Have you heard about the benefits of CBD oil for cats? You give your cat treats. You give them snuggles. You give them elaborate cat trees that are more expensive than your own furniture. But you’re missing a super important thing that can really benefit your feline companion: CBD hemp oil for cats.

CBD hemp oil is becoming more and more popular in the pet marketplace because it offers benefits for your cat’s wellbeing and mood without having harsh side effects. But sometimes cat owners just don’t know where to start or what type of product is right for their cats.

So here’s a closer look at hemp oil for cats, including how much to give your kitty and the best ways to get them to take it safely. We will also give you a bit more insight into the health benefits of hemp seed oil and CBD oil and why these two work so well together to make your cat balanced and happy.

What Is Hemp Oil for Cats?

Hemp oil is another term for hemp seed oil, which is derived from the seeds of the cannabis plant. It contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and other nutritional antioxidants and vitamins. But it doesn’t contain THC, a phytocannabinoid that gets your cat high. It also contains very little to no CBD.

Because of hemp seed oil’s very limited levels of THC and CBD, this isn’t something you’d give your cat for recreational purposes. It won’t improve their mood or soothe nervousness since it doesn’t interact with the parts of your cat’s body that control these functions.

Instead, hemp seed oil provides your cat with a lot of health benefits thanks to its fatty acids, nutrients, and vitamins. This includes benefiting the immune system, regulating bowel movements, improving skin conditions, and providing cardiovascular health benefits.

What Types of Hemp Oils Are There for Cats?

The two hemp oils you’ll see for cats are hemp seed oil and CBD oil.

A lot of companies will use the term “hemp seed oil” interchangeably with “CBD oil” even though both are very different products. Both provide different benefits for your cat, which is why HolistaPet uses both in our CBD oil. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two products so you can better understand how well they work together.

Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant. We previously noted that it does not contain CBD, but boasts a variety of nutrients, fatty acids, and bioactive compounds that can provide your cat with great health benefits.

Manufacturers extract hemp seed oil from the plant’s seeds. There are a few common ways this is done:

• Soxhlet: This is the most common extraction process, highly regarded for its economical friendliness.
• Percolation: This is a process based on leaching, or the out-diffusion of molecules from a material.
• Supercritical fluid extraction: These fluids possess the ability to effuse through solids, dissolving materials into a liquid.
• Ultrasonication: Ultrasonic frequencies are used to reduce extraction time. It performs physical and chemical separation simultaneously.
• Pyrolysis: A thermal decomposition technique that’s started picking up in hemp oil distraction. But it’s still a bit unknown.

Hemp seed oil has a lot of great benefits thanks to its nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids. It’s known as a vegan superfood thanks to its protein contents as well. The main areas that benefit from this product are your cat’s skin, digestion, and immune system.

It’s often used in CBD oil products because CBD needs a carrier oil to make it easier for digestion. This makes them a great pair. Your cat will be able to digest the CBD oil easier and feel stronger effects from this beneficial phytocannabinoid thanks to the addition of hemp seed oil.

Hemp CBD Oil

CBD is one of the 113 active cannabinoids found in hemp. CBD oil is from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant. This type of hemp oil contains a much higher concentration of CBD, a compound that interacts with your cat’s body in a unique way, encouraging calm and providing comfort. Besides CBD, the oils extracted from the flowers and leaves contain many other valuable cannabinoids and beneficial terpenes.

CBD oil is gathered through a process called C02 extraction. C02 extraction is not only the most common way to extract CBD, but it is also the safest. It produces some of the purest products on the market. It’s done by putting heavy pressure on the hemp and then dropping the CO2 pressure to -69 degrees Fahrenheit. This process releases the cannabis material, starting the extraction process.

While CBD won’t get your cat high, CBD does carry a lot of the same benefits as cannabis. This ranges from calming your cat if it’s nervous to soothing joint discomfort. CBD does this by interacting with the cannabinoid receptors in your cat’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is known to bring balance and overall well-being to your cat (and us — humans have an ECS too!). That’s because there are Cb1 and Cb2 receptors all over your cat’s body from the nervous system to the digestive system. They are also in various parts of the brain and on the skin.

Hemp Seed Oil vs CBD Oil for Cats – Which One Is Better?

While hemp seed oil and CBD oil are both beneficial for cats, CBD oil is often considered a much better product for cats. It carries a bigger range of varied benefits for all aspects of your cat’s mind and body. But let’s take a closer look at what both of these hemp oils provide for your feline friend.

Benefits of CBD Hemp Oil for Cats

We touched upon what CBD can do when it interacts with your cat’s ECS. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common uses for regular CBD use.

• Easing joint discomfort: CBD has powerful soothing benefits that ease joint tension. This can take away a lot of the discomfort and soreness your cat feels.

• Reduce stress and nervousness: Cats are creatures of habit. A new cat in the home or a big move can leave your can feeling anxious and upset. A lot of people use CBD to calm their cat’s nerves so they can deal with and recover from these tense experiences.

• Mood regulation: CBD influences the receptors in the brain responsible for mood regulation meaning CBD may help calm your kitty if they are feeling aggressive, annoyed, scared, or destructive.

