In this article, I am going to walk you through how to choose and calculate the right dose of CBD for your kitty.
My favorite CBD product formulated for cats is HempRx Feline Drops and it makes CBD dosing for cats straightforward and simple.
For kitties, I recommend starting with the HempRx Soft Chewz for Cats or the HempRx Feline Drops. If you have multiple kitties, I recommend using the HempRx Forte to save money. HempRx Forte has 4x the amount of CBD per bottle.
Products with high levels of CBD are expensive. For this reason, it is most economical to find the smallest dose that is effective for your kitty. There are currently no industry wide established doses for cats. As the cannabis market expands, more resources will be dedicated to research optimal dosing for cats.
Choosing The right Dose
I start with 0.2 mg/kg twice daily and work up to 0.5 mg/kg or higher twice daily. For the average 10 lb cat, this is 1 mg twice daily, working up to 2 mg twice daily. If you are using HempRx Soft Chewz, there is 1 mg of CBD in each chew. So, I recommend starting with one chew twice daily, increasing to two chews twice daily.
If you are using HempRx Feline Drops or HempRx Forte, 1 drop equals 1 mg. I recommend starting with 1 drop twice daily and increase to 2 drops twice daily. The starting dose would be 1 drop twice daily, increasing to 2 drops twice daily. I recommend staying at the starting dose for 2 to 3 days to ensure that your kitty tolerates CBD and the ingredients in the soft chew.
It is safe to increase the dose past 0.5 mg/kg twice daily. Often for severe pain, seizures or severe inflammatory disease, I increase to 2-3 mg/kg twice daily. For reference, both of my kitties are on 2 mg/kg or more twice daily. I definitely have the HempRx Forte in my fridge! If your kitty tolerates CBD, the only downsides to a higher dose is a higher cost.
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Calculating a Dose
If you want to skip the calculations, I have a dosing chart here. However, if you want to calculate the dose yourself, here is how.
Step 1: Convert your kitty’s weight from pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg). You can do this by dividing your cat’s weight in pounds by 2.2. Let’s start with an 11 lb kitty.
11 lb (division sign) 2.2 = 5 kg
Step 2: Multiply the number of milligrams (mg) in the dose by the number of kilograms (kg). If the dose is 0.2 mg/kg, you would multiply 5 kg x 0.2 mg to get 1 mg.
0.2 mg x 5 kg = 1 mg per dose
Step 3: Use the concentration of the CBD product you are using to calculate the volume of oil you should administer. Depending on the product you are using, this is easier said than done. If you are using HempRx Feline Drops or HempRx Forte, it’s REALLY simple! HempRx Feline Drops has 1.0 mg per drop. HempRx Forte also has 1 mg per drop. For example, if you need to give your kitty 3 mg of CBD twice daily. You could use 3 drops of the HempRx Feline Drops or HempRx Forte twice daily. If you are using the HempRx Soft Chewz, you can give 3 treats twice daily.
If you are using another product, you need to know how many milligrams (mg) of CBD is in each milliliter (mL) of oil. Unfortunately, there are a few companies that refuse to disclose this information. It is impossible to know if the dose you are using is a therapeutic dose. For this reason, I don’t recommend these products. Once you know how many milligrams of CBD are in each milliliter (ml) you can calculate the dose volume.
For example, HempRx Feline Drops and HempRx Forte have 30 mg of CBD per milliliter (mL) of oil. If I have calculated my dose to 4 mg of CBD twice daily, I simply divide 4 by 30 to get the number of milliliters of oil I need to give my kitty.
HempRx has 30 mg/ml of CBD
Dose of CBD is 4 mg twice daily
4 mg (divided by sign) 30 mg = 0.133 ml
Dosing past one tenth of a milliliter is difficult. Don’t do it! I would round 0.133 mls to 0.1 mls. For this volume, you could use a 1 milliliter syringe and draw back to 0.1 mL mark. If you prefer to use the dropper in the bottle, you could use 1/6 of the dropper. This assumes the dropper holds 1 mL of liquid. For reference 1 milliliter (mL) is equal to a cc.
Is your head spinning with numbers and units of measurements yet?
Feel free to post questions in the comments below!
Sending you and your pet all of my love,
Recommended Products From This Post
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HempRx Feline – 15ml$77.00 — or subscribe and save 5% -
HempRx Forte – 60 ml$190.00 — or subscribe and save 5% -
HempRx Soft Chewz for Cats and Small Dogs$52.00 — or subscribe and save 5% -
HempRx Soft Chewz for Dogs – 60 Chews$79.00 — or subscribe and save 5% -
HempRx for Pets – 30ml$105.00 — or subscribe and save 5%
My cat’s a senior (like me) who has anxiety and needs to eat more. I know CBD can help with the anxiety, but what about as an appetite stimulant? I know there’s little to no THC in CBD drops, so the whole “munchies” thing of my youth wouldn’t apply, but is there anything about the CBD that might be beneficial for the appetite issue?
