Catnip is a perennial plant from the family of mint herbs that usually grows up to about three feet in height. The leaves and stems of the catnip plant contain oils, sterols, tannin, and a chemical compound called nepetalactone and from these Catnip spray made of. And that stimulates the sensory neurons of the feline family including household cats, lions, tigers, leopards, lynxes, cheetahs, and jaguars.
Catnip can be consumed or sniffed by cats with different effects. When consumed, it calms your cat and acts as a sedative.
When smelled or sniffed, the cat becomes increasingly active as the feline pheromones are triggered. Catnip is safe to consume for cats and for humans who have used it as a sedative and as an insect repellent in ancient times.
The potential benefits of cannabidiol extracts are now gaining mainstream acceptance due to its known benefits to human health and medicine.
However, few know that it is also used for pet cats. CBD oil for cats have shown remarkable progress in cats’ health. The sales of cannabis-based products (CBD) for pet dogs and cats is estimated to be more than US$ 20 billion by the year 2022.
A range of CBD-infused pet treats and other pet products are being used for feline pets with very satisfying results to the point that CBD oil for cats is now consistently in demand and primarily used for treatments and improving the physiology of cats.
And as a feline owner, doing what’s best for your pet is a fulfilling experience that showcases your love for them. This article summarizes relevant information that you need to know about catnip spray CBD.
What Is CBD Oil?
The cannabidiol (CBD) oil comes from hemp and cannabis plants. CBD is one of more than a hundred compounds that are naturally found in the cannabis plant.
Though the cannabis plant is infamous for its “high” sensation or feeling, the extracted CBD oil is non-psychoactive because it contains negligible traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the chemical compound that provides a “high” feeling or sensation.
When many cat owners found that CBD oil exhibits the same pheromones that were only detected by cats, CB oil became an alternative for catnip.
The effects of CBD oil are identical to catnip sprays. When sniffing CBD oil spray, cats become more active. When cats consume CBD-infused products, they become sleepy.
CBD for Feline Disorders
Humans have been using CBD oil for medical treatments and therapy for inflammation, anxiety disorders, and other medical conditions. Although there is no published medical research about the use of cannabis products to treat such disorders in cats, there are ongoing tests on the medicinal and healing properties of CBD on animals.
Meanwhile, in a survey of 632 pet owners, at least 93% reported their satisfaction with the effectiveness of CBD-infused pet treats.
There are also testimonies from cat owners witnessing the medicinal effects of cannabis for their kitties. In some cases, the accidental ingestion of cannabis products by cats improved their mood, physical condition, and overall health.
This article summarizes some anecdotal evidence about some health conditions of cats that can be treated with CBD.
1. Arthritis
Though arthritis is most common for elderly people, cats are also prone to joint inflammation. There are many pain relievers developed for humans, but not for cats. The medical options for feline arthritis are minimal and may be unsafe for consumption.
At the same time, several cat owners believe that CBD can be used as an anti-inflammatory for their pets. It appears that cats seem to experience less pain and inflammation after two to four weeks of consuming CBD-infused treats.
2. Pancreatitis and Inflamed Bowels
The two most common diseases of cats that go hand in hand are inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pancreatitis. A cat with IBD and pancreatitis may experience diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.
Aside from a low-fat diet and use of herbs to treat these conditions, CBD can also be ingested by cats to reduce the inflammation and improve their overall physical condition.
3. Cancer
While it is still unsure of how CBD happens to help people and animals with cancer, many testimonies and reports claim that CBD improves the quality of life of cancer patients, both humans and animals, and significantly prolonged their survival.
In the meantime, the effectiveness of CBD against cancer continues to be the subject of several studies. What we do know is that cannabinoids have been in use for palliative care of cancer patients and that effects include increased appetite, relief from nausea, and alleviation of pain.
A source describes how a number of animal studies and cell cultures indicated the antitumor effects of cannabinoids on different types of cancer cells.
4. Asthma and Respiratory Infections
Asthma is an inflammatory disease common in cats. While some cases do not require medical treatment, extreme asthma in cats can require lifelong support, medication, and medical treatment.
The use of an inhaler can help your cat during asthma attacks. The use of CBD to counter the inflammation and lessen asthma attacks is an option for cat owners.
However, it is strongly suggested that a licensed veterinarian should be consulted about the effects of this treatment, particularly how it may interact with other medications.
According to a number of cat owners, the use of CBD minimized the symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections and provided great relief for their kitties.
5. Seizures
The calming effects of CBD have been a boon for people who suffer from seizures such as epilepsy. Although seizure may be uncommon in cats, owners who used CBD for their cats that have seizure attacks have seen great response and effect.
However, if your cat has been taking medications for seizures, ask your trusted veterinarian before using CBD.
6. Side Effects
Most medications have side effects and CBD oil, while technically not medicine, is no exception. Most side effects include an increase in appetite and reduced anxiety, which is good for the well-being of cats.
Although extreme side effect cases are rare, there are cases where allergic reactions and extreme sedation occurred on cats.
When your cats are allergic to plants such as grass and flowers, there is a possibility that they are also allergic to plant extracts such as CBD.
When this happens, immediately stop providing CBD treats or CBD infused products to your pet cat and see your veterinarian for immediate consultation and remedy.
In fact, always consult your veterinarian for any medical treatment plans to avoid complications that may threaten the health and well-being of your pet.
CBD Safety
Because it is associated with marijuana, any people doubt the safety of using CBD products. However, the effects of cannabidiol are entirely different from marijuana.
Here is a checklist to help you make sure that the CBD you buy is safe for consumption for you and your pets.
- Concentration – Products with a small percentage of CBD may have little to no effects associated with psychoactive THC. A concentration of approximately 0.5 mg or higher has been recommended for cats.
- Extraction Method – The extraction process is a determining factor of the potency of CBD extracts. The use of hemp of oil as carrier oil is recommended as it contains little to no trace of THC.
- Compound Analysis – The cannabidiol compound is not the only element with health benefits. You should also check for terpene and flavonoid when buying CBD products.
- Other Ingredients – Pure hemp may be the best choice to avoid confusion and anxiety regarding chemical contents and effects. The use of pure hemp CBD oil can save you the trouble of researching and validating other ingredients present in a CBD product.
- Natural Farming Practices – Natural-grown hemp or cannabis is safer and with better potency than ones grown with pesticides.
Is it Legal to Get Your Pet Cats High?
The legality of CBD varies from place to place as it has always been associated with the infamous recreational use of marijuana. The Farm Bill Law allowed the farming of cannabis plant strains in 50 states of the USA with less than 0.3 percent THC.
This concentration of THC is not enough for any psychoactive effect, making it safe and legal so that the law permits it. To avoid legal issues, you must always use CBD oil products that are permissible by law.
Since the use of CBD for animals such as your pet cats needs further research, prescribing plant extracts such as CBD oil for animals is not highly recommended.
Although CBD is safe to use and consume, pet owners are still liable for any unwanted incidents that might happen as a result.
Takeaways
The general effects of CBD are non-psychoactive, non-addictive, unlike the effects of cannabis or marijuana. Due to its many health benefits, CBD has been used for pet therapy and for the treatment of health disorders in cats.
However, there are no definitive studies about related effects, safety, and efficacy. If you have doubts about the use of CBD for the wellbeing of your kitties, this article includes links that you can explore as starting points to help you find the best information regarding the safety and effects of CBD on your pets.
The link https://www.holistapet.com/product/catnip-spray-with-cbd/ provides information about catnip spray infused with CBD.