CBD for Cats Seizures and Epilepsy: Everything You Need to Know

What are Seizures in Cats

A seizure, also known as a convulsion or fit, is a sudden surge in the brain’s electrical activity causing signs such as twitching, shaking, tremors, strokes, and spasms. Epilepsy is used to describe repeated episodes of seizures.

With epilepsy, the strokes can be single or may occur in clusters, and they can be infrequent and unpredictable or may occur at regular intervals. Some seizure disorders are caused by disease within the brain, such as a tumor or an area damaged due to trauma or injury.

Other forms of epilepsy may have no detectable cause and are termed idiopathic epilepsy. Idiopathic epilepsy is an inherited disorder in dogs and is less frequently diagnosed in cats. Compared to dogs, seizures and epilepsy are much less common in cats and are usually symptoms of disease within the brain.

TOP 5 CBD products for cats seizures

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 CBD 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 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 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.

Symptoms of Seizures in Cats

A seizure may have several signs or only a few, including:

• Loss of consciousness 
• Muscle contraction 
• Hallucinations 
• Involuntarily urination, defecation, drooling (salivation) 
• Loss of recognition of the owner 
• Vicious behavior 
• Pacing 
• Running in circles 

A specific seizure will have three pieces. In the first (aural) stage, the cat’s behavior will be out of routine. It may hide, seem anxious, or search for its owner. It may be restless, shaking, or salivating. The aural stage may last from a few seconds to a few hours. 

The second stage is the seizure, enduring from a few seconds to about five minutes. All of the muscles of the body may contract. The cat may fall on its side and seem oblivious to what is happening. The head will be thrown backward by the convulsions. It will likely urinate, defecate, and salivate. If this lasts more than five minutes, the seizure is said to be prolonged.

A seizure is frightening for the viewer, but you must know that the cat is not in pain. To evade being bitten, do not put your fingers in your mouth. You will want to save the cat from hurting itself, but leaving it on the floor is more suitable. The cat will require treatment if its body temperature rises dramatically.

Following the seizure, the cat will be confused and disoriented. It will drool and stride. There may be momentary blindness. The length of this stage is not related to the size of the seizure itself.

If your cat is having a seizure, pay attention to the details. Your veterinarian will need specific details to make the proper pre-diagnosis. It would help if you observed breathing routines, motion or rigidity of limbs, eye motion, salivation, body twisting, and muscle twitching. Your veterinarian will want to know how long the episode lasted as well, make a note of that. Once the seizure is over, your presence and attention will calm your cat as he recovers co

Causes of Seizures in Cats

Diseases that affect the brain directly and conditions that involve other body systems, especially liver or kidney disease, can cause seizures. Seizures often occur when varying brain activity, such as during excitement or feeding, the cat falling asleep, or waking up. Affected cats can appear completely normal between seizures.

Diagnosis of Seizures in Cats

Since many conditions can lead to seizures, it is essential to perform diagnostic examinations to investigate the underlying reason. A range of tests is often required before a diagnosis can be made. This will likely involve blood and urine samples to look for extracranial (outside of the brain) causes. Radiographs (X-rays) to consider the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that covers the brain may be recommended and require a general anesthetic.

Powerful imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer-assisted tomography (CT), can look instantly at the brain’s structure. These technical imaging technologies are only available at a limited number of specialist referral camps but are necessary for diagnosing specific causes of seizures, such as brain tumors.

Treatment for Seizures in Cats

Treatment for your cat’s seizures depends on the nature of the underlying disease. With recent developments in medicine, many previously untreatable diseases may be treated, although this can require referral to a specialist.

Any cat having regular seizures (more than one every six to eight weeks) must receive treatment, even if the cause is not understood. Each episode can lead to further brain damage and increase the likelihood of more severe seizures and complications. In cases where the convulsions’ cause is unknown or untreatable, the seizures will need to be treated with anticonvulsant medication. The treatment chosen will depend on each topic and specific needs. It may be necessary to adjust the dose, frequency, and type of drug several times before determining the best treatment. This can be frustrating, but finding the proper treatment is essential for your cat’s long-term well-being.

Even with treatment, it may not be possible to prevent seizures completely. In many cases, the goal is to reduce the attacks so your cat can have a good quality of life.

How much CBD oil should I give my cat for seizures?

Cat’s don’t require much CBD. They have small bodies, to begin with, and tend to be more sensitive to endocannabinoids than dogs or humans.

It’s essential to start with a minimal dose when first using CBD^[1] oil with your cat to see how they respond.

Start with 1 mg doses and work your way up in small increments until one of two things happens:

1. Symptoms start to resolve — you’ve found the optimal dose for your cat.
2. Your cat experiences side effects — this means you’ve gone over the optimal dose. Reduce the amount of CBD to the last dose that doesn’t produce side effects; this is the optimal dose for your cat. 

While every cat is different, some general dosage recommendations give you an idea of how much CBD oil to use with your cat. We’ve outlined these doses in the table below based on weight.

What happens if a cat has too much CBD?

Don’t be in too much of a hurry when you are trying to familiarize your cat with CBD.

Big doses are not only unnecessary for positive effects, but they might even hurt your cat. Ease CBD into your cat’s diet to give their body enough period to adjust to it without triggering any unwanted side outcomes.

Read the product instructions, and let your veterinarian lead you on the correct dosage.

Does CBD make cats sleepy?

Yes, CBD can make your cat downright sleepy. Although CBD first evolved popular due to its ability to reduce seizures in epileptic patients, there’s more to it. Today, it is frequently used to help with sleeplessness. 

But how does CBD work for sleep?

The solution is that we’re not quite sure. There are many more analyses to conduct. Here, however, are the top-two likely suspects:

Serotonin

The serotonin in your brain produces melatonin, a hormone responsible for your sleep-wake cycle. Due to this, changes to your serotonin classes can affect your sleep. It’s also true for your cat.

Conclusion 

Over many years, CBD has proven to be a practical option for people and animals, offering tremendous positive effects for your pet cat. Even if your cat is currently on medication, CBD can still be used to improve its overall health.

How quickly does CBD oil work in cats?

The duration for CBD to produce outcomes depends on several factors — the age of your cat, the reason for using CBD in the first place, the severity of symptoms, and the dose of CBD you’re using.

In general, CBD oil will begin taking effect immediately. If your cat is experiencing symptoms like pain or anxiety, you should notice results immediately. However, finding the correct dose can take some time, so be patient and follow the advice above to locate the optimal amount for your cat.

Some symptoms will take longer, even when you find the correct dose.

For example, inflammatory disorders, chronic joint disease, or digestive dysfunction will usually take a week or more before you should expect any improvement.

The rule of thumb is this — if it took a while for symptoms to appear, it would take a while for them to leave. If symptoms appear suddenly, they tend to go away suddenly as well. 

The bottom line: be patient when using CBD oils with cats. You may notice improvement immediately, but it could take up to a week (or longer).