Cats are one of the most popular pets you will find around. In fact, they are the second most owned pets after dogs. They are adorable and humans love them for their cuteness, intelligence, playfulness and friendliness. Asides from these, cats require low maintenance.
They like to self-groom and having them around you helps to bring fun and entertainment. You are relieved of any stress and loneliness and of course, it can help improve your cardiovascular health.
Cats are strong and resilient but even at that, they are susceptible to sicknesses and diseases just like other mammals. They can experience diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, rabies, cancer, diabetes, Feline Leukemia Virus, heartworm, ringworm and many other diseases. You can learn more about cats here.
To prevent your cat from experiencing any of the diseases above, you must regularly monitor its health. That means you have to make regular visits to the vet. You should also administer necessary medications at regular intervals.
Sometimes these medications are to maintain your pet’s wellbeing and at other times, they may be used to treat an ailment. CBD oil is a potent medication that can help you achieve these. It has a two-in-one effect that is, you can use it for maintaining your cat’s wellbeing. At the same time, it may be used to treat most diseases that can affect your cat.
What Is CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol which is often referred to as CBD is a substance that is extracted from cannabis. It is a potent substance that is used as a medication to treat a range of diseases in humans and animals. CBD is rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients which enhances its potency.
Furthermore, in every mammal be it human or animal is a system called the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for a lot of bodily functions. Most daily activities of a human or animal are heavily dependent on the ECS.
To function as it should, the ECS produces some substances. Some of these substances are cannabinoids. CBD itself is a cannabinoid but the difference is that it is produced in a plant rather than inside a human or animal body.
When the ECS cannot produce enough cannabinoids to function optimally, CBD oil can be administered as an external cannabinoid. This is why it is so potent against many diseases. Cannabidiol may be extracted from cannabis in at least three different ways. These are:
- By olive oil extraction
- By use of a solvent
- By CO2
The third method is the most effective and produces the purest and best cannabidiol. Cannabidiol can be extracted from the leaves, seeds, stalk and flowers of the cannabis plant. After extraction, it is used in making a range of products for animal and human consumption. One of these is the popular CBD oil.
Other products available for animals like cats include:
- Capsules and pills.
- Balms, rubs and sprays.
- Treats and chews, etc.
- CBD oil may also be used as an ingredient in your cat’s food.
How Safe Is CBD Oil for Your Cat?
Although cannabidiol is derived from cannabis, it is safe for your pet. For most people, what you probably have heard more is the psychoactive effects of cannabis – how it makes the user high. As a pet parent, it is understandable if this is a cause for concern for you.
However, you do not have anything to worry about. This is because there are two different types of cannabis plants. These are hemp and marijuana. CBD can be extracted from both plants but consumable CBD especially when it is for animals is extracted from hemp.
This is because marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol popularly known as THC. THC is the guilty substance that causes a user of cannabis to get high. Hemp has very low levels of THC. It may even be cultivated in a way that it does not contain the substance at all.
That said, as of now, using CBD comes with no known chronic or worrisome side effects for both humans and animals. At most, when using it for the first time, your pet may experience slight symptoms such as:
- Restlessness
- Increase or decrease in appetite
- Dry mouth
- Lethargy and a few others.
This is nothing to worry about as all these will go away in a few days and will not harm your pet. However, it is important that you buy your cannabidiol products from a reliable company to ensure that it is safe for your pet. Also, you should always consult with your vet before administering CBD oil to your cat. You can visit holistapet to learn more about choosing a reliable seller.
How Much CBD Is Right for Your Cat?
There are no set guidelines when it comes to administering cannabidiol to your pet. However, manufacturers try to provide you with one and you may as well use a dosage calculator online.
Generally, the right dose to give is dependent on factors like the cat’s age, weight and size. This will also depend on if you are using it to treat a particular disease. You may also simply be administering it to keep your pet strong and healthy.
You love your feline and of course, you want to do all you can to protect and ensure its wellbeing. Doing this starts with making sure it has sound health. You can achieve this by regular visits to the vet and by administering CBD oil both in good and bad health.
