Your cat means the world to you, and we understand. At Honest Paws, we are all pet owners and pet lovers. Therefore, when something seems off with your feline friend, we understand that it can be a heart-wrenching time. Read on to discover more about CBD oil for cats.
A trip to the veterinarian can be extremely stressful. As a pet owner, you may have many questions. What are all these medications? Are they necessary? Will they even work?
CBD for Cats
By now, you’ve likely heard of the health benefits of CBD and the incredible ways it is helping humans cope with a wide range of ailments every single day. From promoting relaxation to boosting general wellness, CBD is continuing to make much headway in the world of holistic health, and this comes as no surprise.
It was only a matter of time before experts in the field began to consider whether or not CBD could potentially have benefits for our four-legged companions. If you haven’t already heard, we are happy to be the ones to tell you that CBD for pets is well on its way to gaining the attention and acknowledgment that it deserves, and we can't wait to explain how it's all possible.
What is CBD Oil for Cats?
CBD oil for cats is derived from the cannabis plant. CBD is the abbreviation for the word cannabidiol. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Although there are a plethora of cannabinoids, CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most well-known. Pure CBD products for cats are non-toxic and all-natural, and while their popularity is undoubtedly increasing, there are still a few misconceptions about CBD oil for cats that we hope to shed light on.
Understanding CBD: How Does it Work?
Just like humans, dogs and cats have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) with endocannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system works to regulate certain bodily functions such as pain, inflammation, mood, sleep, appetite, and immunity.
The human body, as well as your pets' bodies, naturally produces cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. Therefore, when you or your furry companion consume a cannabis product, such as CBD oil, you are supplementing your endocannabinoid system. A good comparison is to consider how vitamin C helps to support a human's immune systems. You are more or less helping the body's natural functions.
The Cannabis Plant: CBD & THC
As we previously mentioned, there are still quite a few misconceptions surrounding the cannabis plant and what cannabis is. We know that you want to dive into all the benefits that CBD has to offer for your cat, but we feel that it is important to have a clear understanding of the various definitions of the plant.
Cannabis sativa L is the general name for the plant that includes many different strains of cannabis. Some of these strains include the marijuana plant, which is federally illegal in many states. Other strains include hemp plants, which are used for therapeutic and industrial purposes. We want you to understand that the cannabis plant itself is more of an umbrella term for both the hemp plant and the marijuana plant.
While there are certain similarities between the hemp plant and the marijuana plant, there are also differences that are extremely important to recognize.
In general, the cannabis plant contains both CBD and THC (the psychoactive component). However, cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3% THC are known as hemp plants. Products made from industrial hemp plants are legal in all 50 states. CBD oil is often made using other natural oils like hemp seed oil, hemp oil or coconut oil.
Marijuana Plant
The marijuana plant is most commonly recognized for its psychoactive properties. This is not to say that the marijuana plant does not also have medicinal qualities. It absolutely does. The marijuana plant can help individuals with various health conditions. However, the stigma regarding the marijuana plant still widely exists. The marijuana plant is commonly used recreationally. In other words, people use the marijuana plant to get "high."
Hemp Plant
On the other hand, products derived from the hemp plant are considered non-psychoactive, meaning they will not produce a "buzz" or "high". When we talk about CBD oil for dogs and cats, we are referring to products derived from the hemp plant. Therefore, CBD will not get your pet “high.” Furthermore, we want to stress that while the marijuana plant might be legal in your state, it is very dangerous for your cats and dogs and can make them severely sick.
Pet owners beware….you should only administer hemp oil with naturally occuring CBD, i.e. CBD derived from the hemp plant to your furry friends. Also, you would want to ask the merchant you’re purchasing from whether they 3rd-party test their products for impurities and heavy metals and contaminants like mold. If they won’t show you the results of those tests then find another merchant who will.
Fighting the Stereotype
Because the term “marijuana” is incredibly stigmatized, people often refer to marijuana as “cannabis.” However, when people equate marijuana and cannabis, they correlate cannabis and cannabis oil with all of the negative opinions associated with marijuana. Therefore, CBD also inadvertently receives negative attention.
In efforts to correct that negativity, we think it’s important to educate you, so that you, in turn, can teach others. We want as many furry pets as possible to benefit from all that CBD has to offer. This can only be possible if we reverse the negative opinions and ensure that people know the facts about this incredible herb.
Cannabidiol Oil
Just to reiterate, cannabidiol oil = CBD. CBD will not get you or your cat "high."
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Tetrahydrocannabinol = THC. THC is the psychoactive compound, and the main reason people use the herb recreationally.
Benefits of CBD for Cats
Ok...let’s get to the good stuff. Why should you give CBD to your feline friend?
CBD Promotes Relaxation
CBD is a great, all-natural remedy for promoting relaxation in stressed out cats.
CBD Supports Joint Health
CBD has the ability to support joint and bone health in your cat.
