For most of the 20th century, cats were treated as small dogs at best and second class pet citizens at worst. Once our feline friends became indoor cats and full-time members of our households, their behaviors, physical, emotional, and mental needs became apparent, but not fully understood.
In the course of the last 20 years, there has been a kitty renaissance of sorts. Cat behavior experts like Jackson Galaxy, Pam Johnson Bennett, Daniel Quagliozzi and many others have worked tirelessly to educate cat lovers about why cats feel the way they feel and do the things they do.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A BAD CAT
In the wild, cats are both predator and prey. They are hardwired with a keen awareness of their surroundings and are ready to hunt or be hunted at all times. They need to own their territory to feel safe. When they don’t, they can become quite anxious, nervous and even chronically distressed (neurotic). Cats also have a great need to exert energy. When they are not provided with proper stimulation, such as interactive playtime, vertical structures to climb and jump on, and places to stretch their muscles and scratch, they can become anxious, reactive, and even aggressive toward their people or even other pets in the home.
CATS CAN SUFFER IN SILENCE
Emotional and mental problems are not the only issues cats face. There are physical issues, such as joint discomfort due to genetics, injury or obesity, digestive upset and more. With cats living well into their 20s, general aches that come with aging are also quite common. Complicating things is the fact that cats are masters at covering up their discomfort. This is a survival instinct – if they show weakness in the wild, they will be attacked. Signs that a cat is suffering include being withdrawn, lethargic, acting out/attacking others, decreased appetite, unkempt fur, not jumping up on beds or couches, and hiding.
HOW FULL SPECTRUM HEMP CBD OIL CAN HELP
The addition of Organic Full Spectrum Hemp CBD oil to a cat’s wellness protocol can make a world of difference.
As with all animals, cats have an endocannabinoid system that assists in maintaining the physiological, neurological and immunological systems of the body. If there is a deficiency of endocannabinoid production, the system’s multiple receptors will utilize the addition of phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids from plants) to help create calm and balance and provide support for relaxing, repairing, or restoring.
HOW MUCH HEMP OIL DOES A CAT NEED?
We recommend a starting dose of 1 milligram of CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight. This can be increased to 10 milligrams of CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight. Like dogs, cats can have multiple servings per day – every four to eight hours – to provide a constant flow of comfort.
TREATIBLES FOR CATS
We have found that our Soft Chewables for Cats and oil dropper bottles work well with most cats. If using the oil, we recommend getting cats used to the taste and consistency by starting with one drop per meal or mixed with a little yogurt or juice from a can of tuna. Over the course of a week, keep adding drops per serving until the desired dosage is reached. Keep in mind that some cats will accept the drops being administered right into their mouth.
For many cats, a higher potency oil, like our 750 mg oil dropper bottle is ideal. This is because fewer drops are needed per dose. For example, a 10-pound cat often needs only two drops per dose, a 15-pound cat two to three drops.
