8 ways to administer CBD oil to your cat (tips & tricks)
Tips for administering CBD in cats
You may find that your cat doesn't mind the taste of CBD oil, in fact, he might actually like it. In that case, giving CBD oil to your cat will be a breeze. If not, you'll need to be a little more creative when it comes to the timing of administration.
Whether your cat is completely new to taking CBD or you are changing brands, it is always best to use the minimum amount when testing how your cat likes it. That way, if your cat declines your offer, you won't miss out on a full dose of CBD oil.
Whenever you are going to administer CBD to your cat, it will help you to be calm, especially when using the direct administration method. Cats can understand our emotions, so if you speed up the process or are too assertive, you may scare them away. You don't want your cat to associate the sight of CBD with fear. Once you find a method your cat prefers, try giving her a full dose that way.
We always recommend trying to administer CBD oil directly into the cat's mouth, on food or treats, before resorting to other solutions. Let's see what options we have and find out how to give your cat CBD oil.
1) Direct administration method
This is one of the easiest ways to give your cat CBD oil. You may not have to do anything at all. First, try taking a few drops in an eyedropper and putting them near your cat's mouth and nose. Let your curious cat explore, hopefully he'll take a liking to the oil after licking the dropper. If so, you've won and can give her the whole dose this way. However, if she turns away, you may need to be a little more assertive.
Measure out a dose of CBD oil for your cat and place it on a bowl in case the oil drips. Now find a nice place to sit and place your cat facing away from you. You can try wrapping the cat in a towel to provide additional comfort.
With one hand, stroke the cat and relax it. When your cat is calm, grasp the dropper with the other hand. Now, with the hand you're stroking, lift her head slightly by her jaw. Hold the head in place, place the dropper in the mouth and slowly squirt a dose. Release the oil at a rate that is not too high. Allow time for the cat to absorb the oil and swallow.
2) Adding CBD oil to cat food
This is usually the first method people resort to if their cat refuses the direct administration method. If your cat likes his food, this should be a piece of cake. Just prepare the cats food as you normally do. Then measure out a dose of CBD and spread it evenly over the food. You can use wet or dry food. Mix everything up to distribute the CBD evenly and give it to your cat.
3) Add CBD oil to cat treats
You can also try adding CBD oil to your cat's favorite treats. This method is very similar to adding CBD oil to food. All you have to do is take your cat's treats, evenly distribute a dose of CBD on the treats and give them to your cat. By breaking up the treats, you can create a larger surface area for the CBD oil to adhere to.
4) Use cat CBD treats
Using CBD-infused cat treats is super easy and effective. You can find different kinds online, but you should definitely pay attention to the ingredients. You want to avoid unhealthy, unnatural or processed ingredients.
5) CBD oil in an empty feeding dish
Another method we have had success with is to put cat CBD oil in an empty food dish. Your cat knows this is where the food and treats belong. It's where she's used to eating, and the bowl is full of delicious food smells that may tempt your cat to ingest the CBD oil. Leave it there for a while and watch to see if your cat likes it.
6) Tuna or tuna juice and CBD
I don't think there's a cat that can resist the smell of tuna. It's like cat food smeared with catnip. They'll go crazy for it. This is a nifty trick, but we recommend not using tuna too often, no more than every other day. Tuna is high in unsaturated fats and too much of this food can lead to vitamin E deficiency in cats. It is also high in mercury.
Take a spoonful of tuna and mix everything with CBD oil. Your cat should show interest as soon as the aroma hits the air. It may even beg you for more, but it will have to wait until next time.
7) Fish oil and CBD oil
Similar to CBD and tuna, you can give your cat CBD in combination with fish oil. Cats love fish oil. To use this method with your cat, simply measure out a dose of CBD and add a little fish oil to it. Fish oil comes in liquid or capsule form. You can use either version to mask the taste of CBD.
8) Put CBD oil on the paws
We list this method last. It should be your absolute last resort because it can work, but it can also be quite messy and wasteful. We do, however, list it for the most demanding felines.
You should know that cats are perfectionists when it comes to cleanliness. Did you know that you can use their compulsion for cleanliness to get CBD into their system? If you put oil on a cat's paw, it will feel the urge to lick it off. They'll unknowingly take their dose.
However, there is always a chance that your cat will just run off and then CBD will be everywhere. Temporarily placing your cat in a crate or bathroom can help keep mess and waste to a minimum if you decide to try this method.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to mask the taste of CBD oil for your cat. Let us know what works for you, or if you use other alternative methods!
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