CBD for Cat Aggression: Everything You Need To Know

What Is Aggression?

Aggression is the second most typical feline behavior problem seen by animal behaviorists. Although cat aggression is periodically taken less seriously than dog aggression—possibly because cats are smaller and don’t chase people to bite them—aggressive cats can be problematic.

They have five potential weapons (their teeth and all four clawed paws) compared to a dog’s only weapon of their mouth. Cats can bite and inflict painful lacerations, which are painful and can quickly become infected.

They can also cause cat scratch fever, a usually benign but potentially severe infectious disease that causes flu-like symptoms. Fights between cats rarely result in fatalities, but they can lead to infections and considerable veterinary expenses for cat parents. Aggressive cats can be risky at home and pose a real danger to family and visitors.

The consequences of aggressive behavior in cats can be significant, ranging from injuries to other cats and people to surrendering aggressive cats to shelters. A recent study reported that 27 percent of cats relinquished to shelters for behavioral reasons were submitted for aggression.

Given these high stakes, cat owners must understand the cause of their pet’s aggressive behavior to develop a plan to intervene successfully.

Understanding Cat Body Language

Understanding what cats express through their body language is important for cat parents. It allows them to more accurately “read” their cats and comprehend their feelings and reasons for doing what they do. It also enables them to respond more effectively to manners issues like aggression.

Body language contains cats’ body postures, facial expressions, and the position and carriage of particular body parts, like ears, tail and even whiskers. Cat body language is more subtle than a dog’s and can be more challenging for people to interpret. Knowing the fundamental postures and what they mean can help cat parents deal with issues more effectively and enjoy their cat’s presence more fully because they can comprehend a shared language.

 Aggression can be either offensive or defensive. An offensively aggressive cat tries to make himself look bigger and more intimidating, whereas a defensively aggressive cat embraces a self-protective posture and makes himself look more petite. The following are typical postures seen in feline aggression. A rule of thumb is not to touch, attempt to reassure, or punish cats showing these postures!

Offensive postures include: 

• A stiff, straight-legged upright stance 
• Stiffened rear legs, with the rear end raised and the back, sloped downward toward the head 
• The tail is stiff and lowered or held straight down to the ground 
• Direct stare 
• Upright ears, with the backs, rotated slightly forward 
• Piloerection (hackles up), including fur on the tail 
• Constricted pupils 
• Directly facing opponent, possibly moving toward him 
• It might be growling, howling or yowling

Defensive postures include:

• Crouching
• Head tucked in
• Tail curved around the body and tucked in.
• Eyes wide open with pupils partially or fully dilated.
• Ears flattened sideways or backward on the head.
• Piloerection (hackles up)
• In an anxious cat, whiskers might be retracted. In a fearful cat, whiskers might pan out and forward to assess the distance between himself and the danger.
• Turning sideways to the opponent, not straight on
• Open-mouthed hissing or spitting
• Might deliver quick strikes with front paws, claws out

Overt aggression, whether defensive or offensive, includes:

• Swatting, striking with paws
• Biting
• Fighting
• Growling, shrieking
• Scratching
• Preparing for an all-out attack by rolling onto the side or back and exposing all weapons: teeth and claws
• In this position, your cat might attempt to grab your hand and bring it to his mouth to bite it

Types of Cat Aggression

Cats can demonstrate aggression for several reasons. Defining the logic of a cat’s aggressive behavior is crucial, as different kinds of charges may be managed differently. The following are general categories of feline aggression and how they can each be managed. 

Play Aggression

Young cats and kittens not raised with littermates or lacking chances to play most typically show play aggression. Learning proper play is vital to a cat’s socialization, generally during time spent with littermates.

Cats know they are biting or scratching too hard when their littermates stop playing or retaliate. Cats raised alone during their early lives may not learn this essential lesson. Cats encountering play aggression often hit their tails back and forth, have their ears pinned to the tip of their head, and dilated pupils.

Walking away and managing a cat engaged in play aggression may instruct him that inappropriately aggressive play results in no play at all. Any commodities used to divert a cat from play aggression should be kept at a distance from your hands so that the cat cannot bite or scratch you while venting his attack on the plaything.

Fear Aggression

This type of attack may be seen when a cat faces foreign stimuli, such as a new person, animal, or noise, or when a cat is revealed to an experience that he associates with unpleasant circumstances, such as a trip to the veterinarian.

Cats showing fear aggression may flatten their ears against their heads, hiss, bare their teeth, or crouch low to the ground with their tail tucked under their body, and their fur may stand on end. The best way to deal with fear attacks is to identify and sidestep situations that deliver a fearful response.

