Should You Give Your Cat CBD?
CBD is all the rage right now. It’s in everything from lotions to milkshakes to alcoholic beverages. You can eat it in gummies, swallow it as a pill, or inhale it in a vape. CBD oil is even being touted for pets.
All this CBD hype comes from a good place, too. Mounting research has provided piles of evidence for all of its health benefits, from relieving anxiety and depression, to reducing inflammation and chronic pain. While most of that research has yet to be confirmed.
CBD For Cats
And the data is hopeful for humans and pets alike, as it turns out. Like humans, animals also have an endocannabinoid system(1), which is why scientists have started doing studies on the different ways CBD could help animals.
A lot of CBD companies(2) are already claiming their products have health benefits for pets, but the verdict is still out on that. Humans take CBD for things like arthritis and anxiety, so it makes sense that simply lowering the dose for pets like cats and dogs would serve the same function.
As such, people have begun giving their cats CBD oil. Cats with anxiety could benefit from this, and senior cats with arthritis or other aches and pains could as well.
Still, the scientific data remains preliminary, so veterinarians may shy away from prescribing it just yet. CEO of ElleVet Sciences Christian Kjaer weighs in(3), “Research on the use of things like CBD is still in its infancy despite the very promising anecdotes and affirmative marketing seen in media today.”
Kjaer also brought up dosing, as no consensus has been reached on how much CBD should be given to treat specific conditions in pets versus humans. “Dosing of CBD can be different among different species, but also each individual animal depending on what we are trying to support,” Kjaer said.
Cats can be quite a bit smaller than dogs, so their dose is going to be less. However, when an animal is as small as a cat, the dosage is even more important. It’s much easier to give a smaller animal too much of a substance than a larger one. That’s why it’s crucial to talk to a vet before giving your cat CBD oil.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
*Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or prior to using any CBD products.
