As fellow mammals, cats have an endocannabinoid system that reacts to cannabidiol and cannabinoids present in hemp. So it only makes sense to try to afford your fur baby the same kind of relief that’s available to us hoomans — hence why most of the products on our list are human-grade too.
A lot of the CBD oil for cats Canada buyers have access to is from plants grown in Canada and made in Canada. These tend to be high-quality products that deliver reliable relief.
But there are also some not-so-great oils out there.
To help you tell those apart and learn about how CBD affects felines, we put together this brief guide.
So, let’s get down to it!
CBD Oil Dosage for Cats
As you can imagine, getting the dosage right for your cat isn’t as simple as looking at a chart. Felines absorb CBD differently than humans, and every cat is a little different.
You’ll need to take age, weight, and many other factors into account.
A basic rule of thumb is 1mg–4mg of CBD for every 10lbs (4.5kg) your cat weighs.
If your cat has never had CBD before, it’s best to start it with a minimal amount and choose a CBD isolate. As you work your way up, give each regimen a few days to see if it makes a noticeable difference.
Speaking of which:
- CBD isolates are products that contain only cannabidiol and no detectable amounts of any other cannabinoid or terpene naturally present in hemp.
- Broad spectrum products include most cannabinoids and terpenes in hemp oil but typically exclude THC.
- Full spectrum products have all the compounds naturally present in the source plant.
CBD, Cats, and THC
When purchasing CBD oil, many people’s primary concern is the THC content. The same holds true whether CBD oil is for pets or strictly for hoomans.
THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana, and it’s also present in hemp, albeit in much smaller amounts.
The good news is that THC is not toxic to cats. But there hasn’t been much research into the amount of THC that cats can handle safely. Moreover, animals are much more sensitive to THC than us hoomans.
Despite its low toxicity, it’s best to avoid using THC with animals since it can lead to confusion and disorientation. When it comes to CBD oil and cats, try to pick products that contain less than 0.3% THC.
In theory, isolates fit the bill perfectly, but they may not have the same effect as full spectrum or broad spectrum oils (entourage effect).
Whenever possible, read through the lab test results of the product you’re buying and make sure THC concentrations don’t exceed 0.3%.
And that leads us to the next point.
Third-Party Testing CBD for Cats
Third-party testing is just as necessary when buying CBD for your cat as it is when buying it for yourself. Sure, no one will drug-test your cat, but you need to know what you’re introducing to their diet.
Typical things to look for in lab results:
- Cannabinoids — this one is essential; the results should show the quantity of each tested cannabinoid and its presence in proportion to the total sample.
- Terpenes — this one is less important, but it’s valuable if you know your cat reacts poorly to certain terpenes.
- Impurities — generally, labs will test for anything that’s not supposed to be in the sample, such as solvent and other contaminants.
CBD Tincture for Cats & Different Flavours
Each and every cat is different — you know it only too well. While some will sneak in and get away with your slice of tomato (yes, that happened), others simply won’t budge unless they smell some creamy, yummy sauce.
Therefore, you can expect some cats not to be keen on CBD oil for cats without any extra flavours. Mixing it in and on treats is a tried and true method, though.
Fortunately, many products come with flavours that make them more appealing to cats. As long as the flavours are all-natural, there’s no reason you shouldn’t try to make your life easier by trying them. As for us hoomans, we get our taste buds satisfied with CBD gummies.
In our CBD oil for cats reviews, you’ll find several CBD options that have flavoured variants.
As a bonus, many of those flavours come from beneficial and healthy sources, such as salmon oil. Those sources can be an excellent way also to include other components into your cat’s diet, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and all the usual goodies.
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