Humans own pets for a variety of reasons and these can include companionship, entertainment and friendship. They can also be useful for work, security, or as instruments for recovery during an illness as in animal-assisted therapy.
Pets generally evoke various emotional responses in humans which makes them desirable. They are often loyal, friendly, and cute and will stay with you no matter what. They also help in relieving stress and can provide both mental and emotional support to their owners. You will find some of the benefits of having pets here.
One of the most prominent pets is a cat. They are the second most domesticated animals. They are smart and adorable and can be fun having around the home.
Using CBD To Care For Your Cat
As a pet parent who owns a cat, it is your responsibility to take care of your pet and ensure its wellbeing. This starts from giving it a proper and healthy diet and grooming your cat when necessary. It also includes taking it to the vet regularly, having it vaccinated and administering medications as required.
While there are many kinds of medications available for treating various cat ailments and diseases, cannabidiol stands out. Cannabidiol is often referred to as CBD. It is one of the substances available in hemp which is one of the two cannabis plants available.
CBD is beneficial in many ways and can be used to treat virtually all kinds of ailments that your cat may experiences. Some of these include:
- Feline Leukemia virus
- Feline immunodeficiency virus
- Cancer
- Rabies
- Pain and Inflammation
- Arthritis
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of sleep
- Anxiety and depression and a host of other diseases.
In addition to treating the above diseases, cannabidiol also aids your feline’s brain function by providing it with excellent nutrition. It keeps its skin healthy and its fur sleek and attractive. It also provides joint support and maintains its overall wellbeing. Furthermore, it supports its immune system, balances its hormones and boosts its heart making it healthy.
Common CBD Products
It goes without saying that to enjoy all of the benefits mentioned above, you have to administer CBD to your cat. Cannabidiol is available for cats in various forms. These are:
- CBD oil
- CBD capsules and pills
- Chews and treats
- Rub, balms as well as sprays.
All of these different products can be given to your pet in a variety of ways. You can administer them sublingually, by ingestion, or topically depending on the product you buy.
Typically, capsules, pills, and treats are ingested while rubs, balms and sprays are used topically directly on the skin. CBD oil is the most popular of these products and can be said to be the most effective.
The reason for this is that it is used sublingually. This is by the use of tincture bottles and putting a few drops of the substance in your cat’s mouth. Specifically under its tongue. In this way, cannabidiol is easily and quickly absorbed into the body.
It does not have to be digested or processed meaning it is able to act faster and for longer. CBD oil may also be mixed with your feline’s food.
Note that CBD oil can come in three forms. These are full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate.
What Is The Best CBD Oil Dosage For Cats?
One thing you can be certain of is that you cannot overdose on cannabidiol but nevertheless, you need to be moderate. Your product supplier may be able to provide you with a guide on the proper dosage to use. You can also find these guides online in form of dosage charts and calculators.
Typically factors such as your pet’s age, weight, size as well as the disease you are treating play a role in dosing. For regular doses, you should give about 0.25 milligrams of CBD for each pound of weight. For stronger doses, you can multiply that by 2 making it 0.5 milligrams for every pound of weight.
It is important to gauge your pet’s reaction when you administer cannabidiol, especially for the first time. You can then adjust the dosage to an appropriate level. Also, you may notice mild symptoms like restlessness, insomnia, lethargy dry mouth, etc. These symptoms are associated with first-time use and will disappear within a short period.
Cannabidiol is relatively safe for use therefore if you notice any severe symptoms, it means you bought a poor-quality product. You should discontinue its use immediately. Also, although cannabidiol is extracted from the cannabis plant, it will not get your pet high. This is because it contains little or no tetrahydrocannabinol popularly known as THC.
THC is the substance that is responsible for cannabis users getting high. CBD products for animals usually do not contain the substance. In any case, the maximum allowable limit of THC in a product is 0.3%. This is not enough to make your cat high.
How To Buy CBD Oil
The cannabidiol market is not regulated so it is important to be careful when buying CBD products especially for animals. Some things to watch out for when buying include:
- The product must be organic and should contain no additives.
- Using price as an indicator. Cannabidiol products usually are not cheap so when you find a cheap product, it is likely of poor quality.
- You can request the lab test results. Reputable sources are always willing and able to provide you with this.
You can get some useful information at holistapet to help you make the best decision for your pet.
Conclusion
If you own a cat, you always want the best for them and thereby you ensure that you take care of them. Unfortunately, cats get sick but thankfully, they can be treated using cannabidiol. This substance comes with a lot of benefits for your pet. It is however equally important that you buy a quality product from a reputable source.