Hi Mark. Great question! CBD can help with so much more than anxiety and has helped many kitties with low appetites. There is less than 0.3% THC in the CBD products we carry (we’d recommend the HempRx Feline drops), so while your kitty may not get the insatiable munchies, it may help to increase overall appetite. We’d recommend dosing twice daily on a consistent basis for the most optimal results. Let us know how it goes! JoJo, Veterinary Nurse
Hello.
We have a 5kg, 15.5yo cat that recently started having seizures.
He had 4 – averaging one evey 10 days – each lasting 1-2 minutes.
We then put him on CBD Oil, but I’d like to confirm the dosage.
We have Full spectrum oil – 2500mg/50ml = 50mg/ml
Our vet reccommends 0.2ml x 2 per day = 10mg x2 per day = 20mg/day
This seemed rather high – especially to start with.
I’ve been dosing him at 0.15ml = 7.5mg x2 per day = 15mg/day
He has not had a (known) seizure since starting CBD oil three weeks ago.
Should I keep him at 15mg/day, or drop to 10mg, or go to 20mg?
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your question and I’m really happy to hear that your kitty is experiencing positive effects from the CBD and that you have a veterinarian who is supportive of this option for your cat. Dr. Angie starts her feline patients with seizures on 1 mg/kg of CBD twice daily and increases it as needed up to 3 mg/kg of CBD twice daily. This would be 5mg twice daily on the low end of his dose and 15mg twice daily on the high end of his dose.
Lots of love,
JoJo
Hello! My cat was put on steroids and antibiotics for potential IBS/IBD. The steroids completely tanked her immune system (5mg daily), and she got a kitty cold within a week. Can CBD help her inflammation, without tanking her immune system? The steroids were just TOO immuno-suppressive for her. Now, I’m fighting a mild URI that was caused by the steroids used to help her eat and not vomit due to stomach/intestinal inflammation. She may be able to tolerate 2.5mg prednisone every few days without tanking her immune system. Right now, she has been tapered off of the prednisone, to allow her body to fight the URI.
Hi Ashley,
So glad to hear that you worked with your veterinarian to wean your kitty off the steroids. That was important!
I am so sorry that she reacted poorly to the medication! CBD is definitely a natural anti-inflammatory and may help. I would suggest the Feline Drops at the higher dose (dosing chart here). You can always work up from there as needed!
I hope this helps and please keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire Primo
Veterinary Nurse
Hi. My cat is 5 years old and 10 pounds. About 5 months ago she started over grooming. We have tried everything from an elimination diet for 10 weeks, feline pheromones, calming collar, steroids, tried the shirt for her – no go, allergy testing, and now the vet is suggesting Prozac. Thankfully I came across the information on CBD. I would love to give this a try. We are not 100% sure why she is doing this behavior but it’s likely a habit now. She did start when I went away for a few weeks. So I think she was stressed. She’s always been a needy cat (I prefer calling her loving). Do you think this would help and if so, what dosage should we try for this behavior? Thank you!!!
Hi Karen,
CBD could absolutely help for your girl!
Have you started it or tried it? Do you need help with dosing?
Hugs,
Claire
Hi,
Thanks for all of this super helpful information. We are traveling from Turkey to the USA with two small kittens who will be around 9 weeks old at the time of travel. They currently both weigh under 1 kilogram (.58kg and .63kg, respectively) but by the time we travel (in three weeks) they should each weigh 1 kilogram at least. Is it safe to give them CBD oil to help them stay calm during the flight? If so, can you tell me the correct dose?
Thanks again,
janan
Hi Janan,
There are no formal studies on CBD for kittens. If you do try it, we use the HempRx Feline Drops and our dosing chart is here.
Will you keep us posted?
Safe travels!
Claire
Hi there, I’m in the UK
My cat has suspected hyperestesia which is thought to be a type of neurological seizure. I would say she in the mild to moderate spectrum of cases. I have just started CBD oil, each spray is 5mg of CBD isolate. But I found her symptoms came back after the first spray (around 1.30pm) by around 7.30 when we sat down for dinner. As this is given in sprays should I attempt another half a spray at dinner time? What dose would you suggest to see her through?
Hi Kylie,
We usually prefer a full spectrum CBD as opposed to an isolate!
How much does your kitty weigh? I would suggest starting with 1mg/kg twice daily, although there’s a large dosing range.
Please keep us posted! Hyperesthesia is so stressful, I feel for you both. You’re doing a great job!
Warmly,
Claire
Hello!
This thread about CBD dosing for kitties has been so very helpful and thank you for the information! My question is, my kitty Ike is 17 years old, weighs 8.2 pounds and is having seizures. The vet has recommended phenobarbital or CBD so I have started him on A full spectrum 125 mg per dropper full CBD oil, 2 mg twice a day dose…and it seems to be helping him. I am seeking any information you might have about the compatibility of Rescue Remedy for pets with CBD oil. The rescue remedy has been hugely helpful for him initially, and I was hoping to continue to incorporate it with his CBD regime. Thank you very much when you have a moment! Julia & Ike
Hi Julia,
This is a really great question!
I suspect that it would be totally fine to incorporate both the Rescue Remedy and CBD together and just watch to see if any extra sedation occurs!
I’d be happy to add this question to Dr. Angie’s next Live Q&A on her Instagram page, with your approval! The next live is slated for this Thursday!
