Cat lovers know that there’s a lot more to our feline friends than what we see in memes and cat videos. Our kitty friends are loving, snuggly, wacky roommates with their own personalities, likes and dislikes.
They love making biscuits, getting scritches, and the 3 a.m. zoomies. They’re not so crazy about sudden noises, surprises, or being able to see the bottom of the food bowl. Also, just like us, they can get stressed out, and they deal with the aches and pains of life and aging.
You may have considered trying CBD for your cat when they’re feeling stress or pain, and wondered whether it’s safe, how much you should give them, or whether it would even work on a pet.
And, you may just be wondering whether they even make CBD for cats. And, if so, which one should you get?
We’re here to help, not only with product recommendations, but with the reasons behind why we recommend what we do. There’s a lot to know about what CBD is and how it works in our bodies and in the bodies of our cat friends.
Is CBD Safe for My Cat?
Yes! In 2017, the World Health Organization stated that CBD is safe for our pets, including cats and dogs.
The key to ensuring that your cat has a safe and enjoyable experience with CBD is in purchasing the right products, taking it slow, and getting the advice of your veterinarian. You always want to talk with your vet before introducing any new supplement into your cat’s diet, especially if your cat is on any prescription medication.
Did you know that we at CBDfx have a veterinarian medical advisor? He’s a practicing veterinarian with more than 20 years of experience practicing private small animal medicine. He reviews our pet products to make sure they’re safe and effective.
CBD for Cats 101: What Is CBD?
We like to start with the basics, because the terms we use to describe the benefits of CBD for cats (and for us) can get confusing if you don’t start at the beginning.
CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a molecular compound found in the cannabis, or hemp, plant. CBD is one of many different cannabis compounds, known as cannabinoids.
Almost all cannabinoids, like CBD, are not psychoactive, which means they don’t cause a “high.” In other words, CBD won’t get you or your cat stoned.
It’s important to note that the cannabinoid that does cause a high, THC, can be toxic to pets and should be avoided. Don’t worry, it’s easy to avoid. We’ll show you how below.
What do cannabinoids like CBD do? They interact with a system in the body known as the endocannabinoid system. Okay, cool. What’s that?
The endocannabinoid system is a cell-signalling system that is integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as our brains and bodily systems that regulate sleep, mood, digestion, immune function, and more.
Receptors within the endocannabinoid system interact with the cannabinoids we ingest, delivering the therapeutic benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids to the systems and organs they’re associated with.
Do cats have endocannabinoid systems? Indeed they do. In fact, all vertebrates (animals with spines), and pretty much all invertebrates do. So, we have an endocannabinoid system, and so do our dogs and cats and birds and turtles.
What Can CBD Do for My Cat?
CBD and other cannabinoids can have the beneficial effects on cats, including effects that CBD lovers describe as calming, focusing, soothing, and restful. Many use CBD products to help them with sore muscles, achy joints, and irritated skin. And of course, for overall wellness, CBD is a wonderful daily supplement.>>
How to Buy CBD for Cats
There are so many CBD products for humans and pets on the market, it can be overwhelming even to know where to begin. We’ll walk you through some important basics.
High-Quality Ingredients for Cats
This is a lot like shopping for pet food. You want a CBD product that is made entirely out of the highest-quality ingredients, because you want what’s healthiest for your cat.
Cats are highly sensitive to potential environmental toxins, including certain plants and essential oils, so you want to make sure that your CBD doesn’t include harmful additives.
The best place to start is with the hemp plant itself. Did you know that cannabis plants are so efficient at sucking up everything in the soil around them that they’re known as a bioremediator? That means cannabis can actually be used to remove toxins from the soil, effectively cleaning the earth.
This is why you want your hemp to be grown in a pesticide-free environment with clean soil and no toxins, heavy metals or GMOs.
High-Quality CBD Processing
Before a hemp plant can yield CBD, the CBD and other cannabinoids must be extracted.
CO2 extraction is one of the best methods for extracting cannabinoids. This extraction process uses CO2, pressure, and heat to extract cannabinoids, turning them into liquid. This avoids solvent residue that appears in less pure products, while also ensuring the most potent final CBD product.
Third-Party Labs and CBD Cat Products
Finally, you want CBD products for yourself and your pet that have been tested by an independent third-party lab. Your CBD for cats should have an accessible lab report that tells you exactly what is in your CBD.
THC and Cats: Broad Spectrum vs. Full Spectrum CBD
The final major consideration when shopping for CBD for cats is THC. Earlier, we mentioned that THC can be toxic for cats and dogs alike.
It’s easy to find a quality, potent CBD product for your cat while avoiding worries of trace amounts of THC.
There are two primary kinds of CBD oil: full spectrum and broad spectrum. (CBD isolate is a third form that mainly appears as a powder or crystal, but it doesn’t typically appear in CBD for cats).
Full spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids and terpenes within the cannabis plant, including legally allowed trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%).
Broad spectrum CBD filters out the remaining THC, as well as a small amount of other cannabinoids and terpenes.
We recommend buying CBD for cats made with broad spectrum CBD.
Healthy Additional Ingredients for Your CBD Cat Product
CBD for cats is often created for targeted needs, like anxiety, achy joints, or itchy skin. That means they’re often formulated with additional ingredients, like natural anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and calming botanicals.
It’s important to make sure that the CBD for cats you purchase isn’t made with additional ingredients that may harm them. That’s where lab reports and veterinarian medical advisors come into play.
CBD for Cats: What to Get
We at CBDfx strive to remain one of the most respected CBD brands on the market, and we’re always looking for new ways to deliver high-quality CBD experience to our customers … and their pets.
Our CBD Oil for Cats is a broad spectrum CBD tincture formulated specifically for cats. It’s organic, non-GMO, solvent free, and cruelty free.
It’s ideal for all cats, whether they’re a bit stressed dealing with aches and pains, or just need a bit of chill time.
With 250mg of human-grade broad spectrum CBD, this product is designed to deliver a safe and effective dose of CBD for an animal that weighs less than 20 pounds (and should work just fine on kitty chunkers, too).
This brings up a commonly asked question: how much CBD should you give your cat? Our cat tincture is designed to remove the guesswork. One dropper equals one serving.
All cats are different, and body weight and metabolism play a big role in how much CBD may be required, how long it takes to kick in, and how long it lasts.
If this is your first time trying CBD for cats, we recommend starting with a low dose (i.e. half a dropper) and then observing your cat to see how they like it.
Worried about getting your cat to actually try it? Cats don’t necessarily love to take medicine. We have good news! Our CBD oil for cats is made with natural bacon flavor, making it a favorite with dogs and cats alike.
If your kitty is dealing with irritated or dry skin, perhaps on those lil’ toe beans, we recommend our Calming and Moisturizing Pet CBD Balm. It’s made with broad spectrum CBD, odorless Alaskan salmon oil, shea butter, and soothing oils like rosemary and chamomile.
Even if your cat isn’t crazy about having irritated skin touched, they’re sure to take to this soothing balm.
The Last Word on Buying CBD for Cats
We may joke about our cats’ attitudes, but we love them and they love us. Making sure we purchase safe, pure, carefully formulated CBD for cats is one of the many ways we can show them we care … even if they refuse to show they’re thankful.
Want a safe and smart tincture for your kitty? Try our CBD Oil for Cats today!
