Best CBD Oil for Cats With Cancer: Reviews & Guide (Mar. 2023)

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Early research suggests that CBD can alleviate some symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy, and even slow tumor growth. Unfortunately, the CBD market is filled with thousands of products of varying quality. Many contain less CBD than advertised, while others carry pesticides or other contaminants.

That’s why I compared more than 30 pet CBD oils and treats based on their third-party lab test results, hemp quality, potency, formula, customer reviews, price, and other criteria.

Read on for my picks of the best CBD oil for cats with cancer, plus a science-based guide on using CBD for this debilitating condition.

Summary

The overall best CBD oil for cats with cancer is the pet tincture from Receptra Naturals. It’s full-spectrum, potent, and has high levels of minor cannabinoids.

1. Best Overall: Receptra Naturals pet tincture | Full review
2. Best Value: Lazarus Naturals CBD pet tincture | Full review
3. Strongest: NuLeaf Naturals pet CBD oil | Full review
4. Best THC-Free: Joy Organics tincture for dogs & cats | Full review
5. Best Treats: Holistapet CBD cat treats | Full review

Receptra Naturals Pet Tincture (Best Overall)

My top pick is Receptra Naturals, a company recognized for its high quality. Its pet CBD oil is an excellent choice for cats with cancer.

This tincture is made with full-spectrum CBD and has a high amount of minor cannabinoids (~13.6%) which add more beneficial effects. It’s available in two strengths; I recommend the stronger version.

Receptra Naturals is a reputable Colorado brand with exceptional products rich in minor cannabinoids and terpenes.

Lazarus Naturals CBD Pet Tincture (Best Value)

If you’re looking to get the best value, I recommend Lazarus Naturals. This company is known for offering high-quality products at unbeatable prices. Its full-spectrum pet CBD oil costs only 3 cents per mg of CBD, which is far below the price of most competitor brands. 

You can choose from natural and wild salmon flavors and two bottle sizes.

Better yet, the CBD is derived from organic hemp grown in Oregon which comes from Lazarus Naturals’ own farm. An employee-owned company, Lazarus Naturals is known for its excellent quality, transparency, and commitment to low prices.

NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum Pet CBD Oil (Strongest)

Since cancer is such a serious condition, you may need to use a high-potency product. For these cases, I recommend the pet CBD oil from NuLeaf Naturals.

Its pet tincture is full-spectrum and has a high potency of 60 mg/ml for optimal effects. It’s available in three bottle sizes.

Founded in 2014, NuLeaf Naturals is one of the most trusted names in the CBD industry.

Joy Organics CBD Tincture for Dogs & Cats (Best THC-Free)

If you’re concerned about giving your feline companion THC then a broad-spectrum tincture is your best option. I’m a fan of Joy Organics because its pet tincture is certified organic by the USDA and has decent minor cannabinoid levels.

It contains only two ingredients–organic olive oil and organic broad-spectrum hemp extract–and comes in two strengths. Joy Organics is a trustworthy, family-run CBD brand out of Colorado.

Holistapet CBD Cat Treats (Best Treats)

Although CBD oil is the most effective form of CBD, edible treats can work well as an addition. My top pick here is Holistapet, a company dedicated to pet CBD products.

Unlike most treats on the market, its cat chews are made with broad-spectrum CBD, making them more effective. These edible treats have a pleasant salmon flavor and contain only natural ingredients.

Buying Guide for CBD Oil Products for Cat Cancer

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the more than 120 cannabinoids present in cannabis. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the best-known cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t make you high.

CBD offers a wide variety of health benefits for both humans and pets, such as reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and alleviating pain and inflammation. 

There’s also some evidence that it can help with cancer and other debilitating conditions. CBD is typically sourced from hemp, a legal type of cannabis with low (<0.3%) THC levels.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is the most popular type of CBD product. It consists of two major ingredients:

1. CBD extract: cannabinoid-rich oil extracted from the flowers and other above-ground parts of hemp. Cannabidiol is the main active compound in this extract but it can also contain other cannabinoids and many other beneficial compounds such as terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids.
2. Carrier oil: a plant-based oil that helps the body absorb CBD and makes it easier to dose. Coconut-derived MCT oil is the most common carrier oil.