CBD Supports Sensitive Skin
CBD supports sensitive skin and fights seasonal allergies in cats.
CBD Supports Cognitive Function & Immune System
Lastly, CBD for cats supports cognitive function as well as their immune system. It is the perfect way to support their overall health and well-being.
Best CBD Oil for Cats
If you want to try CBD for your feline friend, look no further than Honest Paws Wellness CBD oil for cats. This CBD tincture is always 100% organic, full-spectrum, and lab-tested.
What's more, all of our products come with a 30-day money back guarantee. If for any reason, you are not enjoying your purchase, just give us a call. Our customer success team will give you a full refund.
Now, we would love for you to join the Honest Paws family but at the end of the day, regardless of who you decide to purchase from, make sure to seek out CBD oil products that meet the following criteria.
Organic CBD Oil for Cats
As a pet owner, you should know that herbicides and pesticides can cause a wide range of diseases in your furry companions. Therefore, some CBD products can actually cause more harm than good, if you purchase a product that is not up to the necessary standards.
When looking for CBD for cats, look for an organic option to ensure that the hemp was raised without harmful additives.
Hemp-Derived
As mentioned before, it is crucial to get a hemp-derived product for your pet. THC is harmful to pets so you want to avoid all marijuana-derived products for cats.
CBD hemp oil will give your furry friends all the benefits without any of the risk!
Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil
When searching for a CBD oil for your cat, you have a few options - the most popular being CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD oil.
On one hand, CBD isolate is pure CBD and contains no other cannabinoids or terpenes. On the other hand, full-spectrum CBD contains CBD as well as the "full spectrum" of cannabinoids and terpenes that the hemp plant has to offer.
While you many think that "pure CBD oil" sounds good, studies show that full-spectrum CBD oil is more effective. That's because CBD works best in conjunction with all the other cannabinoids in the hemp plant.
Third Party Lab-Testing
Any reputable company should be easily able to provide a certificate of analysis (COA). The certificate of analysis will tell you exactly what is in the product - including how much THC and CBD is in the product.
Unfortunately, an alarming number of companies have been known to sell CBD products that contain virtually no CBD. As CBD is not specifically regulated, a producer can label an oil as a CBD oil, despite a low CBD content. If you don’t fully research the amount of CBD contained in the product you intend to purchase, you could be throwing money away on a product that won’t do much good for your cat.
A certificate of analysis will weed out scammy companies that aren't transparent about their practices and help you ensure that your cat is getting the best of the best.
Side Effects of CBD Oil for Cats
We don’t have to tell you that no two cats are exactly alike. Therefore, all cats can have the potential to react differently to a product containing cannabis. The main side effect is that CBD can make your cat a bit sedated. If your cat seems lazier or more lethargic than usual, simply lower your cat’s usage.
Typically, side effects are either nonexistent or very mild. For example, if the CBD is made into a treat, your pet may get an upset stomach, or experience other gastrointestinal issues, depending on the other contents of the treat. That's why you want to find all-natural CBD treats with clean, simple ingredients.
Additionally, we want to reiterate one more time (we promise) that you should only give your cats CBD hemp oil, i.e. CBD derived from the hemp plant. Products that are high in THC, such as recreational or medicinal marijuana, can cause psychoactive effects that could make your cat extremely uncomfortable.
CBD Oil Dosage for Cats
Let's talk dosage. First off, it is a common misnomer that you find a "dosage" for CBD. The truth is that the term "dosage" only applies to medication. CBD is a supplement which means that we will talk about CBD dosage for cats in terms of "proper amount".
The optimum amount of CBD can be found by using your cat's weight. We generally advise about .25mg of CBD per pound of body weight. Meaning if your cat is 10 lbs, they should receive 2.5mg of CBD per day.
We always advise you to start off slowly (dosage wise) when introducing your pet to a new product. Trust us, before you know it, your cats and dogs will be reaping all the benefits that pet CBD has to offer.
CBD Oil for Cats: The Bottom Line
When you adopted your precious kitten, you may not have been warned about all of the problems that could arise to affect your cat’s health. As a cat owner, you should ensure you stay up-to-date with the latest health trends, ensure your cat is mentally and physically stimulated, and provide a species-appropriate, health-conscious diet.
When problems do arise, it can be incredibly frustrating and anxiety provoking. Luckily, holistic medicine is a safe and effective way to manage your cat's health.
We invite you to consider all the benefits of hemp oil with naturally occurring CBD for pets to ensure your cat's long-term health.
CBD Oil for Cats FAQs
Can you give cats CBD oil?
Is CBD oil good for cats?
Where to buy CBD oil for cats?
Dosage of CBD oil for cats?
Side effects of CBD oil in cats?
Sources
https://www.honestpaws.com/blog/cbd-vs-thc/
https://herb.co/marijuana/news...