The Benefits of Hemp for Cats

There’s a lot of discussion regarding the benefits of full spectrum hemp extract for both humans and dogs, but cats are usually left out of the hemp conversation. That raises the question: what are the benefits of hemp oil for cats? 

In short, hemp for cats can have numerous benefits! Just like us, and our dogs, cats have an endocannabinoid system that plays a critical role in keeping them at optimal health. A cat’s body, just like other mammals, have a system of receptors which interact with the compounds found in hemp oil to maintain balance in the body. Making full spectrum hemp extract a great option for helping your cat’s ailments.

Benefits oF Full Spectrum Hemp Extract For Cats

The benefits of hemp oil for cats are numerous, similar to the many benefits hemp can provide to our dogs. One of the most common uses of hemp oil for cats is relieving levels of inflammation in the body, leading to decreased pain. Allergies, chronic pain, arthritis, autoimmune disease, and diabetes, are all examples of conditions associated with inflammation in the body. By addressing the inflammation, hemp can potentially help many conditions that are ailing your pet. Hemp is also neuroprotective which means full spectrum hemp extract can potentially help with conditions like seizures in our cats. 

Hemp for cats is also extremely safe, as this randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study shows. This recent study aimed to determine the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of hemp extract, alone and in combination, in healthy cats. All adverse effects were mild, such as lethargy and diarrhea.

Hemp For Cats With Anxiety

Determining whether or not a cat has anxiety is a bit more difficult than a dog in most cases. Cats aren’t typically as obvious with their anxiety and tend to react a bit differently. Some signs your cat may be experiencing anxiety include hiding in odd areas, lack of appetite, increased urination or defecation, and/or suddenly no longer utilizing the litter box.

According to Jae Kennedy, co-owner of Two Crazy Cat Ladies, Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) can be caused by stress. The term ‘idiopathic’ means unknown. That’s why it’s Feline Idiopathic Cystitis; the exact cause of FIC is unknown resulting in a lot of frustration and confusion among cat lovers. But, studies have shown 75-80% of cats who have been diagnosed with FIC will significantly improve when stress is decreased.

Jae Kennedy also states that “cats internalize stress, so it is not often that you will notice the stress your cat is enduring. If your cat has feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), just work to reduce his stress by putting him on a healthy diet, reducing unnecessary vaccines and medications and keeping him on his daily routine.”

According to Jae Kennedy, not only is Full Spectrum Hemp Extract helpful for FIC, but also helpful for most (if not all) other conditions involving stress in cats. This includes other urinary problems, lack of socialization, or lack of interest in activities the cat once enjoyed. Hemp oil for cats with anxiety can help alleviate that stress, and therefore potentially help their ailments.

Having hemp oil for cats on hand may help your cat feel more comfortable while you determine what could be triggering the increased anxiety levels. For cats with anxiety, we recommend our CALM tincture, formulated with full spectrum hemp extract and lavender essential oil, to help your cat’s anxiety, stress and fear. 

Hemp For Cats With Arthritis and Joint Pain

The term ‘arthritis’ literally means inflammation of joints. Since hemp is a known anti-inflammatory, it comes as no surprise it can help ease the symptoms of arthritis in our cats. Full Spectrum Hemp Extract may be the best option to offer your cat a safe and natural alternative to pain medications. The discomfort that our arthritic cats experience is typically caused by inflammation in their joints. By soothing that inflammation, you can address the cause of the issue, and prevent the pain.

According to Dr. Gary Richter, an Integrative Veterinarian, “anecdotal reports and my own professional experience with medical cannabis in dogs and cats lead me to be 100 percent certain that it is safe in appropriate doses and, in many cases, effective in the treatment of disease and relieving pain.”

A study published in 2006 in Current Neuropharmacology also concluded that hemp has therapeutic benefits, for both people and pets suffering from chronic pain and acute chronic pain episodes. For cats with arthritis, we recommend our EASE tincture, formulated with frankincense and turmeric, to naturally alleviate your cat’s inflammation and pain.

Hemp For Cats With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Hemp is also one of the safest options for cats with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. As stated earlier, hemp is an anti-inflammatory and works with the endocannabinoid system to restore balance to the body. Hemp has been demonstrated to help cats with gastrointestinal issues maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Much of our cat’s health and well-being, is determined by the gut microbiota. A healthy gut is always the most crucial aspect to consider when it comes to healing your pet, and it all starts with the microbiome.

Full spectrum hemp extract has also been shown to reduce inflammation, particularly inflammation in the gut, and when coupled with a good diet, can help with IBD symptoms, and other common issues. According to research, “migraine, fibromyalgia, IBS and related conditions display common clinical, biochemical and pathophysiological patterns that suggest an underlying clinical endocannabinoid deficiency that may be suitably treated with cannabinoid medicines.”