Let me know!
Warmly,
Claire
Hi, Greetings from Barcelona Spain. Our 8 year old cat (who was feral when we found him at 3 months) has always been nervous and anxious. He’s now starting to get worse and has begun pulling his fur out. We have gone through the tests of fleas, mites, allergies and nothing. So our vet recommended CBD oil. For the oil I can get here there are 300mg CBD per bottle total, which equals to 30mg CBD/ml. A bottle is around 300 drops and 1 drop contains 1mg CBD. I’m a bit confused on dosage. He weights 11 lbs or roughly 5kg. Can you give me an idea of how much to give him?
Hi Alisa,
This is a fantastic question!
We would usually suggest starting at around 0.50mg/kg twice daily. For your kitty, this is 2.5-3mg of CBD twice daily. That said, there is a large dosing range, and you can easily double that dose if needed.
I hope this helps, please keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire
My kitty is 15 years old and a diabetic. He doesn’t have any arthritis. Would it be safe for him to take CBD and how much? He gets so irritated and upset at our granddaughters, I was wondering if this might be helpful to calm him down and not get so upset? He was not raised with little kids, so he doesn’t really like them.
Thank you
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
Really good question!
We have not seen any negative interactions when using CBD with diabetic kitties (we just would not advice to use it in replacement of insulin).
For cats, we suggest the HempRx Feline Drops and our dosing chart is here.
I hope that this helps!
Big hugs,
Claire
Hi,
If I have been giving a cat the standard dosing 2x a day, what are the negative side effects if I was to work up over time to double the doses given the CBD oil has next to no THC or very low.
I have legal Canadian regulated market CBD for people it is 25mg/ml cbd and 0.9 to 1 mg/ml THC
I usually dose about 0.15ml 2 x a day for a 6-8lb super geriatric cat but had a few times run up to 0.2ml and didn’t notice any adverse effects except maybe more sleep…
I have heard in trials no issues were found with even 10 times the recommended CBD dose, however I assume the THC would become a problem at that insane dose, but if the thc wasn’t there, they’d be fine… I’m not advocating anything like that but I am wondering what would happen if someone miscalculated and gave double or triple strength doses for a while?
Hi Joe,
Great questions! How much does your kitty weigh?
While there are no great official studies for cats, the few studies done on dogs have been upwards to 2.5mg/kg twice daily of CBD.
I hope that this helps!
Wamrly,
Claire
My cat is severely constipated he weighs approximately 19 pounds he is not very active and cries like he is in severe pain because he cannot use the bathroom how much CBD oil would I give him to help him go to the bathroom is this the best solution or should I do extra-virgin olive oil
Hi Sandy!
Thank you for your question! First, it might help to figure out why your sweet kitty is so constipated. Has your kitty had any lab work done? I like to put cats that are constipated on a high moisture and high protein diet. Canned food is ideal here. Some cats will even allow you to add water to their diet.
I haven’t used CBD alone to treat constipation. It can really help reduce anxiety and help with any aches and pains. It might help your kitty posture to poop more comfortably too. I would start with 5 mg of CBD twice daily. I really like the HempRx for Cats. You would give your kitty 5 drops twice daily.
Keep me posted and definitely get your vet to check your kitty out with some lab work too!
Big hugs,
Dr. Angie
Thanks! For sharing this informative blog.
Hi Fredrik,
So glad it helped!
Warmly,
Claire
Hi there! My 4 year old cat, Bubbles, was diagnosed with Feline Aids last year November and since then her kidneys failed. She has had really good days and some really terrible days. I just want to find out whether CBD oil will help with her pain and loss of appetite and if so, what dosage should she be given. She is so tiny and has lost so much weight, she weighs about 3kg!! Any help would be so much appreciated. These might be her last days with us and I just want to make her quality of life better.
Hi Daniella,
Bubbles is so lucky to have you watching over, and caring for, her!
Yes, I think CBD may be of huge benefit to her. We usually suggest HempRx Feline Drops and our dosing chart is here. You can absolutely work beyond the higher end of the dosing chart as needed.
I hope that this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Hello Claire,
greetings from… Poland! 🙂
One of our persian cats, Winston (7yo), was recently diagnosed with lymphoma (organoleptically as we still waiting for histopathology results) and had his spleen removed during the diagnostic laparotomy. It was truly shocking for me and my wife, since he had no symptoms. He just lost some weight (but still had appetite).
He is now 7 days after surgery, he feels fine, but has almost no appetite. We were force-feeding him using a syringe during the last days but last night he finally did it alone (we saw it on camera in the kitchen). We know, that this is surely the fight we won’t win but we would love to give him as peaceful life as we can. Could you please help us with CBD dosage for him? We will be very greatful! 🙂
Our second persian, Lincoln (7yo), has allergic issues. We keep him on steroids and apoquel (for 2 years or more) but the results are unsatisfactory. We believe that his excessive licking and scratching has more neurological background than allergic one. We would like to try giving him CBD oil as well. Do you think it might help him?
Waiting for your reply and so sorry for my english! 🙂
Hi Peter,
Wow, Poland! I am so glad that you found our article! And, I am so sorry for my delayed response. 🙁
How is Winston doing now? How much does he weigh and I can help calculate a dose for him!
