Before jumping on the latest fad or following someone’s lead blindly, it’s important to first ask “Is CBD safe for cats?” Although CBD is derived from CBD plants, it has not been shown to have any safer effect on cats other than relieving pain and the short-term effects of seizures in people with epilepsy. Unlike hemp seed and CBD oil, CBD is not extracted from the entire plant. As far as I know, no studies have been published as to the beneficial use of CBD for cats.
Since CBD is obtained from the whole plant, it is most likely derived from hemp. There is, however, another derivative, which may help relieve stress and anxiety. As far as I know, there are no clinical trials supporting the idea that CBD can help relieve anxiety in cats other than to relieve cat allergies. As is usually the case, the best course of action is left to the interpretation of research data by people, dogs and other animals coupled with anecdotal evidence.
If you do decide to give CBD to your cat, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure that this is an appropriate treatment. The two most common uses of CBD are in products to help alleviate anxiety and in pet products such as catnip toys and collars. While CBD from hemp can be useful in these situations, CBD from other sources such as the CBD oil may not be as safe or effective. In fact, CBD may cause some cats to become unbalanced and exhibit behavior problems.
As an example of a cat who would benefit from CBD, let’s say you had a female cat who was experiencing a lot of health problems. There may be several things going on inside her body that are causing her to suffer such as a severe infection in her intestines or even a tumor. Whatever it is, she needs help to get rid of whatever it is so you might want to consider giving her some CBD as a topical application to soothe the symptoms she is having. This topical application would likely be in the form of a spray or a topically-applied cream that you can apply to her.
While this could be effective in alleviating her symptoms, this is where things can go downhill quickly. Some people have reported experiencing headaches after using CBD products to treat their pets. Also, as with all products whose ingredients have not been properly evaluated, CBD can actually interact with certain medications your veterinarian may prescribe for your cats. It is important to discuss all of your cats’ medications with your veterinarian and follow the directions given with every medication.
As previously mentioned, one of the most common side effects associated with CBD for cats is the possibility of seizure disorder. It is possible for your cat to be suddenly put into what is called a “convulsive seizure” if she is exposed to too much of this product over a prolonged period of time. While it is hard to predict which seizures your cat might suffer from, it is best to avoid using CBD for cats under the age of seven months old who have been diagnosed with epilepsy or another seizure disorder. Also, make sure that your veterinarian is aware of any family history concerning epilepsy or other seizure disorders in cats before administering CBD for cats under this age. With proper care and supervision, CBD for cats can be an extremely helpful product to have in your home, but you’ll want to be careful how you use it to ensure maximum benefits.