Being a pet owner often involves many responsibilities. When we talk about cats, however, some of these responsibilities can be handled by them, since they are a lot more independent than other pets. Still, they still require a proper diet, exercising, baths, grooming, and of course, care when it comes to their health.
Here’s where CBD enters the play. As a method of dealing with anxiety, inflammation and pain, CBD is a great addition for cats, especially when they are going through their senior years, since they become a lot more prompt to suffering from conditions linked to said problems.
The thing about CBD, also referred to as cannabidiol by many, is that it can be a little intimidating and difficult to use properly at first, especially since it can cause side effects if used improperly.
People still prefer to go for Cannabidiol on many occasions simply because it tends to be safer in comparison to traditional treatments involving painkillers and anti-inflammatories, since these side-effects often involve harmless things like diarrhea and vomiting.
Still, it is true that people prefer to avoid them if possible, thus, we will try to teach the basics of using CBD-based products, from choosing cat treats your cat will love, to going through the dosage and administration.
That being said, it is important to understand the basics of cannabidiol beforehand, solely because it can help owners that know nothing about CBD understand what its main uses are.
Cannabidiol as a Method of Treatment
Just like medicinal cannabis, Cannabidiol-based products can be used to deal with stress, sleeping disorders, inflammation, pain, and anxiety. The main difference between the two is that cannabidiol-based products only contain 0.3% of THC, making it harmless to animals, and this is a very important thing to keep in mind since animals can’t handle THC pretty well since it tends to intoxicate them heavily.
Because of the benefits of cannabidiol, it is usually recommended for senior cats since they frequently have to deal with problems like joint pain and inflammation, kidney complications, or diseases like cancer that can cause them a lot of pain.
Of course, there are other benefits to CBD as well, and you can learn more about it over here in case you are interested.
The Derivations of CBD
CBD comes in many different presentations. Humans can use it as edibles, oils, tinctures, and smokeable products such as strains, cigarettes, or vaping oils. Cats, however, can only rely on products such as oils and edibles.
Although the products aimed towards humans can be used in cats as well, it is always better to have a dedicated product for them. Oils can be used along droppers for a very precise administration whereas edibles are very easy to administer because of their shape. Edibles usually involve dry cat food and treats, whereas oils are usually a combination of CBD oil along with a carrying oil.
Both edibles and oils provide a pretty similar effect, tend to take around half an hour to kick in, and usually provide a moderate effect for three to five hours depending on the dosages. They are also very easy to use for beginners, and very reliable as well, since they are capable of alleviating most symptoms.
Some Things to Keep in Mind
First of all, dosage is very important. If you give more CBD than your cat can handle, the chances of side effects showing greatly increase. That being said, it can be really difficult to come up with the right dosage right away, mainly because there are many factors deciding this aspect of the process.
Weight, age, size, diet and routine can influence its effect on their bodies; thus, it is usually recommended to start with small dosages and pay attention to the cat’s response to it, and either increase the dosage or decrease based on the results.
Thankfully, many providers have a chart for their customers to decide the right dosage based on the information available regarding your cat, thus, it shouldn’t be that complicated. You can always research as well in case you are having troubles.
Another thing to keep in mind is that, although cannabidiol is very reliable, it is important to have other considerations when you deal with senior cats, especially when they are dealing with a condition. As mentioned over at https://catfriendly.com/10-ways-to-care-for-your-senior-cat/, there are many things you can do, but the most important ones tend to involve:
- Paying attention to your cat’s needs. If your cat deals with a lot of pain, you might want to consider increasing the dosage of CBD based on how severe it is, and you might want to reduce the chances of your cat going outside as long as mobility is a problem.
- Pay special attention to your cat’s behavior and routines. If there are changes to it, there’s a probability something needs to be taken care of, and it might even involve a visit to the veterinary. Still, you might want to act based on the situation, so make sure to research as well.
- Make changes to your cat’s furniture and decoration so it is easier for your cat to move around. Bridges, for example, can help them get to high places without too much effort, and this can greatly reduce their stress and anxiety on many occasions. The easier it is for them to live peacefully, the better!