Dosing Full Spectrum Hemp Extract For Cats

Contrary to popular belief, your pet’s optimal dosage of full spectrum hemp extract depends more on the ailment, rather than the size or weight of your pet. For example, cats with cancer will require a higher dosage than cats with anxiety. According to research, it has been presumed that cats are less sensitive to cannabis than dogs.

Hemp Dog Health’s Full Spectrum hemp extract for cats are meant to provide the average effective daily dose to aid with several conditions that each tincture is formulated to address, in a single 1mL dose. This is a general guideline that works for most animals; but, as sensitivity to hemp can be dependent on several factors unique to each pet, your pet may require more or less than our standard recommended dose. Therefore, we recommend using a trial-and-error method, to find your cat’s optimal dose. Begin with a low dose of hemp oil for cats, and gradually adjust, according to your cat’s individual needs.

Hemp Dog Health’s Full Spectrum Cat Tinctures

Our EASE is designed to soothe your cat’s aches and pains. This anti-inflammatory tincture is formulated with turmeric and frankincense to help your cat’s joint pain, arthritis, and allergies, by addressing and relieving inflammation. Our Ease for cats is our recommended tincture for cats suffering from chronic joint pain, arthritis, mobility problems, allergies, pancreatitis, and other conditions associated with inflammation. A standard 1mL dose of our Ease tincture contains 9mg of FSHE.

Our CALM is designed to alleviate your cat’s anxiety, stress and fear. This organic, full spectrum tincture is formulated with lavender essential oil, ideal for naturally managing chronic anxiety and situational fear in your cat. Our Calm for cats is our recommended tincture for cats with anxiety, for alleviating stress and anxiety during stressful situations including travel, thunderstorms, fireworks, and grooming and vet appointments. A standard 1mL dose of our Calm contains 9mg of FSHE. 

Our HEAL was formulated with our highest full spectrum hemp extract content. Our Heal for cats is designed to help alleviate higher levels of pain as well as potentially helping your cat with serious ailments including seizures, cancer, tumors, autoimmune diseases, degenerative diseases, and more. Our Heal provides a standard 1mL dose containing 37mg of FSHE.

Administering Full Spectrum Hemp Extract for Cats

Administration (as well as dosage) of hemp extract tinctures depends highly on bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the amount of time, and the rate, that something absorbs into your cat’s bloodstream as well as how much is excreted. That’s why the way you administer hemp oil is so important. 

The most effective method, with the highest absorption rate, is administering hemp oil onto your cat’s gums. Lift your cat’s lip and place the dropper over the gums to allow the tincture to be absorbed through the membranes of the mouth. This will allow the hemp to bypass the digestive system and enter the bloodstream quickly.

The second method we recommend is adding the hemp oil into your cat’s food, or with treats. Although fatty foods have been shown to aid in the absorption of hemp, this method will take longer to show effect, as it must pass through the digestive system before reaching the bloodstream. In addition to taking longer, the hemp oil will be filtered by the digestive tract, and some of the cannabinoids in the oil will likely be broken down and excreted.

If your cat absolutely refuses to ingest the tincture, the next best place is the hairless area on the underside of your cat’s ear. There are a lot of blood vessels in that area providing another method to bypass the digestive tract. You can also apply the oil to the cat’s paw pads. Paw pads in cats are highly vascularized (a lot of blood vessels) so the hemp can be absorbed into their body in that sense as well.

The Bottom Line

If your cat is suffering from an ailment, especially any of the conditions mentioned above, full spectrum hemp extract for cats may be the best option for you. 

 

 

About Angela Ardolino

Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years and operates a rescue farm, Fire Flake Farm, in Florida. She is also the owner of  Beautify the Beast,  a natural pet salon and shop. After getting her certificate in Medical Cannabis Biology and Therapeutic use from the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she founded Hemp Dog Health to provide high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets.

Angela has seven dogs, Odie a 12-year-old mini-schnauzer, Nina an 8-year-old Doberman. Jolene a 7-year-old mutt, Maza a 7-year-old mutt, Rhemi an 8-year-old poodle, Potato a 15-year-old shih-tzu, and Miss Daisie a 15-year-old black lab, plus 4-10 more at any time she is fostering or boarding. Additionally, she uses Full Spectrum Hemp Extract on all her pets at her rescue farm every day, and has since 2016. She is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the Veterinary Cannabis Association. In fact, Angela has educated hundreds of medical doctors and veterinarians on the therapeutic uses of medical cannabis on animals. Visit www.angelaardolino.com for more information.