How much CBD should you give your cats?
Discover how a hemp supplement can benefit your feline friend, and how many milligrams to give them.
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Caley Scott, ND
If you’re considering giving your cat CBD, it’s important to know the basics. Today, we’re diving into proper servings of CBD for cats, how CBD works, and why CBD might be the right choice for your feline friend.
How can CBD benefit cats?
Every animal has an endocannabinoid system, just like you do. CBD oil for cats works very similarly to CBD oil for humans. All mammals can utilize cannabinoids.*
Although cats have endocannabinoid systems, theirs may work slightly differently from yours. Your furry companion is able to experience many of the same benefits of CBD that you are, and it’s usually easy for a pet parent to tell when their cat might benefit from CBD.
CBD can interact with the cannabinoid receptors throughout your cat’s brain and body. CBD can provide stimulation to these receptors, which may encourage their ability to perform their natural functions. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in many crucial processes throughout the body, including processes that help to support mood regulation and reduce physical tension.*
May provide mobility support
The upper end of the average lifespan of a cat is 18 years, and most cats enter the senior phase of their life between the ages of 10 and 12 years old. At this time, many of the changes your cat experiences are similar to the changes humans experience as they age.
Older pets often experience trouble with mobility. As they age, they may lose some of the cartilage that protects their joints, which can lead to mobility issues and discomfort when your cat attempts to run, jump, or climb. It may also make it difficult for your cat to find a comfortable sleeping position.
CBD oil can help to reduce discomfort and provide mobility support in senior cats. It’s normal for senior cats to be less interested in active play and more interested in sleeping. The support provided by CBD may slightly reignite their interest in playing and exploring by supporting your cat’s daily comfort.*
Sleep-supporting benefits of CBD combined with joint support benefits can make it easier for senior cats to get a meaningful amount of restful sleep, which can contribute to better energy levels throughout the day.*
May help ease situation-induced nervousness
Cats like their independence and their personal space. They’re creatures of habit, and they want their daily routine to stay the same. Disruptions in this routine are inevitable, and when something happens that your cat doesn’t expect, they may experience situational distress.
Car trips, house guests, adopting a new animal, and thunderstorms can disrupt a cat’s routine. Cats may respond by exhibiting nervous behavior or signs of stress. The naturally soothing properties of CBD products can help to ease nervousness in cats during these temporary disruptions.
Helps support overall quality of life
The benefits of CBD are broad, to say the least. Cannabinoids may work to support your cat’s overall quality of life by providing holistic wellness support to many systems within your cat’s body. The endocannabinoid system includes receptors almost everywhere.*
There are cannabinoid receptors in the brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, reproductive system, and immune system. CBD can interact with all of these receptors.*
Cats can use CBD for general well-being—and they will continue to experience holistic wellness benefits with consistent use.*
How do you use CBD for cats?
Cats can be given CBD daily or on an as-needed basis, yet it may produce the most significant benefits with daily use. Cats who experience occasional and temporary distress may benefit most from CBD during stressful situations.
How can I find the right CBD serving for my cat?
The rule of thumb for cat CBD servings is to give your feline a proportionate amount of CBD for their body weight. You’ll need to determine your cat’s weight to determine the appropriate serving.*
Your home scale may not be sensitive enough to weigh your cat. It can also be very difficult to get your cat to sit or lay still on the scale. If your vet weighed your cat at a recent check-up and you have access to that figure, you're in luck. If not, you can do a little bit of math.
Stand on your scale and weigh yourself. Record your weight, then hold your cat and weigh yourself again. Record that number, then subtract the second number from the first number. If you weigh 164 lbs alone and 174 lbs with your cat, your cat weighs about 10 lbs.
There is no official recommendation for how much CBD cats should receive, but the general recommendation is anywhere between one and no more than five mg CBD per 10 pounds of body weight. The average healthy weight of a standard domestic cat is 8.8 lbs to 11 lbs, which means most cats only need 1 mg of CBD. Some cat breeds are naturally larger than others. A healthy adult male Maine coon can weigh as much as 25 pounds—in this case, your big boy (or girl) can start with 2.5 mg of CBD.*
You should always start your cat out with the minimum amount of CBD, which would be 1 mg or less. You can increase the serving by a half mg at a time if you feel the minimum amount isn’t working. Monitor your cat for side effects, like an upset tummy, to be sure that your cat is tolerating CBD well before increasing to higher amounts.*
General serving suggestions
Sunmed’s pet CBD products are formulated with USDA-certified organic hemp. They come in flavors that your cat will love, like fish and bacon. All of our pet tinctures and treats are broad spectrum, which means the THC has been removed. This means your cat can experience the benefits of cannabidiol and terpenes that naturally occur in the hemp plant without ingesting intoxicating, psychoactive cannabinoids.*
Most importantly, all of our CBD pet products are tested by a third-party lab to verify the cannabinoid content and ascertain that no pesticides, contaminants, or solvents are present. You can view a certificate of analysis for every batch. Here are are top-selling CBD options for your frisky feline:
Broad Spectrum Cat Snacks: Our Broad Spectrum Cat Snacks are made with real tuna and contain essential vitamins to support cat health. They’re not just CBD—they’re real cat treats. Three of our chews have one mg of CBD, and most cats should only have one serving of three snacks per day.
Broad Spectrum Pet Tincture: Our pet CBD oil works just as well for dogs as it does cats, just be sure to measure your pet's correct dosage. The base of the tincture is MCT oil, which is a derivative of coconut oil and serves as a carrier oil for the cannabinoids. This pet oil tincture comes in a natural, unflavored variety that tastes and smells like hemp oil. It also comes in peanut butter flavor, which is a hit with dogs, and bacon flavor, which is loved by both dogs and cats.
The bottom line
Pet owners know firsthand that furry companions aren't just a part of the family, but deserve to feel well like the rest of us. CBD wellness products can easily be integrated into your cat’s wellness routine. We also create high-quality CBD dog treats for the loveable pup in your life. Shop our full collection of CBD pet products here.
Sources:
The Endocannabinoid System of Animals | PubMed Central | National Institutes of Health
Preparing Your Cat for a Change in the Family | PAWS Chicago
Cannabidiol use and effectiveness: real-world evidence from a Canadian medical cannabis clinic | PMC