The cat/human bond has been one that has been documented throughout history. Although dogs are the pets usually known for their role as “man’s best friend”, cats, too, are fiercely loyal and play a huge role as members of many families. All of our pets, cats, dogs and otherwise, deserve the best that we can give them, especially as they age. That’s why, as CBD becomes more popular as a treatment for dogs and humans, Americans are starting to use CBD for cats.
CBD oil for cats is an excellent way to help stressed-out felines who claw the upholstery when their owners leave, calm a yowling cat who has trouble sleeping during the night or ease the pain and discomfort of an elder furry friend. We are going to cover all you need to know about CBD as it relates to cats and cat care.
What is CBD Oil for Cats?
CBD oil for cats is not much different than CBD for humans. The oil itself is the same—the difference lies in how the CBD oil is used to create hemp products for cats. When shopping for your cat CBD it’s a good idea to 
choose a brand that caters to pets AND humans. Why? Well, because although the actual CBD is the same for pets and humans alike, some oils (like grape seed oil) can be harmful to animals and is used in some tinctures produced for humans.
The Cannabis sativa plant contains over 100 molecules known with CBD (cannabidiol) being one of the most plentiful. When pressure is applied to the hemp flowers during the extraction process, they release phytocannabinoids which are used to create hemp extract or, as it is more commonly known, CBD oil.
How Can CBD Oil Help My Cat?
Humans often forget that we have lots in common with our four-legged friends. They usually love the taste of “human food” and search out physical touch, just like people do. Our pets can also experience many of the same pain, age-related illnesses and emotional distress as their humans. And they can feel some emotions even more acutely than we feel them. Their unique reasoning process makes fear of abandonment a real problem when we leave the house.
Cats and other pets are often prescribed human medications like amoxicillin for infections or prednisone for inflammation. Similarly, CBD can help cats just as it helps humans.
How Does CBD Oil for Cats Work?
Cats and other four-legged pets have most of the same major organs and internal systems as we do. And, just like humans, they have powerful cannabinoid receptors that work in close proximity to those major organs. These cannabinoid receptors have one main job – to maintain homeostasis throughout the whole system.
Cannabinoid receptors measure potential threats to the body such as viruses, the proliferation of cancer cells and the introduction of toxins. Once they detect these dangers, they send electrical messages that report these findings back to the brain.
Once the body receives these warnings, it produces endocannabinoids. All of these continuous communications occurring throughout body is what’s known as the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.
The ECS in both humans and pets influences a number of truly vital functions including:
- Mood
- Sleep patterns
- Appetite
- Skin health
Unfortunately, there are often not enough naturally occurring endocannabinoids that can regulate all of these functions. Luckily, research has shown us that the phytocannabinoids present in CBD act like endocannabinoids. That’s why CBD oil helps return balance to the areas in which your cat is experiencing discomfort.
Will CBD Oil Get My Cat High?
It has been said that cats have more sensitive endocannabinoid systems than humans. That makes sense—after all, cats have a heightened sense of smell, sound, and sight, too! That’s one of the reasons you have to take your time when choosing a CBD for your pet.
Full Spectrum vs Broad Spectrum CBD for Cats
Marijuana for cats is very dangerous. Hemp experts have reported that cats exposed to THC “find it disorienting and frightening, and may even experience low blood pressure, anxiety, aggression, lethargy, difficulty walking, and incontinence.”
Whenever you see “full spectrum” on a label, it means there is 0.3% THC or less in the formula. We understand if you’re a bit apprehensive. That’s why we offer broad spectrum CBD tinctures for pets. Purelix Wellness Pet Tinctures are THC-free. However, they include other phytocannabinoids naturally found in hemp and promote the wellness benefits of CBD without any concern of a THC overdose.
CBD Oil Benefits for Cats
Here are some of the positive effects of CBD for cats:
Stress Relief
There are a number of reasons your cat might experience anxiety. If your cat is new to your home, if they get sick, or if your cat is a rescue with a history of abuse their fear may manifest itself in certain behaviors. excessive yowling, wetting the carpet or floor and cowering are signals that your cat is trying to send to you. CBD offers quick and effective relief, allowing your pet to remain calm and content during both situational and history-related anxiety.
Aggression Control
All cat owners know that felines can get territorial and aggressive when backed into a corner. Some cats are naturally aggressive and others just demand space. This is hard especially when there are other pets or children present in the home. Adding CBD to a cat’s daily feeding regimen is a great way to maintain a happy, agreeable attitude in cats.
Help with Sleep
Lots of cats are restless at night. Hormonal issues, general anxiety or disruption in schedule can all signal sleeplessness in cats. CBD helps your cat naturally achieve deeper sleep by causing phytocannabinoids to calm excited brain cells. CBD helps both you AND your cat experience night-time calm!
