With the growing interest in cbd for cats and the safe administration of cbd oil for cats, it is vital to know the proper dosage, how to calculate it, possible effects and what to look for in a specific product for pets. We remind you that in Spain we will more appropriately talk about quantity than dosage, as CBD products in our country are for topical use.
Can CBD be administered to cats?
Yes, cbd for cats is safe when used correctly. A study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science administered 4 mg/kg of non-THC CBD daily for 26 weeks to healthy cats and no clinically significant adverse effects were observed, although a mild elevation of ALT was noted at baseline, normalizing after 2 weeks of continuous use. You can read more about this and other studies mentioned at the end of this article.
Other work on tolerance with increasing doses found that felines tolerated up to 30.5 mg/kg of CBD with no serious effects, although mild transient signs such as diarrhea or sedation were reported.
What is the recommended dosage of CBD for cats?
Factors influencing dose
Weight
The dose is calculated in mg of CBD per kg of body weight.
Condition treated
For anxiety or stress, benefits are observed with 0.2-0.5 mg/kg twice daily. In cases of pain, some veterinary guidelines allow up to 2-3 mg/kg twice daily.
Type of oil (mg/ml concentration)
Check how many mg of CBD each ml or drop contains to administer accurately.
How to calculate the dose?
Let’s take an example: a cat weighing 4 kg:
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We start with 0.2 mg/kg:
4 kg × 0.2 mg = 0.8 mg CBD, twice daily. -
If well tolerated and after ~7 days there is no effect, it can be increased to 0.5 mg/kg (2 mg per dose).
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In severe cases, the guideline can be escalated up to 2 mg/kg.
A rule of thumb: start with 1 mg of CBD per 5 lbs ( 2.3 kg ), and adjust slowly.
How to administer CBD in cats
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Use cbd oil for cats, preferable to the oils indicated for people.
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Administered sublingually or mixed in small portions of food, to ensure that it is ingested. This type of use is the most widespread in countries such as the United States, Canada or Switzerland. Remember that above we have already informed you that CBD products are for topical use in the European Union.
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Space the doses in the morning and at night.
The Frontiers study observed peak blood levels 2 h after oral administration.
Possible side effects of CBD in cats
Although generally well tolerated, some documented effects include:
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Transient increase in ALT liver enzyme at the beginning of treatment (week 1-2).
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Diarrhea, mild sedation or ataxia with high doses (≥30 mg/kg).
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Occasional hypersalivation observed at doses of 5 mg/kg.
Therefore, it is best to use high quality oils, information on all their ingredients and with analytics.
Considerations before choosing a CBD product for cats
Prefer pet-specific formulas
The oils formulated for cbd for pets include safe ingredients and proper dosage.
Ensure absence of THC
CBD should be THC-free or contain less than 0.2%, as cats are sensitive to THC. It will always be better to use broad Spectrum oils for cats than full Spectrum oils, to avoid those THC traces, which they do not tolerate very well.
Certificates of analysis, origin and quality
Look for independently certified products that specify mg of CBD per ml.
Conclusion
The cbd for pets is a viable and generally safe option, provided it is administered with care:
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Start: 0.2 mg/kg, increase up to 0.5 mg/kg according to response.
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Maximum use: 2-3 mg/kg twice daily under veterinary supervision.
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Follow recommendations: specific product for cats, THC free, with quality control.
With this care, CBD could provide benefits in anxiety, pain or stress, maintaining the safety and well-being of your feline.
Scientific references
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Watts et al. (2023). Healthy cats tolerate long-term daily feeding of Cannabidiol. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1324622/full
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Shannon et al. (2020). Safety and tolerability of escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy cats. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology & Therapeutic. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33769105/
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Cross-over PK study, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2024) https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1352495
