CBD for Cats: How Much to Give and What to Watch For
Updated October 12, 2026Zen Bliss team · October 2026
In short: Cats need very little CBD. The Dose Finder starts every cat at mild, 0.5 mg per 10 lb of body weight per dose, which for almost any cat is 1 drop of our pet oil (about 0.75 mg per drop, lab-measured); moderate is 1 mg and strong 1.5 mg per 10 lb, up to twice a day, with strong only under your vet's guidance. Research in cats is limited, so use only THC-free CBD, never anything with THC or Delta-8, and talk to your vet first.
This guide covers which CBD a cat can have, how much, how to give it and what to watch for. It makes no promise about your cat's health; those questions belong with your vet.
What CBD is, and which kind to use for a cat
CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound from the hemp plant and isn't intoxicating on its own. THC is the compound that causes a high, and it is dangerous for cats and dogs.
For a cat, use only a THC-free CBD isolate made for pets: CBD refined to 99%+ purity, with no THC and no other cannabinoids. Our CBD Oil for Pets is CBD isolate in MCT oil with natural bacon flavour, and THC was not detected on its lab report.
Keep these away from your cat:
- Anything with THC: Delta-8 gummies and oils, full-spectrum products, cannabis and edibles.
- Gummies made for people. Some contain sweeteners such as xylitol, which is dangerous for dogs, and they hold far more CBD than a cat needs.
- Flavoured oils with added essential oils, and tinctures made with alcohol. Ingredients that suit people don't always suit cats.
What we know, and what we don't
Only a handful of small studies have looked at CBD in cats, mostly measuring blood levels and side effects in a few healthy cats over days or weeks. They can't tell us whether CBD does anything for a cat's health.
- In a 12-week study, 8 healthy cats given a CBD-rich hemp oil twice a day reached much lower blood levels than dogs on the same amount per kilogram. Many licked excessively and shook their heads after the oil, and 1 cat had a raised liver enzyme reading throughout.
- In a study of 20 healthy cats given rising single doses, side effects were mild and passed on their own. Upset stomach was more common with oils made in MCT oil (our pet oil's carrier), and sleepiness, low body temperature and wobbliness with oils that contained THC.
In 2022, the animal subcommittee of Health Canada's Science Advisory Committee on Health Products Containing Cannabis found enough safety evidence only for dogs, at very low doses of 0.2 to 2 mg per kg by mouth twice a day. For cats, it called the evidence "insufficient to draw any reliable conclusions or provide any specific recommendations." It also said a vet should be consulted before cannabinoids are combined with other medications, and that sleepiness was the side effect reported most often in pets.
The Dose Finder's cat amounts work out to about 0.1 to 0.3 mg per kg, at or below the low end of that dog range. That is not a safety finding for cats, which is why every cat starts at mild.
Health Canada is still exploring how CBD products for animals could be regulated as non-prescription veterinary drugs. We make no claim that our pet oil does anything for any health condition.
How much CBD to give a cat
The cat setting in our Dose Finder (choose "My dog or cat", then "Cat") gives amounts per dose, up to twice a day:
- Mild: 0.5 mg per 10 lb of body weight. Every cat starts here.
- Moderate: 1 mg per 10 lb, only after a week at mild.
- Strong: 1.5 mg per 10 lb, only with your vet.
It never goes below 0.5 mg a dose. Here is what that looks like with our pet oil:
| Cat's weight | Mild, per dose | Moderate, per dose |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 0.5 mg, about 1 drop | 0.6 mg, about 1 drop |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 0.5 mg, about 1 drop | 0.8 mg, about 1 drop |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 0.5 mg, about 1 drop | 1 mg, about 1 drop |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 0.6 mg, about 1 drop | 1.2 mg, about 2 drops |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 0.75 mg, about 1 drop | 1.5 mg, about 2 drops |
Drops use the lab-measured strength of the current batch, about 0.75 mg per drop (the label says 350 mg per bottle; the lab measured 456 mg), rounded to the nearest whole drop, minimum 1. Since 1 drop is the smallest amount you can measure, cats up to about 11 lb get 1 drop at mild and moderate alike; for them, the step up is a second daily dose, with your vet's input.
