Feline kidney disease isn’t just a physical taxing disease - it’s also incredibly tough on the mind. The discomfort caused by both the disease and its treatment can be mentally hard on cats. This can cause them to become stressed and anxious, leading to them developing depression. Today, we’ll learn about how depression is linked to feline kidney disease, and how CBD oil just might help with your cat’s depression and kidney disease.
How Does CKD Cause Depression?
Being sick isn’t easy, and it’s definitely not any fun. Kidney disease by itself is an incredibly stressful endeavor for any cat. There’s the unending pain, the lack of energy and vigor, the loss of appetite… the list goes on and on. Cats suffering from CKD end up losing the motivation and energy to enjoy their daily lives and continue to grow lethargic.
This is exacerbated by changes in their lifestyle due to the treatment needed to ensure their disease doesn’t get any worse. The changes in their food and snacks, the repeated and oft unwanted hospital visits, the uncomfortable pills and other forms of medication they are now forced to take also adds to their mental stress. Thus, the physical and mental changes in their lives can ultimately lead to them developing depression.
Symptoms of depression can manifest through changes in lifestyle habits. Depressed cats will shy away from social interactions, be unwilling to engage in games or other forms of entertainment (such as play-hunting) that they once enjoyed, and even take refuge in hiding spots away from others.
How Can CBD Oil Help Cats?
In recent years, CBD (cannabidiol) oil has emerged as an all-natural solution to pet mental healthcare. CBD is a non-psychotropic substance extracted from the cannabis plant that can help relieve anxiety and stress. Some studies have shown that these properties of CBD oil can have a positive effect on cats suffering from mental illnesses like depression.
The beneficial effects of CBD oil are as follows:
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Anxiety Relief
CBD oil can provide relief to the nervous system, reducing anxiety and stress. -
Mood Enhancer
CBD can influence serotonin receptors to help relieve symptoms of depression. -
Pain Management
CBD oil can soothe the chronic pain caused by kidney disease, reducing the general suffering and discomfort brought about by the disease. This, in turn, helps prevent depression in sick cats.
Additionally, while research on the matter is still in its early stages, there are hopes that CBD oil can have a positive effect on kidney health as well. Studies suggest that CBD oil’s anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties may prove effective in protecting the kidney’s ability to function. Furthermore, the same properties should be able to relieve the inflammation, cell damage, and oxidative stress caused by kidney disease.
How Safe Is CBD Oil?
Given that CBD oil is extracted from cannabis, you may have concerns about whether it’s suitable for cats.
That’s why it bears stating that unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychoactive compound in cannabis, CBD oil itself does not have any psychotropic effects. This is one of the aspects of CBD oil that make it safe for cats to use. In the US, legally sold CBD oil products contain no more than 0.3% THC. As such, there is virtually no chance of it giving your cat a high or causing any other mind-altering effects.
Of course, regulations on THC content can vary depending on countries. For instance, some countries in the EU allow up to 0.2% THC content (even less than the US), while others may not allow any THC content at all. Countries with strict regulations on all cannabis-related products, such as Korea and Japan, may have even stricter standards.
As such, if you plan on giving CBD oil to your cat, it is imperative that you look up your country’s regulations on THC content to ensure that your product conforms to the legal standards.
Conclusion
For cats with CKD, depression is an unwelcome yet persistent companion that follows them throughout their suffering and struggles. CBD oil may be a natural answer to help cats free themselves from this unwanted guest with its plethora of beneficial health effects. While physical treatment is obviously vital for your cat’s health, their mental wellbeing also merits attention. With CBD oil, you can help your cats on both fronts at once by providing stress relief and mood boosting, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects.
