Cats are just as prone to anxiety as humans are, and one of the most common causes of their stress is separation-related anxiety. Cats also have a significant bond with their owners, which leads to substantial stress when the owner leaves home or goes on vacation and leaves the cat at home with their parents.

Other factors, such as sickness and trauma, can also contribute to cat anxiety.

Although some worry is natural, when your cat exhibits behavioral issues like persistent aggressive behavior and restlessness, it becomes an issue.

Some cat owners use CBD oil to cure their pet’s anxiety as a solution. CBD oil has various advantages that can assist with cat anxiety.

Is CBD oil for cat’s anxiety safe? What impact does it have on their stress levels? More importantly, how can you use CBD oil to alleviate a cat’s anxiety effectively?

What Causes Anxiety in Cats?

Cats are self-sufficient and relatively autonomous by nature, but when they form a connection with their owners, the connection can be very strong. When you leave your pet cats at home, they become anxious. Domestic cats are no different than pet dogs in this regard.

Stress can manifest in a variety of ways, and separation anxiety is just one example. Their worry levels rise when they are unwell or sick. Stiff, arthritic joints, for example, make them more irritable and lethargic than usual.

Cats are also anxious when there are changes in their life. These might include moving into a new house, dealing with a new pet or a baby, loud noises such as fireworks, or simply a lack of socialization.

Cats who have been adopted are more likely to suffer from anxiety attacks. Their anxiety is caused by traumatic events, neglect, and abuse in their past, which causes them to acquire additional behavioral issues.

What are the Symptoms of Cat Anxiety?

Cat anxiety symptoms vary, but some of the common signs include:

• Destructiveness like scratching and chewing on things
• Hiding or always trying to escape
• Trembling
• Inappropriate defecation and urination
• Vocalization
• Attention seeking behaviors
• Increased salivation
• Excessive grooming
• Appetite changes

Comforting your cat can help to relieve some of their anxiety symptoms, but if they get worse, you may need to take them to the veterinarian.

What are the Common Treatments for Cat’s Anxiety?

If your cat’s anxiety is due to an illness or a medical condition, you can treat the underlying cause to help minimize anxiety symptoms.

If no medical reason can be found, the veterinarian may prescribe antidepressants and anxiolytics. These medications target imbalanced chemicals or neurotransmitters in the cat’s brain, producing a calmer demeanor.

Long-term use, on the other hand, can produce symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, coordination problems, and increased saliva. High doses in particular might exacerbate anxiety or result in kidney and/or liver damage.

Behavior modification also helps. Desensitization or counterconditioning is used to teach your cat coping and stress handling abilities through desensitization or counterconditioning.

Do Cats Have an Endocannabinoid System?

Humans and other animals have a similar endocannabinoid system, which is also present throughout their bodies, including the brain and spinal cord. It also maintains bodily chemical equilibrium.

The endocannabinoid system has three components: types 1 and 2 cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids, and enzymes.

The CB1 Type 1 cannabinoid receptor is involved in a variety of physiological processes, including appetite, stress, anxiety, and fear. It’s also the enzyme that causes THC’s mind-altering effects. In contrast, the CB2 Type 2 cannabinoid receptor has an active function in immune regulation.

The body’s own cannabinoids, which are produced in response to stress or other irritants, target cannabinoid receptors. Their activation causes pain and swelling reduction, an improvement in appetite, less stress and anxiety, and fear management.

Endogenous cannabinoids, on the other hand, have a short lifespan. They are quickly broken down and recycled by enzymes.

What is CBD Oil?

Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is one of over 115 cannabinoids produced by cannabis plants. It doesn’t bind well to the type 1 cannabinoid receptor, so it won’t make you high. CBD activates numerous other biological receptors, which control bodily functions. CBD works through these receptors to alleviate a variety of issues, including anxiety and stress.

CBD can quickly activate the type 2 cannabinoid receptor to dampen the inflammatory response, which is why it’s such a popular treatment for chronic pain.

