Marijuana and Cats: The Dos and Don'ts

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Marijuana And Cats: Do’s And Don’ts

THC can poison cats, so a common worry we hear from patients is what happens if a pet eats some of their medication. They want to be sure their pet won’t be harmed. Those with older pets might ask whether it could help with their pain.

The research on the effects of marijuana and pets is sparse but there are a few studies out there. For cats, the research points one way: THC can poison them, no CBD product is FDA-approved for them, and if your cat eats cannabis, the FDA says to call your vet or an animal poison control center right away.

Is It Toxic?

A 2018 case report described what its authors called the first cat THC poisoning recorded with both clinical signs and blood THC levels. The cat had been exposed to marijuana smoke at home. The toxic dose of THC in cats is not well established. Some concentrates top 40% THC, and a Florida medical edible may hold up to 200 mg of THC, so a pet that eats one can take in a large dose.

The cat in the case report had dilated pupils, agitation that turned to aggression, and swings between agitation and apathy; FDA lists drooling, vomiting, tremors and convulsions among signs in pets. More worrisome symptoms are slowed breathing rate, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and a decrease in body temperature. The effects were short-lived, but if the cat is on medication for heart problems then marijuana could be dangerous. Also, just like some people, your cat may hate the feeling of being high.

There is one route that your pet might be getting marijuana exposure without your knowledge. If you smoke or vape marijuana, the particles in the air may land on your pet’s fur. If they then lick it up, they could ingest some THC. While it’s likely not enough to lead to severe symptoms like in the case study, there could be long-term exposure effects. The vets in the 2018 case advised keeping the cat away from marijuana smoke after it recovered.

Fortunately, lab blood tests can detect THC in cats, as in the 2018 case, so a vet can check whether strange symptoms come from cannabis. It takes much less marijuana to get a cat (or a dog) high, but just like humans, the pattern of intoxication and body chemistry can change how much and what symptoms appear.

If your cat eats any cannabis product, call your veterinarian, an animal emergency hospital or an animal poison control center right away, as the FDA advises.

What About CBD for Cats?

THC can poison cats, and no CBD product is FDA-approved for cats, so CBD is not proven safe either. There are pet owners who experiment with giving CBD to cats for the same symptoms that CBD is used in people. Owners report trying CBD for IBD, arthritis, asthma and seizures in cats, but no cannabis product is FDA-approved for cats or any other animal. It is not recommended to give CBD to animals that are on SSRIs. In people, CBD can raise blood levels of some SSRIs by slowing the liver enzymes that clear them.

Better pain relief would be welcome in feline health care, but cannabis is not an approved option for them. Cats do not tolerate most pain relievers. In fact, giving a canine pain reliever to a cat can kill them. Out of compassion, pet owners with CBD oil have taken to dosing their pets, and some vets have taken notice. There is also a small pet-focused cannabis industry that’s trying to get the studies and the legislation to operate legally.

Just like in people, CBD may be the wedge that cracks open the use of marijuana in animal care. One pet CBD company says its own long-term study in cats showed improvement in mobility issues. Its studies cover its own products rather than generic CBD oil, so they say little about CBD in general. Company studies of their own products need independent confirmation.

Vets who discuss CBD work under state licensing rules that vary, even in legal states. A law that protects medical use by people does not automatically cover a vet who recommends it for an animal, and animal use of cannabis has no FDA approval. Nevertheless, some are taking the chance. No CBD dose has FDA approval for cats, so any amount should come from your own veterinarian.

Can I Give The Cat My Medicine?

At this time, it is not recommended to give your cat your medicine, especially medicine with THC. Florida law protects only medical use authorized by a physician certification for the qualified patient, and giving it to a pet falls outside that.

Hemp-derived CBD can now be sold legally in Florida, but only as hemp extract with a certificate of analysis from an independent lab and the labeling the state requires, and not to anyone under 21 if it is ingestible or inhalable. A product sold without these safeguards is not lawful here, and a certificate of analysis reports lab results for that batch, not whether the product is safe for a cat. Florida’s own hemp rules came in two steps.

The first was Senate Bill 1020, signed into law in 2019, which created a state hemp program effective July 1, 2019. A 2023 law, SB 1676, tightened hemp rules, including a ban on sales to people under 21.

If you are considering CBD for your cat’s pain, speak with a vet first; the FDA cautions pet owners against cannabis products it has not approved. Even if they can’t formally recommend its use, they can tell you whether CBD might interact negatively with any other medication your cat is using. With luck, and better laws and studies, we’ll be able to do the science necessary to get a clear picture on whether marijuana can be used safely and effectively in pets.