CBD for Cats: An Introduction to Cannabidiol and Its Benefits 

Pet owners are quickly embracing cannabis products due to their health benefits to small furry companions. One of the most widespread cannabinoids in the market is cannabidiol, more often referred to as CBD. Pet owners and veterinary healthcare practitioners increasingly recommend CBD as a health supplement and alternative treatment option for several health conditions. 

Unfortunately, there is minimal information on the safety and effectiveness of CBD, and research on the products is quickly growing in the human and pet wellness circles. Before introducing these products to your furry best friend, it is crucial to be well-informed by trusted sources such as https://askgrowers.com/cbd/cbd-for-cats. Here we’ll cover CBD in more detail and share what we know about its medicinal benefits for felines. 

What Is CBD?

Before administering any CBD-infused products to their pets, cat owners need to have a solid understanding of what cannabidiol is. Cannabidiol, commonly abbreviated as CBD, is a naturally occurring chemical compound that can be derived from the marijuana and hemp cultivars of the cannabis plant and further refined for use in various forms. For thousands of years, people have grown hemp and marijuana for their fiber content and medicinal value, but weed has been spotted with a “dangerous drug” label in the 20th century. So, the reputation of cannabis is gradually restored now, with the CBD industry on the rise. 

The cannabis sector, which was already booming before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, is expected to increase by 13.9% from its current valuation of $2 billion to $5.8 billion by 2030. The popularity of its use in a variety of products is explained by the fact that CBD does not contain the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD cat products usually come with zero THC content, so they are harmless when consumed by animals.

How Does CBD Work in Your Cat’s Body?

The human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) naturally produces trace amounts of cannabinoids. This system affects the functions of the human brain, eyes, intestines, and heart and even helps modulate moods. Since felines and other mammals have equivalent biological and anatomical characteristics to humans, their endocannabinoid system functions similarly. As a result, CBD affects your cat’s body physiology and activates a wide range of effects, including enhanced digestion, sleep regulation, alleviation of pain, mood enhancement, and mental stimulation.

Controlled scientific research has been carried out on mice and other small rodents to better understand CBD’s effects on mammals. Recent studies suggest CBD’s analgesic effects can considerably reduce chronic inflammation and neuropathic pain when administered systemically. Even though research on the effects of CBD on pets and humans is still undetermined and remains in progress, medical professionals and veterinarians are already prescribing CBD for treating epileptic seizures, persistent indigestion, chronic pain, and mental problems such as anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness.

Will Your Pet Get Intoxicated by CBD?

Both dogs and cats can get high on cannabis in different ways. The most popular method is to eat cannabis-containing baked goods, candies, chocolate bars, or chips and ingest cannabis directly in any form. Most cannabis poisonings in pets occur by mistake, either because the animals are curious and find access to the drug or because they are in the same room as a person who is smoking cannabis. 

Felines have more cannabinoid receptors in their neural networks than humans, making the effects of cannabis more pronounced and potentially more toxic. Small quantities of cannabis are sufficient to induce toxicity in cats and canines. Regardless of the exposure method, veterinarian medical practitioners need comprehensive and accurate information about your cat to select the best CBD product and determine a safe dose.  

What Are the Benefits of CBD for Your Cat?

Recent research indicates that CBD can alleviate pain, increase activity in canine and feline pets with osteoarthritis, and reduce the frequency of seizures in severe cases of epilepsy. CBD’s efficacy in treating feline epilepsy correlates well with the 2018 FDA approval of Epidiolex, a CBD-based medication for treating certain forms of pediatric epilepsy in humans. As you plan to introduce cannabis to your furry best friend, you must deeply research the substance’s expected effects and how it interacts with your cat’s body. Let us explore some benefits of CBD for your cat.

Pain Relieving Properties

Most cat owners have reported that cats are very gentle pets that rarely express pain and discomfort to their owners. As such, cats are prone to experience choric pain and long-term inflammation. Regardless of the source, amount, or duration of pain or inflammation, CBD products are an effective treatment remedy. The chemical elements of CBD promote the fast regeneration of healthy cells, speeding up your pet’s recovery process.

Anxiety Alleviation

Most cat owners are oblivious that their pets experience mental overload, which can result in stress. Changes in routines, relocating to a new house, alterations to the household’s layout, and loud sounds may all contribute to your cat’s rising anxiety. Leaving your kitty alone at home increases anxiety levels and may increase stress levels. In these cases, try giving your cat CBD treats for anxiety and tension relief, as the product calms your pet’s nerves.

Enhanced Mobility

As your furry companion ages, mobility issues start to surface gradually. You may observe your cat needing assistance ascending stairs, jumping on chairs, or avoiding exercise and long walks. Your cat’s mobility issues may also manifest as sluggish and general lethargy. Regardless of the condition your cat is experiencing, there are several CBD products to use as a treatment plan. For example, CBD oil massages will alleviate tense joints and muscles, enhancing mobility. You can also use CBD cat treats for joint pain relief, allowing your dog to resume walking and playing quickly.

Treating and Preventing Convulsions

It has been demonstrated that regular CBD administration, especially when combined with conventional anti-seizure medications, lowers the incidence of seizures in cats and dogs. By reducing the number of electrolytes responsible for epileptic conditions, CBD medication effectively calms the central nervous system and reduces the recurrence of convulsions in your pet.

Boost Your Cat’s Immunity

Products containing CBD for animals are available in a diverse assortment of supplements and treats. In addition to helping manage illnesses that have been diagnosed, CBD treats are crucial for boosting a cat’s immune system and improving the overall quality of the pet’s life. These products enhance the health of your furry companion’s heart and brain, ultimately resulting in the pet living longer.

Is CBD Safe for My Cat?

Based on the reports from veterinarians and pet owners, CBD appears very safe for cats. Other cat owners report that their pets become drowsy or develop upset stomachs, especially when given high CBD concentrations. Still, these side effects disappear when CBD is discontinued or the dosage is reduced. 

Despite positive feedback from pet owners, there is one significant issue with CBD use in cats: there needs to be more regulatory oversight. This absence of management has led to the widespread availability of CBD products of inferior quality. According to the findings of one study, many CBD products contain very little, if any, CBD at all or come with more CBD than the label indicates. Additionally, poor-quality CBD products may contain potentially hazardous contaminants. This is of particular concern for cats due to their heightened sensitivity to medications and contaminants.

Conclusion

Pet owners apply CBD products to treat their furry friends’ health problems more often today. CBD is harmless for cats because it is derived from hemp and has no intoxicating properties. In addition to treating specific conditions, the products have been shown to enhance pets’ overall health and wellness. However, when introducing CBD products to your beloved pet, be sure to do so in modest doses and monitor side effects, as animal responses to medications vary.

The author of this article is Tia Moskalenko, a cat lover and a blogger at AskGrowers specializing in customer education. Tia is always looking for recent studies and market novelties specifically suited for cats and dogs to help people close the knowledge gap about the cannabis industry in general and CBD use with cats and dogs in particular.