CBD oils for cats are mostly produced from industrial hemp. CBD oil for a cat’s anxiety does not cause intoxication because it is THC-free or contains less than 0.3% THC.

How Does CBD Oil Benefit Cats with Anxiety?

What is CBD and how does it work to help your cat relax? What are the advantages of CBD oil?

CBD Calms Them Down

Animals that have been treated with CBD show alleviation of fear and anxiety.

There’s increasing evidence that CBD administration to animals reduces learned apprehensions, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and phobia conditions. CBD inhibits the formation of fearful memories by disrupting their retrieval. It also helps receptors manage their response to stress and worry.

CBD Eases Pain and Swelling

CBD has been shown to help with a variety of cat anxiety and stress-related symptoms in addition to its anti-anxiety effects.

Osteoarthritis, a condition that affects the joints in older cats, is another one. Their joint discomfort, inflammation, and stiffness have an impact on their quality of life, including sleep, hunger, and mood.

CBD has been found to reduce both osteoarthritic pain and joint edema. It activates receptors that regulate pain perception, as well as the type 2 cannabinoid receptor for inflammation management.

These issues can also have an impact on your cat’s quality of life, particularly when it comes to their mobility and agility.

CBD Relieves Cat Dementia, Which Worsens Anxiety

Dementia in cats can also be common. The following are some of the indicators of cat dementia:

• Increased anxiety
• Vocalization with increased meowing
• Confusion and disorientation
• Increased agitation, irritability, aggressiveness, or restlessness
• Withdrawal and avoiding interaction with you and other pets
• Forgetting learned behaviors, such as where to defecate and urinate
• Changes in their sleep-wake pattern
• Changes in behavior such as excessive licking

Although cat dementia is the most well-known form of cat mental impairment, it is not the only one. Many other ailments can cause these symptoms, including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hearing loss or hypertension.

CBD has been shown in studies to have several therapeutic benefits for cats with dementia. Its anti-inflammatory effects help to reduce low-grade brain inflammation, which makes it worse. It also performs as a natural antioxidant, protecting healthy brain cells from damage.

Is CBD Oil Safe for Cats?

Hemp-derived CBD oil is relatively safe for cats. Cats also tolerate it well, and many pet owners have reported improvements in their cat’s anxiety issues as a result.

However, when purchasing CBD oil for cats, make sure it’s produced from industrial hemp and doesn’t contain more than 0.3 percent THC.

THC can be harmful to cats, causing neurological symptoms such as apathy, restlessness, and violence. THC also produced excessive drooling and saliva in cats.

Other things to consider while selecting CBD oil for cats’ anxiety include the source of the CBD, extraction process, and lab testing, which we’ll go through below.

Does CBD Have Any Side Effects??

CBD oil can cause a stomachache in some cats. If you notice any abnormalities in your cat’s bowel movements, you might want to decrease the CBD oil dosage.

CBD has also been reported to induce lethargy, a decrease in body temperature, and motor impairment. However, when you give cats CBD oil with a high THC concentration, this is the most typical effect.

Is CBD Oil for Cats Legal?

Hemp-derived CBD oil is legal in the United States. However, because no rules have yet been established for pet CBD oil intake, dosage, quality, potency, and labeling, there’s a danger of buying potentially harmful goods.

When it comes to the health and safety of your cat, you need to understand the things to consider while purchasing pet CBD oil.

What Do You Look for in the CBD Oil for Cat’s Anxiety?

Because CBD is still a largely unregulated market, especially for cat use, you must rely on a number of variables to ensure that you’re receiving high-quality CBD oil for cats.

CBD Source

It’s important to avoid THC when giving CBD oil to cats since it can be harmful. When selecting CBD oil for cat anxiety, make sure the CBD is from organically grown industrial hemp and that the product doesn’t include a THC concentration of more than 0.3 percent.

The extraction procedure also plays an important role, and thus far, the supercritical CO2 extraction technique has remained the best. It doesn’t produce poisonous by-products or hazardous residual solvents, so it’s quite safe and clean.