It is possible CBD will help Lincoln too! How much does he weigh?
I promise to keep an eye out for your response! Please feel free to email me at info@boulderholisticvet.com too!
Warmly,
Claire
I have a 9 month old kitty that has seizures about once a week. I’ve have taken her to my veg and he says to try cbd oil. I went and got some. They told my to start her with half the dropplet which is 50 ml. Well I thought that was too much so I’m not mathematical and is asking how to I give my kitty she weighs about 5 lbs. I would really appreciate the right dosage to give her.
Hi Diane,
This is a great question!
Oftentimes, CBD companies do not include enough info on their product labels to adequately dose CBD. Do you know how many milligrams (mg) of CBD are in each drop of the product you are using?
For your kitty’s weight (5 pounds/2.3kg), we would suggest starting at 2-3mg of CBD twice daily. I would ask the company who many milligrams of CBD are in each drop so that you can successfully dose that amount.
I know it gets confusing! We also offer 20 minute CBD nurse phone consultations, if you feel that may be helpful too!
I hope this helps! Keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire
Hi Claire,
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! This was tremendously helpful for me.
I have a 9 year old cat with a past I don’t know since he is a rescue. He does have a major limp in his front left leg and the Vet has indicated that he has sever arthritis in the shoulder joint. We do have him on Cartrophen (for almost a year now) but that doesn’t seem to be giving him much relief (or from my perspective, it doesn’t seem to be enough).
I recently purchased some CBD oil in the hopes that it would be a better fit. I am very green (pardon the pun) when it comes to CBD, etc. and am now trying to figure out the dosage for my 4.5 kg cat.
I can see on the bottle that it indicates 1:30 on the bottle which I am assuming is the THC content to CBD content. Beneath that it states THC: 1.0 mg and CBD: 31
Am I to assume that the 31 is the CBD content in each drop?
Any guidance you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Hi Kelly,
Goodness, I am SO SO sorry for this delayed response. 🙁
We would suggest starting at 0.50mg/kg twice daily. For your kitty’s weight, that is 2mg twice daily. However, you can work up to 2mg/kg twice daily if needed.
Please feel free to email me at info@boulderholisticvet.com as well!
Warmly,
Claire
Hello my kittie Maggie has been diagnosed with F.I.P would the cbd oil help her??
Hi Janice,
How is sweet Maggie doing?
It’s possible that CBD may help increase her overall sense of wellbeing as you manage her FIP. If you give it a try, I would suggest the HempRx Feline Drops.
Sending you both so much love.
Hugs,
Claire
My 16 year old cat has a large malignant mass on her throat and swallowing is becoming increasingly difficult. The tumor is in a place that is not wise to operate and at 16 years old we chose not to do any major cancer treatments. I ordered the HempRX to try to give her some comfort/relief but one sniff and she is absolutely not having anything to do with it. I’ve tried to mix it in with food, put it directly on her mouth, on the tip of her nose and she just refuses. She can not swallow easily so hard treats and thick chews are not going to be an answer. She has a hard enough time with liquids. Any suggestions besides just forcing an oral syringe into her mouth? I only need a few drops.
Hi Cathy,
I am so sorry to hear about your kitty’s tumor.
This is so challenging. Have you tried anything else, since you posted this? I know chewing is hard for her – how does she do with a freeze dried treat? Would she be able to eat it, and if so would she let you place the drop directly onto the treat?
How about baby food? Is this high value enough to where she wouldn’t notice the drops?
Will you keep me posted?
BIG hugs,
Claire
I have a 12 1/2lb cat who is having seizures. I already have a bottle of Trace cbd oil. Full spectrum. 600mg cbd per ounce. How much should I give my kitty?
Hi Kelly,
This is a good question!
We usually suggest starting with 0.25mg-0.50mg/kg twice daily! For your kitty’s size, this would be about 1.5mg-3mg twice daily. I would recommend calling the company and asking them how many mg are in each drop of CBD so you can know how many drops to give your kitty.
I hope that this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Hi
I want to use cbd as an alternative to metacam for pain relief in the teeth and gums. She weighs 5kg and I’ve got 2,75% cbd oil with no thc. What would recommend as the stated dose? the dropper doesn’t measure in ml so I need to know number of drops if possible.
Thankyou
Hi Shell,
Thank you for reaching out!
I would reach out to the company and ask them exactly how many mg of CBD are in each drop or dropper full. For your pup’s weight, we would recommend starting with 1-2 mg of CBD twice daily.
I hope that this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Our 5+ year-old, 20lb cat suffered (apparently) nerve damage from a 6′ fall on to a concrete floor 6 months ago. No breaks or fractures appeared on any X-rays. With 30 days of prednisone, his mobility is virtually as good as before, but he remains completely incontinent. Every veterinarian seems convinced it is due to nerve damage. We have tried acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment, laser treatments and nothing has helped. He has regained very little tail control, yet it does lift slightly whenever he eliminates. We have read that ylang ylang oil may be beneficial to nerve damage, but am looking for further advice. He is otherwise in very good health and are really attached to him. Can someone provide an educated opinion as to whether this is true or not, and if so, what dosage is appropriate?
