Dog or Cat? Discover the Keys to Dosing and Utilizing CBD by Species – Part V: Crucial Differences Between Canines and Felines

We have talked about "pets" in general, but it is worth clarifying that dogs and cats do not always respond the same way to substances. What do we know about species-specific differences with CBD?

Differences between dogs and cats when using CBD

Chart 1 shown above: "CBD use in pets (US survey)"

Metabolism and absorption: Dogs seem to absorb and metabolize CBD somewhat differently from cats. In a comparative pharmacokinetic study, healthy dogs and cats received the same dose of oral CBD (2 mg/kg every 12 h for 12 weeks) and blood levels were measured . It was observed that dogs reached much higher maximum concentrations (Cmax) of CBD in plasma than cats (on average ~301 ng/ml in dogs vs. only 43 ng/ml in cats), and also a substantially larger area under the curve .

This suggests that the oral bioavailability of CBD is lower in cats than in dogs, possibly due to differences in intestinal absorption or first-pass hepatic metabolism. Paradoxically, the elimination half-life was slightly longer in cats (≈1.5 h) than in dogs (≈1 h), but in general, cats processed less CBD than they ingested.

What does this imply? That perhaps cats require different formulations (for example, specific carrier oils or liposomes) or somewhat higher doses to achieve the same effects as in dogs, although this must be calibrated with caution given that cats are also more sensitive to some compounds. In practice, when dosing CBD to cats, some veterinarians start with low doses and slowly increase, observing the response.

Acceptability and side effects in cats: Any cat owner knows that our feline friends can be especially picky about what they ingest. In the study mentioned, CBD was administered to cats in fish oil capsules, and many cats showed taste aversion behaviors: episodes of excessive salivation, licking, head shaking, and sporadic vomiting were reported after giving them the capsule.

In fact, cats presented more than 1000 mild "adverse events" mainly related to administration (licking, drooling, etc.), while dogs only had about 50 events such as soft stools or mild vomiting . This indicates that giving CBD to a cat can be more challenging; flavored or topical forms could improve acceptance.

Regarding safety, the physiological side effects observed in cats and dogs were mild and transient. A dose-escalation study found that healthy cats could tolerate up to 30 mg/kg of CBD (a very high dose) without serious events, presenting only slight effects such as drowsiness, mild hypothermia, or ataxia when combined with THC . At "normal" doses (2–4 mg/kg), most cats showed no relevant clinical changes or significant alterations in analyses, apart from an isolated increase in ALT liver enzymes in certain individuals .

Relative efficacy:

Due to the scarcity of trials in cats, it is difficult to compare the effectiveness of CBD between species. However, given that cats tend to absorb less oral CBD, some specialists assume that they may require proportionally higher doses for conditions such as pain or epilepsy, or they may respond slightly less. This remains speculative.

What is known is that cats have fewer CB1 receptors in the brain than dogs (dogs have an unusually high density in the cerebellum, which explains why they are very sensitive to THC) . Even so, cannabinoid receptors are present in cats and perform similar functions, so CBD should act on them as well. A practical aspect: always choose THC-free CBD products for cats, as they are even more sensitive to THC toxicity.

In summary,

the main differences are in pharmacokinetics and tolerability. Dogs usually absorb CBD better and in studies have shown clear improvements in pain, anxiety, etc. In cats, although there is less data, it has been seen that they tolerate CBD, but may require more palatable presentations and perhaps adjusted doses. Always consult your veterinarian before giving CBD to a cat, as extrapolating doses from dog to cat is not straightforward. With professional guidance, CBD could be beneficial for cats with anxiety, pain, or inflammation, but it is an emerging field and each kitten may react differently.

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