Type of CBD Oil

There are three types of CBD oil:

• Pure CBD oil, which only has CBD in it.
• Broad-spectrum CBD oil, which has CBD plus other cannabinoids and terpenes.
• Full-spectrum CBD oil, which includes CBD, other cannabinoids, terpenes, and THC.

Full-spectrum CBD oil works best for cats with anxiety because it relieves the condition most effectively. The three sorts of vitamins may help your cat relax, but full-spectrum CBD oil has a greater therapeutic impact.

It does, however, include traces of THC, albeit in such low amounts that they won’t cause euphoric effects. Instead, THC enhances the therapeutic effects of the other cannabinoids and terpenes.

Laboratory Test Result or Certificate of Analysis

Many distinct manufacturers market CBD pet oils. They differ not only in the kinds of CBD oils they provide, but also in their potencies.

It’s difficult to pick between a variety of CBD products since each brand claims to be the best, but if you’re searching for high-quality CBD oils, seek for laboratory test results or certificates of analysis.

The majority of reputable pet CBD manufacturers have their goods tested by certified testing laboratories. These tests search for pathogenic germs that damage the product’s quality. The exams also look for toxic residues such as hazardous pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents.

Finally, these tests ensure that the items comply with their labeled strength by verifying their cannabinoid profile and concentration.

If a pet CBD company fails to provide you with a COA for their goods, avoid purchasing them. They may be cutting corners in some manner and producing low-quality pet CBD oils.

Product Reviews

It must be emphasized that because CBD oil fulfills all of your cat’s requirements, it does not guarantee that it is ideal for him.

Make sure you’re getting the right one by reading product reviews. Customer comments provide information on how pleased (or not!) pet owners are with the product.

If the pet CBD oil has a lot of bad reviews, avoid it.

What’s the Best CBD Oil Dosage for Cat’s Anxiety?

The general rule for getting the best CBD oil dosage for cats is to give:

• For light symptoms, start with a low dosage of 1 mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight
• For moderate symptoms, a low dose of 3 mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight is recommended
• The recommended dosage for severe symptoms is 5 mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight

Let’s assume you bought a 30 mL bottle with 150 mg of CBD in it. To figure out how much CBD is in one full dropper (which has approximately 20 drops), divide 150 by 30. This gives you 5 mg of CBD per one full dropper or 0.25 mg of CBD per drop.

Now, let’s say your cat weighs around 10 pounds, then your pet will need:

• 1 mg or 4 drops for mild symptoms
• 3 mg or 12 drops for moderate symptoms
• 5 mg or 20 drops (one full dropper) for severe symptoms

How Do You Administer CBD Oil to Your Cat?

You can either drip CBD oil directly into your cat’s mouth or combine it with their favorite cuisine.

You’ll start noticing CBD’s benefits anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour after taking it.

Start Low, Go Slow

You may wish to start your cat on a lower dose if you want to avoid adverse effects. Instead of dispensing him with four drops, you may give him two and have him stick to that dosage for about three days. If there are no improvements, the dose should be increased. Reduce the dosage if your cat experienced adverse effects.

Depending on the severity of your pet’s symptoms or CBD-induced responses, you may administer CBD oil to him or her every eight hours or as required.

It’s going to be a trial-and-error adventure, so maintain consistency and keep an eye on your cat’s responses to CBD.

You may simply regulate the dose as needed using this technique, until you discover the optimum dosage that works for your cat’s anxiety.

Final Thoughts — Can You Give CBD Oil for Cat’s Anxiety?

CBD is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid that may help your cat relax. It has therapeutic benefits, including the ability to relax your pet and reduce pain, inflammation, stress, and other signs of severe anxiety.

Although there are few studies examining CBD and cats, preliminary research suggests very promising outcomes. Read about some of the benefits of CBD for cats.

Have you tried CBD oil for your cat’s anxiety? What was the result? Leave a comment below with your experience. We’d want to share it with our readers!