If you have a feline companion, you probably want to keep them happy and healthy. This might sound surprising, but one way to do this is to add CBD to your cat's diet.
But do cats actually need CBD? How can it benefit them?
Read on, and we'll answer all your questions.
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Why does my cat need CBD?
The health benefits of CBD are not exclusive to humans. In fact, the benefits of CBD extend to animals. For example, earlier this year, a depressed elephant in Warsaw Zoo was treated with CBD.
Like humans, your cat also has an endocannabinoid system. This means that CBD can only stand to improve your cat's quality of life. But what are the specific benefits?
Fear not; we'll tell you.
CBD offers pain relief
Getting older is only natural, and the same can be said for animals. You might notice that your cat isn't as limber as it used to be. This is because cats can suffer from inflamed joints, hip dysplasia, and arthritis as they age.
In fact, arthritis is a rather common issue in cats. A study in 2011 showed that 61% of cats past the age of six suffer from arthritis in at least one joint. Thankfully, here's where CBD can help your cat.
CBD's excellent anti-inflammatory properties can reduce inflammation in your cat's joints. It can also help with managing pain by interacting with pain receptors in your cat's brain.
CBD can help reduce aggression in cats
If you have a cat (or several), you'll know that they are generally quite affectionate and loving creatures. However, if you've ever fostered a rescue cat, you might have been on the receiving end of some pent-up aggression.
You might think that the only way to deal with this is to wait it out. Thankfully, with CBD, this isn't the case. Adding CBD to your cat's diet can help regulate your cat's mood.
This is because CBD interacts with receptors in your cat's brain. These receptors regulate and control your cat's mood levels. When CBD is added to the mix, you could potentially see a calmer, more affectionate feline.
CBD can help with anxiety
Cats are creatures of comfort. A change in their routine — whether you've moved house, added a kitten to the mix, or a traumatic experience at the vet — can cause your cat's anxiety levels to spike.
This can result in behavioural issues, a decline in grooming habits, and turning up their nose at their favourite food. If you want to help your cat along, consider adding CBD to their diet.
One of the benefits of CBD is that it moderates the production of cortisol — commonly known as the stress hormone. By doing this, it reduces stress levels. With some CBD, your anxious cat should be back to normal in no time.
How do I give my cat CBD?
Including CBD in your feline friend's wellness routine is easy enough. At The Extract, we would recommend a pet-friendly CBD isolate with a dropper.
You can do this by adding a few drops of CBD oil to your cat's food, or to their treats. You can also get pet-friendly CBD oil in a variety of different flavours — salmon being one of the most popular.
A word of caution
Before adding CBD to your cat's diet, we'd recommend consulting with a vet. Not only will the vet be able to give you the green light for CBD treatment, but they'll also be able to tell you just how much CBD to safely give your furry friend.