Nutrition
CBD is a fat-based molecule and is rich in healthy fats that are essential for repairing your cat’s sensitive digestive tract. Gut health is especially important as your pet ages.
Many mass-manufactured cat foods can cause long-term inflammation in your cat’s gut because they are rich in gluten, corn, and other fillers. This can cause long-term discomfort and, because your cat can’t communicate this, they could continue a cycle of painful, unhealthy eating throughout their life..
Hemp is a complete protein and contains all of the amino acids your cat needs to build healthy cells throughout the body.
Providing an adequate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is essential for a healthy cat. Providing your cat with efficient protein won’t just keep their outside healthy but will also keep their coat free from skin issues.
Joint and Muscle Support
Eating inflammatory foods isn’t the only issue plaguing your cat’s health. Just like aging humans, cats might start to experience painful joints and muscles.
CBD oil can help support healthy muscles and joints, so your cat remains spry and active. CBD tinctures work internally and topicals for cats can provide targeted support for your kitty.
Types of CBD Cat Products
CBD products created specifically for pets are popping up in pet stores, CBD shops, and online retailers. These items are getting just as innovative as their human counterparts. Here are the most popular products containing CBD oil for cats on the market.
CBD Cat Tinctures
CBD tinctures for cats are phytocannabinoids-enriched hemp extract drops in oil-based form. They are mixed with an edible, healthy fat and are super easy to administer. Owners can either integrate the drops with their wet food, add by drizzling on top of dry food or place under the cat’s tongue.
CBD Cat Topicals
You’re going to pet your cat anyway—might as well rub in a CBD topical while you’re at it! As mentioned above, some pet owners choose to enhance their pet’s comfort by using CBD topicals. Purelix unscented salves and creams can be applied directly onto the effected area and have been found to ease the discomfort caused by allergies, “hot spots” and other dermatological issues. Think about how good it feels to get a rub down using a medicated topical salve when your skin itches. Now you can help your pet feel that same relief!
Things to Consider When Choosing a CBD Brand
Look for Transparent Labeling
We can’t stress it enough….do your homework when choosing a CBD brand. If you do your research you will undoubtedly come across numerous reports of CBD manufacturers whose products contain little to no CBD and/or harmful ingredients such as synthetic marijuana, contaminants and even toxic materials that have been used during the extraction process. Companies who follow up-to-date Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
use safe, high-quality ingredients in a clean environment. In the hemp space, trustworthy companies are very transparent about the ingredients their using and how they label their products.
Source of the Hemp Used
It must be noted that all hemp is not created equal. While it’s true that many countries around the world are presently growing hemp, the quality of the crop differs dramatically depending upon where it is sourced. U.S. grown hemp is regulated and hemp farmers are subject to strict requirements so, as a result, the U.S. presently produces some of the finest quality CBD products on the planet.
Lower quality CBD, much of which is produced in Asian countries and/or is extracted from industrial hemp, has far lower concentrations of CBD and is not subject to the quality standards presently enforced in the U.S.
COAs (Certificate of Analysis)
Before you decide on a CBD brand for you and your pet, make sure the manufacturer has their testing completed by an independent third-party laboratory. This is a vital component in ensuring that you are using the purest, safest CBD. When these tests are completed by the third-party lab, the company is given a COA which shows the levels of THC and CBD and confirms the absence of any harmful contaminants.
Purelix Wellness is proud to have one of the highest standards of testing in the industry. Every batch receives the most comprehensive testing available: microbial (E. coli, yeast, mold), potency (ensuring what’s on the label is in the bottle), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium) and pesticides (60 total). Every Purelix label of a product sold has a QR code and batch number linking to both the internal lab reports on the raw oil and the third-party testing on the finished product.
What is the CBD Extraction Method Used?
Most manufacturers of high-quality CBD products use one of two methods to extract CBD from the hemp plant: CO2 extraction and solvent extraction. CO2 extraction, which is used in the food industry, is regarded as safe and is employed by manufacturers who want to maximize the process and pull the highest concentration of cannabinoids from the hemp plant.
Four-legged vs. Two-Legged
It is also a good idea to choose a brand that caters not only to humans but pets as well. As we stated earlier, the actual CBD is the same for pets and humans alike but some oils (like grape seed oil) can be harmful to animals and is used in some tinctures produced for humans.
Is CBD Right for Your Cat?
The CBD industry is young and much more research is being undertaken so we can learn more about the benefits CBD can offer to humans and pets. However, preliminary research is very promising for the future of hemp products for our four-legged companions.
What we do know is that cats have an endocannabinoid system and can experience relief from CBD like their human counterparts. It’s also true that some cats are more sensitive to CBD than others. That’s why it’s important to start off with low servings and work your way up to the perfect dosage for your cat.
As always, we recommend talking to your vet if you’re seriously concerned about changes in your cat’s physical or mental state. We know you want what’s best for your furry friend and hope Purelix Wellness can help you give them the best life possible!