The Dose Finder works from the label strength, so for some weights it suggests one drop more than this table. With a cat, start with the smaller number.
How to give it
- Put the drops on a little wet food or a treat your cat will finish. Oil dropped straight into the mouth is harder to give.
- Give it once a day for the first week, at the same time each day, starting on a day you are home.
- Hold each amount for about a week, and change one thing at a time: how much or how often, not both.
- Keep a short note of the date, the drops, the food and anything you notice, to show your vet.
What to watch for
Watch closely for a few hours after the first dose and after any change, for:
- sleepiness, or much less activity than usual
- drooling, lip licking or head shaking
- vomiting or diarrhea
- eating more or less than usual
- wobbliness or unsteady walking
If you see any of these, stop giving CBD and call your vet. If your cat collapses, struggles to breathe or can't be woken, go to an emergency animal hospital.
If your cat eats a product made for people, such as a CBD or Delta-8 gummy, cannabis or anything else with THC, call your vet, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control line straight away, even if your cat seems fine. Keep the package so you can say what was in it.
When to talk to your vet first
Talk to your vet before you start, and don't start without their advice if your cat:
- takes any medication or supplement (CBD can change how the liver processes some drugs)
- has any health condition, including liver or kidney problems
- is a kitten or a senior, or is pregnant or nursing
Ask again before moving up from mild, and always before the strong setting. Mention the CBD before any blood test, surgery or new prescription, since CBD has raised liver enzyme readings in some studies.
Storage and safety
- Store the bottle somewhere cool and dark, with the cap closed tightly after every use.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets. A bacon-flavoured bottle can be tempting to chew.
- Keep human CBD products and anything with THC sealed and stored separately, where pets can't reach them.
More tips are in Storing your CBD products.
Have a dog as well?
Dogs use the same pet oil at 0.5, 1 or 2.5 mg per 10 lb per dose (mild, moderate or strong), up to twice a day, starting at mild. Choose "Dog" in the Dose Finder, and never use dog amounts for a cat. Our pet range is on our CBD for pets page.
FAQ
Is CBD safe for cats?
No one can promise that for every cat. In small studies, healthy cats given CBD mostly had mild side effects such as licking, head shaking or an upset stomach. Health Canada's advisers found the evidence in cats too limited for reliable conclusions, so start low and talk to your vet.
How much CBD should I give my cat?
Start at mild, 0.5 mg per 10 lb of body weight per dose, once a day for the first week: about 1 drop of our pet oil for almost any cat. After that, with your vet's input, give it twice a day or move to moderate. The Dose Finder works it out from your cat's exact weight.
Can I give my cat human CBD oil?
You can use an unflavoured, THC-free human oil, but a cat-sized amount is hard to measure: our 1000 mg oil for people holds about 1.7 mg per drop, more than 3 times the mild amount for a 10 lb cat. Flavoured oils, gummies and tinctures may contain ingredients not meant for cats, and anything with THC or Delta-8 is dangerous.
How long does CBD take to work in cats?
We can't promise any particular effect. On timing, one study found the CBD level in cats' blood peaked about 2 hours after a dose by mouth. Keep the same amount for about a week before deciding whether to change anything.
Do vets recommend CBD for cats in Canada?
It varies, so ask yours. Research in cats is limited and Health Canada is still working out how CBD products for animals should be regulated, so some vets may be careful about naming a product or an amount. Health Canada's advisers say vet oversight is important for now.
Can cats have THC?
No. THC, including Delta-8 THC, is dangerous for cats and dogs. If your cat eats any THC product, call your vet or an animal poison control line straight away.
Our CBD Oil for Pets is THC-free CBD isolate at about 0.75 mg per drop, with a lab report for the current batch. Find it, with dosing help for dogs and cats, on our CBD for pets page.