Cat owners, just like any other pet owner, have a lot of love and often worry for their furry feline friends. Naturally, when their cat starts to show signs of illness, owners quickly start to look for a solution. Over the last decade, there has been some major jumps in veterinary science. However, the medications that are often used may not always be the solution. Some cats are allergic to medications, or the prescription is not sufficient to return the cat to health on its own. 

Many people, when dealing with medications that don’t work, they turn to more holistic options. Recently, cannabidiol (CBD) has risen as a potential option. Companna has all of the information that you need to know how to find the right CBD for your cat!

What is CBD?

CBD is what is known as a cannabinoid. This is a special kind of chemical compound that is found exclusively in cannabis plants like hemp and marijuana. There is a lot of misconception surrounding CBD. One of these is that people often confuse it with another compound found in the same plants, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, CBD and THC produce radically different effects in our bodies.  

THC is the compound that creates the high that is most often associated with cannabis. CBD’s effects are not nearly as strong. CBD does have effects on the brain effectively to promote a calming effect and will not give you the high that THC does. CBD also does not impair cognitive functions as THC can. You should remember that THC is toxic to animals and shouldn’t be given to cats.

CBD may be found in all plants in the cannabis family. However, most CBD manufacturers are more likely to use hemp instead of marijuana. This is due to the fact that hemp has very little THC and a ton of CBD.

CBD is often used by humans to relieve stress, help with their epilepsy, use for skincare, or to help with any number of ailments. Now pet owners and holistic veterinarians have started using CBD for similar benefits for their household pets, including cats.

What kind of side effects might CBD have on cats?

There are multiple studies on the effects of CBD. Most are on humans and laboratory animals; some are on dogs. Unfortunately, it appears that few (if any) studies are focused on cats. But CBD may be able to provide some positive or negative effects on cats.

CBD is unlikely to have your cat running around and acting crazy like they might when you give them catnip. In fact, CBD may have the opposite effect. Some owners report that CBD has a sedating effect on their cat. Many owners also report that the sedation tends to go away after lowering the dose. Veterinarians and owners have also found that CBD may sometimes lead to a gastrointestinal upset in cats. Like the sedation, this quickly alleviated by stopping or decreasing the dosage.

The main way to avoid these side effects is by starting your cat on as low of a dose as possible. You should start with low CBD concentration and give your cat only a little bit initially. If there are no negative observations, you may try slowly increasing how much your cat is taking. You should also make sure that your cat’s CBD has no THC in it.

Be sure to discuss with your veterinarian before you start giving your cat CBD. If you do decide to try starting your cat on a CBD regimen, keep an eye on your cat when you start them with whatever pet product you’ve selected. Just pay attention to their behavior and note any changes. If there are, stop or reduce the amount of CBD and talk with your cat’s vet.

How do I find the right CBD for my cat?

We know that you would like to make sure that you are giving your cat the best CBD possible. So, how can you be sure that you’re doing that? Well, the main way is through research. You have to be willing to research the company that you’re buying from and the products you want to buy. Read the reviews of both. Make sure that the company you’re buying from is transparent about their practices. They should also test their products  or have their products tested for quality and cannabinoid content. As mentioned before, make sure that your cat’s CBD is THC free. The easiest way is by buying them CBD products that are labeled either “broad spectrum” or “CBD isolate.”

You may even want to ask your vet for recommendations. It’s unlikely that your state allows them to prescribe CBD, but they may be able to point you in the direction of a good pet CBD manufacturer.

How do I give my cat CBD?

Cats may sometimes be difficult to give medication to. They don’t love food the same way that dogs do, so aren’t as easily tricked. In fact, getting a cat to sit still long enough to do anything may often be a challenge. So, how do you get them to take CBD?

Most CBD products are made with humans in mind. If you are trying to give a CBD product to your cat, the easiest way is CBD drops. These are CBD oils that are dispensed with a dropper. You may simply put a drop directly into your cat’s mouth or mix it in with their food or treats.

Because of the plants that CBD is derived from, some of the oils may be rather bitter in taste. If your cat doesn’t seem to like the taste of hemp, you can look for CBD oils that are made with flavorings like vanilla.

If you would like to use CBD to help with your cat’s coat and/or skin, the easiest way to go about it is by applying it directly to their skin or fur. Feeding them, the CBD may also help, but the direct application seems to work better for skincare.

There are not many CBD products made for cats. However, there are some that are made for dogs, and cat owners have reported that those work just as well. Some people even use CBD products made for humans. They just give their cat much smaller doses.

If your cat is already on medication, be sure to talk and work with your vet before starting your cat on CBD.

Anyone with a pet knows that they are more than just a pet; they are a part of the family. This definitely includes cats. So, it is understandable that owners want to find the best way to take care of them. CBD may not be the solution for all of your pet’s problems, but it appears that it may help.

If you’re ready to start helping your cat, you’re in the right place. Here at Companna, we carry the best CBD pet products around! Check them out.