CBD oil can also contain flavoring and other active ingredients. 

Keep in mind that CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil, which is cold-pressed from hemp seeds, not the plant. This oil does not contain any CBD or other cannabinoids.

Benefits of CBD for Cat Cancer

CBD has many beneficial properties that can improve the lives of cats suffering from cancer. There’s evidence that:

• CBD can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation
• CBD can reduce pain associated with cancer and chemotherapy
• CBD can alleviate nausea and vomiting caused by cancer and chemotherapy
• CBD can also help with allergic reactions that may be caused by some chemotherapy drugs
• CBD may even be able to directly slow cancer tumor growth

Let’s take a closer look at specific research studies highlighting these effects.

CBD and Cancer: The Research Evidence

There’s a growing volume of research demonstrating the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids for cancer. For starters, there’s evidence that CBD has direct anti-cancer effects that can slow tumor growth: (5)

• Several petri dish studies found that CBD had anticancer effects against leukemia cells (6, 7)
• A 2006 study found that CBD suppressed breast cancer growth better than four other cannabinoids, while a 2018 study found that it promoted the death of breast cancer cells (8, 9)
• A 2012 study reported that CBD reduced tumors and had other beneficial effects in mice with colon cancer (10)
• According to a 2015 review paper, animal studies suggest that CBD may slow the progression of breast, lung, prostate, colon, and other types of cancer (11)

Furthermore, there’s evidence that CBD can alleviate symptoms caused by cancer and chemotherapy, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions:

• One 2013 study reported that CBD reduced pain caused by Paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug (12)
• A 2010 clinical study found that the combination of THC and CBD relieved pain in cancer sufferers better than THC by itself (13)
• A 2002 study found that CBD alleviate nausea in rats, leading the researchers to conclude that it “may have therapeutic value in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea” (14)
• A 2019 study found that CBD reduced inflammation in mice with allergic asthma, suggesting that it may help ease allergic creations to chemotherapy drugs (15)

Although more research specifically looking at feline cancer is needed, the current evidence suggests that CBD can improve the quality of life of animals suffering from cancer and potentially even slow cancer tumor growth.

How Can CBD Oil Help Cats With Cancer

CBD produces most of its anti-cancer effects by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is about 600 million years old and present in humans, cats, dogs, and many other animals (16).

The ECS regulates major bodily processes such as pain, immunity, sleep, mood, digestion, cognition, and appetite to maintain an internal state of balance called hemostasis. It consists of cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids (cannabinoids made by the body), and enzymes that help break and build these compounds. 

Although the ECS in cats and other animals has not been studied extensively, we do know that it functions similar to how it works in humans.

Research suggests that the endocannabinoid system can help with cancer in many ways:

• Cannabinoid receptors affect cell survival and other processes that hold the key to suppressing cancer (17)
• The endocannabinoid anandamide has been shown to promote the destruction of cancer cells, reduce the migration of cancer cells, and prevent the formation of new blood vessels by tumors (18, 19)
• Cannabinoid receptors can also stimulate the immune response against cancer (17)
• The endocannabinoid system’s regulatory effects mean that it can help with pain, inflammation, nausea, and other symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment

CBD helps support these and other functions of the endocannabinoid system by elevating the levels of endocannabinoids (20). 

In addition, CBD has been demonstrated to help with symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy in other ways, such as:

• Interacting with other parts of the body that regulate pain and inflammation, such as glycine receptors and adenosine (21, 22)
• Interacting with serotonin receptors, which may explain CBD’s anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects (23)

The bottom line: cats have an endocannabinoid system just like humans, and it can respond to CBD and produce beneficial effects.

Is CBD Oil Safe for Cats?

CBD is considered safe for cats and other animals. Although one study did mention increased licking and head shaking in some cats who were given CBD oil, there were no serious side effects reported (24).

