Cat owners know — our cats are the bosses and we’re their staff. So, maybe the real question here is, “Will my cat permit me to give them CBD?”
There are times when we may want to help a furry ball of fury deal with a stressful situation or to ease the discomforts of aging in a mature cat. Is CBD a viable option?
For the sake of today’s discussion, let’s say our cats have decided to be benevolent dictators and allow CBD into their routine.
With this optimistic assumption out of the way, is CBD even something you’d consider giving your cat? Does it work and, if so, how? Is it safe? How do you pick what to give them?
Will CBD Work on My Cat?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid compound found in the hemp plant. It’s not the compound that causes a “high,” but rather one of the cannabinoids that imparts a range of therapeutic effects by interacting with our endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is closely related to our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as our immune and digestive systems. CBD interacts with systems that regulate mood, balance, appetite and other essential functions.
All mammals have endocannabinoid systems, so your cat stands to enjoy the same benefits as you.
Is CBD Safe for My Cat?
Veterinarians and the World Health Organization agree that CBD is safe for animals. Scientific studies for the use of CBD with dogs and cats have been largely limited to studying epilepsy and arthritis.
There are three key steps to ensuring safe CBD use with your cat:
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- • Consult with your veterinarian
- • Choose high-quality products
- • Take it slow
Always talk with your vet before beginning any new supplement routine with your cat. They’ll have invaluable advice on dosage amounts and even ways to get a finicky cat to try something new.
When choosing a product, make sure that it’s high quality and formulated for pets. The amount of CBD per dose varies drastically between human and animal products, and you want to make sure you don’t give your cat too much at once — it could make them nauseous.
Take it slowly and follow your pet’s cues. Cats are good at letting us know when they dislike something.
Choosing the Right Product
If you’ve spent any time researching CBD for either humans or animals, you know there’s an overwhelming amount of information out there.
What can we look for to help give our kittahs the best possible experience?
Choose Organic CBD
Hemp plants are good for the environment for a huge variety of reasons, one of them being that they are key phytoremediators. That essentially means they’re vacuums for toxins, chemicals and heavy metals in soil.
You can see how this can be great for soil, but not so good for our feline friends. Choosing organically grown and cultivated CBD is key to getting a high-quality product. Pesticide- and toxin-free CBD ensures pure raw ingredients.
Choose CBD With a Lab Report
Your CBD products should be accompanied by a report conducted by a third-party lab. This allows you to see exactly what is and is not in your CBD.
Choose CBD Formulated for Pets
While you want to give your cat CBD products so pure that you could take them, you also want to choose a product geared specifically toward the appropriate size and needs of your cat. The concentration of CBD in a product for you is going to be far different from that formulated for your nine-pound kitty.
The safest and easiest way to ensure you’re giving your pet the right amount of CBD is to choose a product designed specifically for your cat’s body weight. We recommend our 250 milligram CBD tincture for small breeds of pets. It’s formulated for animals that weigh 20lb and less.
How Do I Give My Cat CBD?
If your vet has ever asked you to give your cat any kind of supplement, you know that this is where the battle begins.
The best way to administer CBD to your cat is in a way and at a time they enjoy. If you’ve found a way that your cat prefers to receive a supplement — in a dropper, mixed with food, in an empty food bowl — then begin there.
If, like some of us, you rarely get your cat to take a supplement without an all-out war, it’s smartest to begin gently, working CBD into your cat’s routine.
Cats love their routines, especially mealtime, playtime, and snuggle time. Try working CBD into your cat’s routine, mixing it into their food or trying some tincture from the dropper or your finger during evening cuddles.
Letting your cat come to the CBD out of curiosity works best, maybe because then they think it’s their idea.
You may have noticed that your cat loves to smell your food not necessarily out of a desire to eat it, but just to inspect it. They’re testing it to see if it’s up to their standards.
A great way to introduce your kitty to a CBD tincture is to hold up the dropper with a little CBD in it and let your curious cat give it a sniff. Adventurous cats will often give it a few tastes and give you a chance to start testing small doses. The good news is that our vegan tinctures come in an all-natural bacon flavor, so there’s a very good chance your cat will love it.
They’re also fastidious critters. If your cat isn’t interested in licking tincture off a dropper, try dropping a bit on their paw. They’ll quickly begin one of those “I have been touched by a peasant” baths and lick the oil right off those toe beans.
When Should I Give My Cat CBD?
From chilling a case of the morning zoomies to giving a senior cat a soothing nighttime treat, it’s all in the timing.
It usually takes 15–45 minutes for CBD to take effect in your cat, depending on their size and metabolism. By the time kitty is a fan of CBD and you’ve found the most effective amount, you will have also gotten a feel for how long it takes for CBD to begin working for your cat.
If you’re expecting guests, traveling, or if there’s a certain time of day that your cat needs CBD the most, plan for a little time for the tincture to take effect.
We joke about our cat’s personalities and attitudes, but the truth is that we love them like crazy, and they love us. They deserve the best quality of life we can provide, including providing them with soothing, non-stressful homes and comfortable senior years.
Adding CBD into your cat’s routine can improve the quality of their lives and of your time together. Your cat will appreciate it — even if they refuse to show it.
Does your cat have dry or irritated skin? Try our soothing Pet CBD Balm.