oil you should buy, you can use hemp oil meant for humans, but some brands make CBD oil specifically for pets. The most important thing is to shop for CBD only from brands that get their products tested at a third-party lab, like Califia Gold. 

What are the side effects of CBD in cats?

The main side effect of CBD in cats that may likely happen is that it could mildly sedate them. If that happens, it’s best to lower your cat’s dose. Similar to humans, all cats react to cannabis differently. The best side effect that pet owners and vets commonly report is giving CBD to cats for one reason, and it ends up helping them with other issues as well! 

When looking for a product you can trust for your feline family, try Califia Gold’s premium-quality hemp-derived products for your cat,