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CBD oils are some of the most evidence-supported products to enter the pet supplement scene. I’ve used them with my cat Deja Thoris and found her to be a more loving, lovable furball — which is a big deal for her, since she’s a semi-feral mouser and does not usually like being handled!
If you’re like me, you’ve found your cat doesn’t usually like you sticking a dropper under their tongue. At best they don’t hold still for it and keep turning their head away, at worst they use the teeth in that mouth to communicate just how unwilling they are to cooperate.
Below we’ll touch on the three main ways to give a cat CBD oil and the pros and cons, as well as the way to get the maximum benefit while improving the experience for everyone involved!
The Best Ways To Give Your Cat CBD Oil
Medically Best: Under the Tongue
The gold standard for giving humans, dogs, or cats CBD oil is to place the drops under their tongue. This is because well-made CBD oils (like the ones we make!) are floated in a carrier oil that carries them through the tongue and other tissue inside the mouth into the bloodstream. This is better than if they’re simply swallowed in a treat or after being dripped on food because swallowed CBD will be lost in the cat’s poop and in first-pass metabolism.
Easiest: In the Food
Dripping CBD oil onto tasty food is the easiest way to give them a dose. That said, it is also the least efficient at getting that dose into their bloodstream where it can work. This is due to losing some of the dose in their poop and even more in first-pass metabolism.
What’s first-pass metabolism?
After your feed your cat (or yourself, or your dog) anything, the components are absorbed through their gut into the blood, and that blood is rushed to the liver, which breaks everything it can down into useful, safe components. Unfortunately, your cat’s liver can’t tell the difference between toxins and helpful molecules like CBD, so it breaks that down too! CBD absorbed through the mouth skips this process and gets to where it needs to go more efficiently, getting your cat the relief she needs.
Best of Both Worlds: On the Paws!
If you can’t place a dropper under your cat’s tongue and you don’t want to waste CBD to digestion or first-pass metabolism, put the drop on her front paws!
Putting drops of CBD on your cat’s paws is the best way to get them to take CBD oil.
They’ll spend a lot of time licking it, absorbing it through their tongue and mouth, as well as absorbing it through their paws. They’re much less likely to fight you, and they’ll get more useful dose than if you drip it in their food.
How To Make Sure Your Cat Will Like the CBD Oil
You need to pick a CBD oil with the following characteristics:
- THC-free. THC can give cats panic attacks and other negative side effects. Look for a CBD oil that’s broad-spectrum, like Relievet CBD Oil for Cats.
- MCT Carrier oil. MCT oil is the part of coconut oil that is liquid at room temperature. It’s a safe, healthy source of energy and tastes good. If you have a CBD oil your cat doesn’t like, chances are it uses a different carrier oil that doesn’t taste as good as MCT.
Recap
Giving your cat CBD oil can be a great way to improve their well-being and quality of life. Administering CBD oil can be a challenge. While using the under-the-tongue method is best, sometimes it doesn’t work. In this case, applying drops to their paws can be effective. Choosing a THC-free CBD oil with an MCT carrier oil can also increase the chances of your cat enjoying the experience. Following these tips ensures your cat will get the most out of CBD oil!