• Regulate appetite: Cats can be picky eaters or lose their appetite for a variety of reasons. CBD may promote a hearty appetite while you work with a vet to find the source of their appetite change.

• Avoid spraying and scratching: CBD may have an effect on moderating hormone production. This can make cats less territorial, meaning male cats won’t spray as often and you’ll notice your cat is less inclined to rip apart your couch.

• Immunity: CBD complements the immune system, promoting your cat’s overall wellbeing.

• Digestive support: Many owners notice an improvement in appetite once they provide a regimen of CBD to their special pet.

Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil for Cats

Here are some of the great benefits of hemp seed oil for your kitty:

• Complements the cardiovascular system
• Moisturizes and benefits the skin
• Promotes the immune system
• Anti-inflammatory benefits
• Enhances digestion
• Improves coat and skin appearance

As you can see, hemp seed oil has benefits that work so well with CBD oil. Together, these two are such a powerful addition to your cat’s diet. We’ll go into some ways you can easily incorporate HolistaPet’s CBD oil into your cat’s daily meals.

How Long Do the Effects for Cats Last?

This will vary depending on your cat’s weight, health, age, and metabolism — and even how much your cat has already eaten. But the average length of time it takes for CBD to take full-effect in your cat’s system is 15 to 45 minutes. The benefits will often last four to six hours depending on their body weight, genetics, and activity level.

Hemp CBD Oil for Cats Dosage Suggestions

CBD oil is most effective when you create a routine.

To soothe irritation, stress, and discomfort, CBD should be given to your kitty every eight hours (or as needed). If you’re giving CBD to your cat for a specific reason, like an upcoming trip or fireworks display, give CBD oil to them 30 minutes before it begins. For general use, give your cat CBD once or twice a day at the same time each time.

So how much should you be giving your cat each time? Fortunately, HolistaPet makes dosing   easy. They recommend either a starting dose, a regular dose, or a strong dose depending on your pet’s needs. 

For example, if you are just starting to provide your pet with CBD then a starting dose is a good way to introduce CBD to your pet’s system. Once acquainted, it’s suggested to move up to either a regular or strong dose to gain the most benefits.   

A regular dose would be perfect for daily needs and wellness, old age, allergies, skin conditions, stress, digestive issues, and minor joint discomfort. A strong dose would be best for chronic mobility issues, tremors, and for more severe reasons.

Your cat’s specific needs and body weight will determine its dosage size. Ideally, cats will fall within these categories: 

Body weight = 0-20lbs

• Starting dose = 2.5mg CBD
• Regular dose = 5mg CBD
• Strong dose = 10mg CBD

Body weight = 20-60lbs

• Starting dose = 5mg CBD
• Regular dose = 10mg CBD
• Strong dose = 20mg CBD

RELATED: Pet CBD Dosage Chart

Hemp CBD Oil for Cats Feeding Suggestions

The two main ways to give your cat CBD oil each day is to add it to their food and treats or squeeze it directly into their mouth. The most common way is to put the drops of CBD right into their food each morning. It doesn’t have a strong taste so your cat will most likely scarf down their food as usual without knowing what was added.

But if your cat does notice, try blending it into wet food. Wet food has a stronger flavor and already has a lot of moisture. This makes it easier to mix in without being detected.

Here are a few tricks you can also try:

• Hold the CBD oil dropper a bit above your cat. If they are curious, they’ll start licking it. You can squeeze the dropper as they are licking.

• Drop some CBD oil on your cat’s paw. They will most likely clean their paw to get the liquid off. The licking will get the CBD into their mouth.

• CBD has the strongest effects and works a lot faster when administered on its own. Add a few drops of CBD to your cat’s empty food bowl before their meal to see if your cat licks it up.

While these tactics might work, keep in mind that your cat might need a certain amount of CBD oil once or twice a day if they are dealing with something serious, like discomfort or stress. So you want to make sure they get the required amount. This might mean dropping it directly into their mouth or adding it to wet food is the most effective way.

Is It Safe for Cats?

CBD oil has rare and minimal side effects which makes it very tolerable for cats!

CBD oil is safer for your cat if it has less than 0.3% THC. This means there won’t be any negative side effects and your cat won’t get “high.” Some studies have shown that a cat who ingests too much CBD can become nauseous and lethargic.

Cats can have sensitive stomachs so always make sure the CBD you’re purchasing for your cat is trustworthy and only has safe ingredients. At HolistaPet, all CBD products for kitties only include natural, organic, and vegan ingredients. There are no preservatives or artificial flavors. This ensures that your cat won’t feel sick or experience side effects from cheap or bad ingredients.

You should also only purchase CBD oil from companies that can provide a Certificate Of Analysis. This is a third-party test that confirms there is not only high-quality and potent CBD but no contaminants. You can view HolistaPet’s COAs here.

Final Thoughts

Whether your cat is feeling uncomfortable and achy or moody and nervous, hemp oil for cats is a great solution. It’s highly beneficial and has no unwanted side effects when you give your cat the proper dose. And, since it includes hemp seed oil it contains benefits that keep your cat feeling balanced, active, and happy.

Once you find the right CBD oil product with quality ingredients and premium CBD, you can easily learn how to give your cat the proper dose to improve their health daily. It’s time to spoil your cat and ensure they are feeling confident and comforted![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]