It is also important not to retreat or show fear, as this may support the manners if your retreat is what the cat wants. Lack of awareness is a better way to handle anxiety and aggression.

Petting-Induced Aggression

For unknown reasons, some cats may suddenly become aggressive when being petted. Possible explanations include overstimulation and the cat’s attempt to handle when the petting ends. Handling, bathing, grooming, and nail trimming can also provoke this aggression.

The cat often reveals dilated pupils, tail lashing, and ears moving backward on the head before becoming forceful. It is essential to manage cats that display this kind of aggression in the company of young children, who often want to pet cats but miss the visible cues of an upcoming attack.

Ideally, owners should stop physical connections between small children and cats with a history of petting-induced aggression.

Redirected Aggression

When a cat is excited by a stimulus but cannot respond directly, the cat may shift his attack toward a human or another cat. The best way to prevent this sort of aggression is to remove or avoid the triggers, for example, by pulling down a window tint, using barriers to keep stray cats away from the window, or controlling aggressive interactions among indoor cats.

Pain-Induced

Aggression Cats in discomfort may behave aggressively toward people or other pets to avoid touch, action, or specific movements that might worsen the pain.

Cats with osteoarthritis, for example, may resent having their joints touched or abused and may hiss, bite, or scratch in reaction. Owners can handle pain-induced aggression by withholding from touching painful regions of a cat’s body and working with a veterinarian to show an effective therapeutic plan for pain control.

Status-Induced

Aggression Cats may occasionally show signs of aggression toward people or other pets when they want to establish social authority. Cats that block doors with their bodies or swat at other cats as they give may illustrate this.

The best way to manage status-induced aggression is to ignore an offending cat completely. Alerts, including play and food rewards, should be given only when an aggressive cat is comfortable.

A relaxing cat is not swatting or hissing, has normal-sized pupils, ears held upright, and normal tail posture, with the tail held upward with no flicking, twitching, or hairs on end.

Territorial Aggression

Animals of many species like to displace or keep other someone from their territory, and cats are no oddity. Both male and female cats are territorial, but males may protect larger territories than females.

Some cats bring a slow and steady process in their stalking, while others directly and aggressively give pursuit. A cat’s smelled territory could be the entire house or part of the yard, the block or the neighborhood. 

Some of the most standard issues that activate territoriality are:

• A kitten in the home reaches sexual maturity
• A new cat is presented into the home 
• Significant distinctions are made in the cat’s household or environment (for example, moving or somebody moving in)
• Stray or roaming cats in the neighborhood enter a cat’s territory 

Maternal Aggression

Queens that have just given birth and are nursing felines may exhibit aggression toward people that come to them. Owners should equip calm, low-stress requirements, keep guests to a minimum, and dodge contact with the queen and kittens if they keep aggression. Maternal aggression will usually reduce as the kitten ages and becomes more autonomous.

Inter-Cat Aggression

Male, and more infrequently female, cats may show aggression toward other male cats as they come to social maturity between two and four years of age. The first step in addressing this is to neuter or spay all cats, as sexual hormones may play an essential role in this aggression.

The territorial raid may also play a role, as described above. If neutering and spaying do not enhance the condition, the cats should be separated and reintroduced using the abovementioned technique.

TOP 5 CBD products for cats aggression

1. HolistaPet CBD Oil

As a non-GMO, no gluten, and no dairy oil, HolistaPet CBD Oil for Dogs & Cats is also one of the healthiest products on the pet market.

That said, HolistaPet CBD Oil for Dogs & Cats is available in five strengths. However, cat owners should only be interested in the 15ml bottle intended for smaller pets, specifically those under 20 lbs.

2. Honest Paws CBD Oil For Cats

The first CBD for cat aggression product cat owners should consider is Honest Paws CBD Oil for Cats – Well. Each milliliter contains 4 mg, a dose suitable for the majority of cats.

As a certified organic product, you don’t have to worry about whether pesticides and other substances are harmful to your cat. Honest Paws CBD Oil for Cats – Well contains a number of terpenes alongside CBD, which may increase its benefits

3. Medterra CBD Tincture For Pets

When it comes to the best CBD oil for your cat, Medterra is definitely an option to consider. Their pet CBD oil comes in three concentrations and two tasty flavors as well as an unflavored option.

If you’re looking for a liquid CBD for your cat, you may find the options limited when it comes to flavor. Felines tend to be picky eaters and the last thing you want to do is spend good money on a supplement just to have your pet turn up his nose.

4. NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum Pet CBD Oil

According to over 2,000 inspired customers, NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Pet Oil is most effective with mobility issues and arthritis.

This budget-friendly CBD for cat aggression oil is also recommended as an excellent remedy against anxiety and stress, sore and weak joints. External lab tests available on NuLeaf Naturals’ website support the quality and safety of this product.

5. CBDfx – CBD Oil Cat Tincture

CBDfx CBD Oil Cat Tincture offers an all-natural CBD product that is a good choice for senior cats. It contains anti-inflammatory CBD and cannabigerol (CBG), which may relieve conditions including epilepsy. The tasty chicken flavor makes it easy to give to picky cats too. You can incorporate it into meals (unless they are heated), or administer it directly into your cat’s mouth.

How does CBD for cat aggression work?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complicated cell signaling system in all animals. The ECS consists of three elements: endocannabinoids or internal cannabinoids, cannabinoid (CB) receptors, and enzymes.

The body creates endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters or messaging chemicals. These combinations activate the cannabinoid receptors, releasing diverse chemicals to assist the body remain in homeostasis or healthy balance.

Cannabinoid receptors are located throughout the body, which is why CBD and other plant-based cannabinoids have wide-reaching outcomes. CB1 is the receptor mainly found in the brain and central nervous system, whereas CB2 receptors are in the liver and the immune system. Unlike THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis, CBD does not bind with CB receptors. Instead, it interacts indirectly with them.

For this reason, CBD is not intoxicating. Researchers accept that the ECS plays a role in critical bodily processes involving the central nervous, digestive, endocrine, and reproductive systems. CBD and the other phytocannabinoids hold the key to the ECS because they can interact with the CB receptors like the body’s endocannabinoids.

Benefits of CBD for Cats

The benefits of CBD oil for cats are multiple, similar to the many benefits CBD can deliver to dogs. One of the most typical uses of CBD oil for cats is to reduce levels of inflammation in the body, directing to decreased pain.

Allergies, chronic pain, arthritis, autoimmune disease, and diabetes are all diseases associated with inflammation in the body. CBD for cat aggression oil for cats can benefit many conditions that are ailing your pet by handling the inflammation. CBD is also neuroprotective, which means CBD oil for cats can potentially aid with conditions like seizures in our cats.

Will CBD oil make my cat sleepy?

Yes, CBD can cause your cat to be particularly sleepy. Although best CBD oil for cats aggression first became widespread due to its ability to decrease seizures in epileptic patients, there’s more to it. Today, it is often used to help with sleeplessness. But how does CBD work for sleep?

The answer is that we’re not entirely certain. There are many more analyses to run. Here, however, are the top-two likely suspects: 

 The serotonin in your brain produces melatonin, a hormone responsible for your sleep-wake process. Due to this, differences in your serotonin levels can affect your sleep. It’s also true for your cat. It’s likely that CBD as natural remedies for cat aggression, triggers a sleep reaction because of its documented effects on 5-HT1a serotonin receptors, found both in humans and cats.

When CBD binds to serotonin receptors, it can stop anxiety-and depression-causing molecules. The same involves your cat taking CBD. Both humans and our furry friends become sleepy as CBD delivers a calming and relaxing feeling. 

Brain Pathways 

Another potential reason CBD sleepy cats is its ability to modulate adenosine pathways in the brain. What precisely do those pathways do? Adenosine is the substance that gets during the day and deactivates the sensory neurons in the area of the brain that keeps us awake. Essentially, adenosine makes you tired.

Can I give my cat CBD along with other medications?

While CBD and other CBD by-products can interact with around 60% of prescribed medication, there are several ways to use CBD in conjunction with other medicines safely. First, never stop giving your pet medication prescribed by your veterinarian until you’ve consulted them. This goes for medication that may have a potential interaction with CBD and medication that doesn’t.

From starting CBD off at a lower dose than usual to timing out when CBD should be given to allow for the prescription drug to break down first, there are many little things you can do to improve the safety of CBD. Your veterinarian can help you with these.

They can also monitor blood plasma levels to ensure your pet’s medication is being correctly metabolized or if it could do for a dosage adjustment. There are times when CBD is touted for its ability to lower the reliance or dosage of prescription medication.

One reason this happens is that CBD offers its benefits. But the other reason we speculate this happens is that CBD may raise the potency of the other medication in the body. Last, even if your pet can’t ingest CBD due to drug interaction, all hope of ever giving them CBD isn’t lost.

The beneficial compounds in CBD, hemp, and cannabis products can be administered topically. CBD lotions, salves, and creams are great for help with surface-level aches and pain, skin breakout, inflammation, and more.