Hi Steve,
This is a great question!
We hesitate to use essential oils with kitties due to the possibility of toxicity. That said, Dr. Melissa Shelton (website here) is an amazing resource! She is a veterinarian who uses essential oils all of the time!
Keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire
Hopefully your kitty is doing well by now, but in case he could still use some help, you might look into Zobaline for his neuropathy. https://www.ilifelink.com/zobaline-for_diabetic_cats-3_mg_x_60_tablets.html
I take CBD oil myself it’s 1800 mg per bottle of one ounce so there’s about 540 drops per bottle I am having a brain fart I can’t figure out how much one drop of my CBD would be 3.3 mg?
Hi Renee,
No brainfart at all!
The most important information that you need here is the amount of mg of CBD per drop. Will the company who make the product provide that to you? Once you get that, you can calculate your pet’s doing (we suggest starting with 0.25mg-0.50mg/kg twice daily). With that result, you can figure out the amount of drops needed per dosing.
I hope this helps provide some clarity! It can get confusing!
Warmly,
Claire
very useful blog.. thanks for sharing this
So glad it has helped!
What percentage of CDB/THC would you recommend? I would imagine a slight % of THC, but it’s my understanding that some THC is needed to get the full benefit of the CBD. I’m looking at Tinctures to add to their water, I have 4 cats who will not eat the treats. They have various ranges of arthritis, one is FIV+ and one is a bit anxious as well. Thank you in advance.
Hi Staci,
Really good questions.
At this time, we do not suggest using THC. There are a few reasons for this! We can’t know how our animals feel on THC, but also because we have seen such great results with CBD only!
We do see CBD help tremendously with anxiety. It’s also amazing for boosting immune function and for arthritis. So I will be really excited to hear an update on your kitty after you start it. I think it could potentially be a game changer.
Will you keep us posted?
Warmly,
Claire
Can I give my kitty CBD every 8 hours? He has cancer pain and isn’t tolerating the gabapentin well. He is always so relaxed for about 8 hrs after the cbd, then i have no choice but to give the gabapentin.
Hi Emily,
Sure, you can absolutely give your kitty CBD every 8 hours!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
I have two 7 year old cats who both have anxiety issues. I have been giving them cbd in their food twice daily. One drop for in each food dish twice daily. It has really helped! We just got a beautiful new kitten. Will the cbd oil be hazardous to the little one? He is 8 weeks old. Per the suggestion of the store, the cbd oil is unflavored, Mediterranean, 500 mg. 1 dropper equals 16mg of pure cbd. Again I give them one drop at a time. I don’t want my older boys to regress in their behavior (inappropriate urination and anxiety) Thanks in advance!
Hi Karen,
Great question!
The truth is, we don’t have enough studies to know how CBD effects babies, so we aren’t sure the safety of it’s use with your little one. Are you primarily concerned because he/she may eat out the dish with the drop? Would it be possible to feed them all separately, if so?
Will you keep us posted?
Oh! And congratulations on your sweet new kitten!
Warmly,
Claire
My 15y/o female cat was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and a large pleural effusion etiology uncertain, first was told CHF, then possibly secreting lymphoma and last cardiomyopathy ,she has SOB,at rest and with exertion. Started on lasix 12.5mg in the AM and 6.25mg in the PM, has only helped slightly.she is on an herbal product called thyroid support gold for her thyroid. I’ve been giving her Full spectrum CBD by Lazarus Naturals, 20mg per ml, I give her 4mg twice a day it dose help relax and stimulate her appetite but my question is will it help reduce the pleural effusion and what dose would be safe
Hi Robert,
I’m so sorry your kitty is going through so much.
Unfortunately, I do not think the CBD will help with the pleural effusion, or we at least do not have research supporting this. It may help in a lot of other areas though (as you’re already noticing).
How much does she weigh? It’s possible you can increase her CBD dose as well.
Please keep us posted and I’m so sorry for this delayed response.
Warmly,
Claire
My cat is 5 pounds. I bought the 150mg for him for pain. What would his dose be?
Hi Destiny,
Excellent!
For a 5 pound kitty, we would recommend starting with 0.50-1mg of CBD twice daily. I would contact the CBD company to find out exactly how many mg of CBD are in each drop so you can know how many drops to administer.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Hello. If my cat is 5kg in weight and the oil I am proposing to buy is 4.2mg and a 15ml bottle. What do I need to give her for a therapeutic daily dose? I am so confused by the calculations! Thank you
Hi Vicki,
It does get a little confusing, doesn’t it?!
Here is our dosing chart. For a 5kg (11lb), we would usually start with 1.5-2.5mg of CBD twice daily.
Do you know how much CBD is in each drop of your product? Will the company let you know that? Once we get that information, it will be easy to figure out how much your kitty should get daily!