Aside from that, numerous studies of CBD in dogs and mice have also found that it’s a generally safe substance with few side effects.

Additionally, CBD has been shown to have few and minor side effects in people, such as tiredness, dry mouth, and diarrhea, so it’s possible that similar effects may occur in cats and other animals (25).

The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded in its 2018 report that “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile” (26).

Nonetheless, I recommend consulting your vet before giving your cat CBD. If available, a qualified vet is always the best source of knowledge.

Tips to Maximize The Benefits of CBD Oil in Cats

If you’re interested in trying out CBD oil to help your cat’s cancer, here are some key tips to keep in mind:

• Opt for full-spectrum CBD products over pure CBD (isolate). Full-spectrum products offer greater benefits thanks to the entourage effect (1).
• You may need to find pet CBD products with a higher potency than normal for optimal relief. Look for products with a potency of 4 mg/ml or higher. 
• Only buy from companies that provide third-party lab test results confirming the potency and safety of their CBD products.
• Try to apply CBD oil directly under the tongue or at least the mouth rather than adding it to your cat’s food, as this will result in greater effects due to greater absorption.
• CBD oil is far more effective than edible cat treats. Edible CBD products should only be used in addition to CBD oil.

CBD Oil Dosage for Feline Cancer

Just like with people, there’s no ideal dosage of CBD that will work for all cats with cancer. There are simply too many factors, such as the severity of the symptoms, the benefits you’re looking to achieve, the weight of your cat, and the type of product you’re using.

The best-case scenario is to talk with a veterinarian knowledgeable about CBD or cannabis to suggest the right dosage for your cat.

If that’s not possible, start with the dose recommended by your product. From there, you can assess how your cat responds and gradually increase the dosage over several days and weeks until you see the desired effects. Be patient and consistent as the effects of CBD can be subtle and build up over time.

As a general guideline, doses of 0.25–0.5 mg of CBD per lb of body weight are sufficient for cats. However, since cancer is a serious condition, you may need to use higher dosages.

How To Give Your Cat CBD Oil

Although CBD oil can be simply added to your cat’s food, I recommend using the sublingual (under-the-tongue) method or at least applying it to the inside of the ears or in the mouth.

While your feline companion is unlikely to cooperate, this method of administration has greater benefits because CBD can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through tiny blood vessels in the mouth. 

By comparison, oral products have notoriously low absorption because they have to pass through the digestive system.

CBD Oil vs. Edible Treats for Feline Cancer

Aside from tinctures, cat CBD products also come in other forms such as edible treats. Although such products are also beneficial, they are not nearly as effective as standard CBD oil due to low bioavailability (absorption).

Simply put, when CBD is ingested, much of it is lost in the digestive tract before reaching systemic circulation. In fact, research studies estimate that only about 6–19% of CBD that’s taken in an oral form reaches the blood (27, 28).

Due to this, it’s best to only use cat treats as an addition to CBD oil rather than a replacement.

CBD Oil vs. Standard Cat Cancer Treatments

Feline cancer is treated in a similar way to cancer in humans. Surgery is the most common option for cancer-related lumps or bumps and is the most likely to cure the disease.

Meanwhile, more aggressive types of cancer are typically treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This includes lymphoma, the most common type of cancer in cats.

Unfortunately, the survival rate for cats undergoing these treatments is lower than with surgery, and treatment is focused primarily on improving quality of life rather than a cure. Additionally, the costs of all of these treatments are not cheap, and can easily cost upwards of $5000.

In that sense, CBD can be a cheaper alternative that can also be used alongside standard medical therapy. Still, I want to stress that while CBD is promising, there isn’t yet enough evidence to call it a reliable treatment for cat cancer.

Can I Give My Cat “Human” CBD Oil?

You absolutely can use regular CBD oil for your pet. After all, the two main ingredients, CBD extract and carrier oil, are the same in both pet and human products.

Having said that, regular “human” CBD oil is much more potent than tinctures designed for cats. Due to this, I recommend paying close attention to the potency of your oil and using small doses.