These avoid entering the bloodstream, mainly preventing CBD from interacting with Cytochrome p450 enzymes. The skin is the largest organ and the first level of defense against nasties that can stress the body severely. Including CBD and hemp in your pet’s skincare regime is a great way to care for their general health.

Side Effects of CBD for Cats?

If you provide your pet a large amount of CBD that overpowers their system, here are some possible side effects you might see: Dry mouth, Lethargy or drowsiness, Low blood pressure or dizziness, Stomachs issues like vomiting and diarrhea

DRY MOUTH IS A TYPICAL CBD SIDE EFFECT. If your cat is given too much CBD, it could experience dry mouth. This is because CBD can reduce your animal’s saliva production. Dry mouth is a harmful side effect because it can cause dental issues for your dog or cat. They require their saliva to flush bacteria from their mouth so they don’t bring bad breath and tooth decay. You might notice your pet’s dry mouth because their breath stinks badly or they drink more water. If you see this side effect, you may require to reassess your pet’s CBD routine because you might be offering them too much.

TOO MUCH CBD CAN CAUSE DROWSINESS IN PETS Drowsiness is another expected side effect of CBD when it’s offered in amounts that are inappropriate for your animal. One of the benefits of CBD is that your pet can maintain their calm and decrease stress responses, but if that relaxation goes too far, your pet might lose some of their grit and energy. Pets with too much CBD might sleep for extended periods or struggle to stay awake during normal waking hours. Understanding your pet’s typical sleep habits will help you remember this side effect if it appears.

A SERIOUS OVERDOSE OF HEMP CBD CAN MAKE YOUR PET DIZZY Low blood pressure can be a side impact of CBD for pets that can cause light-headedness and dizziness. Dizziness on its own can be risky because your pet might fall and injure themselves. Even if your pet’s decline in blood pressure doesn’t cause dizziness, this condition is not healthy for your pet and should be avoided.

SOME CATS EXPERIENCE STOMACH ISSUES FROM CBD Your pet might encounter gastrointestinal side results from an overdose of hemp-derived CBD. New essences might irritate your pet’s gut, so be on the lookout for vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, or any other signs your pet’s digestive process is off. If you see these signs after starting a new CBD regimen with your pet, it might be the CBD, but it could also be another component in your chosen effect. Do a little research and consider trying another product with a different ingredient list.

How to Avoid CBD Side Effects in Your Pet

 CBD side outcomes are almost still due to giving your pet an obscene quantity. Follow these tips to make sure your pet has a positive experience:

1. Use the proper kind of CBD for your pet.
2. Start with the smallest suggested dose.
3. Give it some time if CBD is new to your cat.
4. Only use CBD creations that are hemp-derived and THC-free.

UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CBD 

The more you know about CBD, the easier it will be to preserve your cat’s safety and use this wellness resource effectively. It’s vital to comprehend that there are different types of CBD – not all hemp-derived CBD products are the same. CBD isolate, for example, is just cannabidiol (CBD) with nothing else. On the other hand, full-spectrum CBD has all the other terpenes and cannabinoids present in the plant, including trace groups of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Knowing the other CBD products for dogs and cats will help you choose the best one for your pet and ensure they don’t get any THC, which causes much more extreme side effects than CBD.

START WITH THE SMALLEST DAILY AMOUNT FOR YOUR PET: 

How much CBD oil should I give my dog or cat? Always begin with the smallest daily advised amount for your cat. If your pet is on the point of a weight range, go with a lighter-strength product. Even if you’re persuaded your cat or dog is crazy and will need a more practical daily amount, begin small. It would aid if you saw how your pet reacts to CBD before you increase their amount above what is advised. 

GIVE THE CBD TIME TO WORK IN YOUR PET’S BODY When you provide CBD to your dog or cat, it is processed by their endocannabinoid system. This system will generate the uses your pet will encounter throughout their body. CBD builds up over time with constant daily use, so it’s important to give your pet’s body time to adjust to this new product and allow those benefits to appear. Stick with the same quantity of CBD daily for a minimum of 30 days before making modifications.

ENSURE YOUR CBD PRODUCTS ARE THC-FREE* 

A dog will not overdose on hemp-derived CBD oil but may be at threat of overdosing on a CBD oil emanated from a different Cannabis plant with a higher THC concentration. CBD products you give to your cat or dog should be hemp-derived and THC-free. A solid CBD product for pets will also provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that proves its ingredient list is honest and accurate. Feeding your pet with high-quality CBD oil is one of the best ways to avoid side effects.