Hope this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Hi – I live in upstate NY. My cat has recently took sick, possibly a stroke- appetite and activity went to almost nothing. I give her baby food now to get some nourishment in her. She as these little tics or spasms that come and go. Very small just a slight shake of the head and so on. Saw vet who told me that she was anxious and felt her belly etc and didn’t think any organs were not working properly. Not happy. Its been over a week now and she is not herself at all. Seems spacey. Sleeps most of the time. She is 12. And has always been a healthy cat. So my question is where can I purchase the correct CBD product- – brand etc. CBD oil is now legal in NY but I do not trust the regular retail outlets to know enough to help me. She is not vomiting and something still happens in the litter pan. But sometimes I think she is in pain or nauseous from the look on her face and to not touch her when she gets that way. There are no holistic vets around here that I know of. Can you help me find something to help my cat. Thank you
Hi Judy,
Thank you for reaching out! I’m so sorry to hear about your sweet kitty’s condition. Has she also seen an internal medicine specialist?
There are SO many CBD products on the market. We recommend a pet specific product. If you use a product marketed for humans, just make sure that it is free of essential oils and natural flavors! Also ensure that the product is organic and pesticide free, that the extraction method is clean (we recommend C02 extraction) and that they have a COA (certificate of analysis that proves the product has what they say it has in it!).
For cats, we recommend HempRx and our dosing chart is here.
I hope that this information helps. Big hugs to you and your kitty!
Warmly,
Claire
Hi there. I read somewhere that cbd oil has helped with upper respiratory congestion for some cats, have you any knowledge of this? My cat is 8kg (I think that’s 17,6 pounds), the cbd oil is 300mg in 30ml oil. Would you also recommend the 2 drops twice a day for him to start off with?
Hi Janine,
Yes, we have seen CBD help with upper respiratory symptoms!
Here is our dosing chart. For your kitty’s weight, we would recommend 2-4 mg/kg of CBD twice daily.
I hope that this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Thank you very much Claire but I’m still find the chart confusing. Is 2-4mg a day 2-4 drops a day?
Hi Janine,
The HempRx has 0.50mg of CBD per drop. So, for 2-4mg, you would be giving 4-8 drops. I hope this helps clarify!
Let me know if I can answer any other questions!
Warmly,
Claire
Thanks so much Claire 🙂
Hi,
My elderly boy, Whiskers, was diagnosed with Hyper Thyroid.
He eats but his weight after 2.5 years of H T is about 3 pounds. He also has arthritis.
Will CBD help him and at what dosage since he is so frail?
Kindly,
Marie
Hi Marie,
I’m so sorry for our delay in response to your question!
We see CBD be hugely helpful for kitties with arthritis! Additionally, it’s an excellent natural appetite stimulant, and so I think it has the potential to be very beneficial to your boy.
For cats, we recommend HempRx and our dosing chart is here.
Will you keep us posted on how it helps!?
Hugs,
Claire
My cat this worked her tumor Vanished for three weeks on 2 drops a day of “5 to 1 tincture” but now there back. Never stopped the dosing her.It was working. How high can I go what have done wrong?She 9 pounds normally 13 mostly muscle . Please I know to you she just a cat but she my life. The tumors Growing larger but she seems healthy .. I buy what ever you say just tell me. Please
Hi Jonathan,
I’m so so sorry to hear that your kitty’s tumor is back.
Do you know what dosage you are giving her? For cats with cancer, we tend to do 0.50mg/kg twice daily on day 1, working up to 1mg/kg twice daily by day 3. For your kitty’s weight this is 2mg twice daily on day 1, working up to 4 mg twice daily by day 3. If you have a product here you can calculate how many mg are in each drop, then you can go from there!
If you need help deciding on a product, we use HempRx for kitties!
Please keep us posted. Sending you a big hug during this difficult time.
Hugs,
Claire
I have s cat approximately 13 pounds. The hemp oil I have is from Charlotte’s Web. It’s human strength. My cat had a mass at junction of small intestine/colon. How much Hemp can I try?
Hi Darlene,
Great question!
Here is our dosing chart. We generally recommend starting with 0.50mg/kg twice daily and working up from there if needed.
Hope this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
We bought a .5oz bottle of 100mg of cbd for our cat . He is 18 yrs old and weight is approximately 12 lbs. My dropper starts at .25ml. How much should we give him.?
Hi Elzada,
Good question! Will the company tell you how many milligrams of CBD are in each drop? This is important! We usually suggest starting around 0.50mg/kg twice daily. For your cats weight (12#), that is 3mg twice daily. However, you can easily double that dose, or work up as needed.
I hope that this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
I have a 10 month old kitten who is just 5.4 lbs. I’ve been told by my vet he has neurological problems and unfortunately they aren’t equipped to help with these problems so he is being referred to our vet college. He doesn’t go in until September 23rd and is taking Metacam right now (almost done) and was wondering if giving him some oil would help. The oil I have is 1mg cbd/drop (20mg/1 ml) and should I contact my vet to see if it would be ok to give it to him. Any advice would help, I just don’t want to get in trouble for giving him some.
Hi Mary,
I am sorry that we missed this moment!
Did you ever ask your vet about using CBD for your kitty?
For cats, we usually suggest HempRx Feline drops, and our dosing chart is here.
While we have not seen negative interactions when using CBD with Metacam, I would still running it by your veterinarian for one extra blessing!
Keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire
My 11lb kitty was recently diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye. He has already lost sight in that eye but I was hoping to get the pressure down to decrease his (probable) headache and avoid surgery. He is a former feral & still very skittish so I haven’t had any luck with eyedrops. I was hoping to try CBD in his food. Should I go by the regular dose on the chart for his weight or should the dose be increased due to the glaucoma?
Hi Melanie,
Good question!
We would recommend starting with 0.50m/kg twice daily (for your boy, that’s 2.5mg twice daily) and working up from there if and when needed.
Keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire
Thank you!
Hi Melanie,
You are so welcome!
Warmly,
Claire
I have 5 kitties, four of which are feral. They eat and drink from the same dish. What is the best way to administer CBD oil so that they ingest a safe amount?
Hi Pat,
That’s a tough one!
The easiest way to administer the CBD oil is via food. It would make most sense to do this if they were eating from separate dishes, but I know you mentioned they aren’t. The dosing is based off of weight, and so it would be difficult to do for multiple cats with one dish. You could put a few drops in, but it’s hard to know how many milligrams each kitty would receive.
Would they let you feed them a one of the HempRx Soft Chewz?
Will you keep us posted?!
Warmly,
Claire
Hello, my cat is having seizures. He’s been seen by a vet and was on phenobarbital for a little over a year which did stop his seizures completely but he was a zombie so the vet wanted us to stop phenobarbital and see if his seizures where any better. Unfortunately he’s having roughly one grand mal seizure every 5 to 7 days. .. I live in New York so there are no vets that deal with CBD at all and I’m having trouble finding good information online. I’ve been giving my cat CBD for over a month and I’m not seeing a difference in his seizures. I started him with a low-dose but he is on an extremely high dose right now and I’m wondering what the absolute maximum dose I can give a 13 lb cat that is having one grand mal seizure a week.
I would absolutely love any help you can give me at all as I feel lost and confused, all I want to do is what’s best for him and I don’t know what that is
Hi James,
I am so sorry to hear about your kitty’s seizures. I know how overwhelming and scary it feels, and also helpless.
What product are you using? The max dose would be around 2-3mg/kg twice daily. For your kitty, this is 12mg-18mg twice daily. Work up to that amount to assess how he is doing.
Will you keep us posted?
Warmly,
Claire
I have a one year old cat that seems to be over-grooming. The vet initially thought it was an allergic reaction to poultry so we took him off all poultry products. However, I am more inclined to think he is just an anxious kitty. And now after multiple trips to the vet he just does not trust us and is hardly letting us pet him. We got him at 4 months as a rescue who had been fostered. He came very sweet and socialized with our two year old cat well. Now he rarely sits and lets me pet him and seems very anxious.
Hi Lee,
Oh, jeez, I am so sorry to hear bout your boy. It sounds like your veterinarian has done a proper work up to ensure the change in behavior isn’t related to pain or other medical conditions? I’m sorry that he has been so traumatized by his frequent trips to the vet!
Has anything else changed in his environment that could have triggered anxiety (a recent move, new animal, different people in the home, different work schedule, etc)?
It’s absolutely possible that CBD could help with his anxiety. For cats, we recommend HempRx and our dosing chart is here.
I hope that this helps! Please keep us posted!
Warmly
Claire
Hi Dr. Angie! I have an 11 lb kitty, she is young and will be 5-years old this Sept. She is suffering from Malignant Glaucoma in both eyes. We struggle with our doctors as they only prescribe Pharmaceutical Rx eye drop medicine that makes our kitty very ill. She has very strong reactions. What is your recommendation for kitties with Glaucoma? We want to protect her optic nerve from further damage and keep her Interocular Pressure down.
Thank you for your help and clear dosage recommendations. I loved your post, it was very helpful.
Hi Melinda,
Thank you for reaching out!
Are you and your kitty working with an ophthalmologist? Do they know that the eye drops are making your kitty sick? It’s possible that they can switch to another type of eye drop that may work better!
Will you keep us posted? You are doing a great job!
Warmly,
Claire
I have a five year old cat that we rescued as a kitten. He is very territorial and aggressive with everyone in the house but me. When we have guests, he will follow them around the house hissing and repeatedly attacking them for hours…or days in the case of an overnight guest. When it is just he and I, I am able to get him to relax and he is an absolute a joy. Often, when we have guests, I lock him in my room until they leave. When I come back he will be relaxed, laying on the bed sleeping or grooming himself. He investigates the house when released but never seems agitated. Unfortunately, he will not remove himself to a safe spot and, if I wait to intervene until after he reacts to a guest or another person, he will remain agitated and aggressive long after the fact. He has been examined by a vet (even though he has to be sedated to accomplish a visit) and is 100% healthy from a physical standpoint. I have tried Feliway diffusers with no luck. The vet recently prescribed liquid Prozac. Would CBD be a potential alternative in this situation? Are there other holistic treatments you might recommend?
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for reaching out! Wow, this sounds so stressful!
It is possible that CBD may help. For kitties, we recommend HempRx and our dosing chart is here.
