If you’re a human being living on planet earth, chances are you’ve probably heard of CBD by now. But what is it exactly, and does it even work? Does it have the same effect on animals as it does humans? These are all questions I set out to answer by way of a highly scientific (or not at all scientific) experiment on my cat, Doug.
The High Anxiety Cat Background
Doug is an incredibly anxious house-cat that has lived a very, very sheltered life (the one that went on our 13 Hour Road Trip with us). He is - far and away - the jumpiest little scaredy cat I have ever met. If I pet him unexpectedly, he’ll jump two feet clear into the air. If the floor creaks as I walk past him, he’ll be up, ears back and tail puffed and fluffed. If a single person other than myself or my husband comes into our home, he immediately darts downstairs. The poor guy is on edge 24/7, which had me wondering… what can I do to alleviate some of Doug’s stress and anxiety?
Enter here, CBD.
CBD = Natural Aid for Anxiety
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is derived from industrial hemp. Though it is an active ingredient in marijuana, CBD itself does not contain the properties necessary to produce a “high.” Instead, studies have actually suggested CBD can help to reduce anxiety (among other health benefits). It gets better… studies suggest this to be true of CBD in humans and animals!
CBD Oil and A High Anxiety Cat Trial
Could CBD possibly help reduce Doug’s anxiety? I honestly wasn’t so sure about it, but I ultimately decided it was at least worth a shot. So, after doing a bit of research, I decided to conduct an experiment of my own. My hypothesis: The CBD oil may or may not work to reduce Doug’s anxiety and ultimately allow him to live a more relaxed and enjoyable life. Highly scientific!
The actual experiment consisted of me administering one milliliter of CBD to Doug once a day for one month. To do so, I simply used a dropper and put the oil directly onto his food. It doesn’t have much of a taste (I tried it too!), so Doug ate his food like normal.
Now, just like any other supplement or medicine, I knew I wouldn’t see results overnight. I also knew that I possibly wouldn’t see anything change over an entire month. So, while doing this experiment, I started to pay extra close attention to how Doug simply existed. And to my amazement, I did see some subtle changes in his behavior!
Trial Results
First, his overall demeanor is just a bit less tense. He is allowing himself to be more of a curious cat than a scaredy cat. When there are noises or things he doesn’t expect, rather than freaking out and working himself into a tizzy, he actually goes toward the noisy/scary thing to check it out! Albeit he moves towards it as slow as molasses, but that’s better than hissing and running in the other direction! And when “strangers” come over, he no longer runs directly into the basement. Instead, he stays very still and at least experiences the new presence before deciding if he should stay or run. To be totally transparent, he still isn’t a big fan of having company, but he’s warming up to the idea!
All that to say, I do believe CBD is helping Doug to some degree. As I mentioned earlier, the positive results did not come over night. Furthermore, the changes I saw were not big, but they were noticeable. I think I will continue the CBD regimen with Doug for a while, because a relaxed cat that enjoys life is the BEST kind of cat.
CBD and Natural Wonder Pets
At Natural Wonder Pets, we believe in providing healthier, longer lives for cats and dogs through utilizing natural pet care. CBD has been something that we have been looking into for quite a while. First and foremost, we want to do what is best for our loyal customers and their pets. The more research that comes out about CBD the more we feel confident in providing a natural option for our customers. However, we want to hear from those who trust us most: our customers. Is this something you are interested in? If so, please join the below waitlist as we determine our next steps in CBD.