It’s possible that CBD may be one of the components that may help your kitty, but potentially not the only component. For behavioral issues, we often refer our cat parents to Dr. Meishelle at The Cat Behavior Clinic. She is an absolute wealth of knowledge and is hugely helpful!
Please keep us posted! I hope this information is helpful!
Warmly,
Claire
How much would I give a cat to increase his appetite.? He only weighs 6.5 pounds.
Hi Elaine,
Great question!
Here is our dosing chart. For your kitty we would recommend starting at 0.75mg-1.5mg/kg twice daily. For the HempRx, that is 2-3 drops twice daily.
I hope this helps! If you try HempRx, please keep us posted on how it works for your kitty!
Warmly,
Claire
I have a Maine coon cat who weighs about 20 pounds what dosage would you suggest for him?
Hi Barbara,
Here is our dosing chart. For a 20 pound kitty, we would recommend starting with 5-10 drops twice daily of the HempRx OR 3-5 drops twice daily of the HempRx Forte.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
My cat has pretty bad anxiety. She will over groom herself until she’s licked her belly raw. I have a soft cone on her now so those areas can heal. I just bought some cat cbd in a dropper. She’s probably right at 10 pounds. I’ve been just sticking the dropper in her mouth. She won’t take treats or human food. I also don’t want to put it in her food or water because I have another cat that doesn’t need the cbd.
My question is how much should I be giving her? Is there an easier way to give cats cbd?
What happens if she gets too much cbd?
Hi Marisa,
Thank you for reaching out!
Here is our dosing chart. For a 10# kitty, we recommend either 2-4 drops of the HempRx twice daily, or 1-2 drops of the HempRx Forte twice daily.
I’m so sorry that administering the oils has been so frustrating! One way that we have seen be successful, is placing the drops directly onto a freeze dried treat (and then let the oil soak it up). This has proven to be helpful for a lot of pet parents! Or have you considered the HempRx Soft Chewz? For her weight, she would get 1 chew twice daily.
I hope that this information helps!
Warmly,
Claire
Thank you so much for this fantastic guide – good dosage suggestions are hard to come by and this article made it easy to understand! Now off to grab the calculator…
Thank you for your comment. Glad you found this information helpful.
My 14 year old cat has stage 4 renal disease and is not eating well. Would CBDs be appropriate appetite stimulant?
Hi Martha,
I’m so sorry your kitty isn’t eating well. CBD can absolutely help as an appetite stimulant!
For kitties, we recommend HempRx.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Claire
I don’t know if my vet is allowed to discuss CBDs for my cat. Teben is 14 years old and has stage 4 renal disease. She is not eating well and I’d like to know if CBDs are recommended for feline renal disease.
Hi Martha,
I’m so sorry that Teben was diagnosed with kidney disease.
CBD can absolutely help with some of the symptoms associated with kidney disease, and is a great appetite stimulant. For kitties, we usually recommend HempRx.
I’m not sure if you’ve seen Dr. Angie’s blog discussing Holistic Treatment of Chronic Kidney disease, but you can find it here.
I hope this helps! Keep us posted!
Warmly,
Claire
The one bit of information that is missing from the discussion is the percentage of CBD in the product being used. All things equal (like purity, amount of terpenes, organic, etc.) some products for Pets are 10% CBD, some are 17% CBD, and even higher. I would appreciate some information regarding this because the dosage of a 10% product will be half as effective as one that is 17% or 24%.
Hi, what symptoms would denote a dose too high or a dose too low?
Hi Kathy,
Our dosing chart here has a low dose and a high dose for weight ranges. It’s never a bad idea to start with a low dose, to see how your pet tolerates CBD. Then, slowly increase to a larger dose if needed (to find the dose that gives your pet the best response).
I hope this answers your question!
Warmly,
Claire
Thanks —not quite, specifically, what behaviors or symptoms would indicate an over dose?
Hi Kathy,
Since the HempRx has less than 0.03% THC, pets fortunately will not experience a “high”. However, like all supplements, there is a potential for GI distress (like vomiting or diarrhea). We don’t often see this, but it’s good to start on the low end in the beginning to see how your pet tolerates it.
Hope that helps!
Warmly,
Claire
I have been using CBS oil for my 16yo kitty who is Janine weight, arthritis issues and some issues wi 4th h my roommates much younger foster he’s 3yo. It seems to be helping. My concern is proving I livre might sweetie and I am doing everything I can for him but I hace am extremely limited budget so $110 is crazy expensive I have found Pet Releaf cbd oil for less then half that. I realize CBD is having a moment which explains the price points but seriously I know there’s are other pet parents dealing with affordability issues and care for their fur babies. What options are there for those of us who gave limited resources? And note that Amazon does NOT sell CBD oil, they sell everything BUT CBD.
Hi Christina,
Thank you for reaching out!
There are so many CBD products out there, that it can be so hard to figure out which ones are quality, and which ones to use. When researching CBD products, we always recommend a few things. First, we recommend ensuring the product is organic and pesticide free.
It’s also important to ensure the product has a guaranteed analysis. The other piece we recommend is finding out what extraction method they use. For example, HempRx uses CO2 extraction, which is the cleanest method.
I hope that this information is helpful. Thank you for loving your girl so much!
Warmly,
Claire