Catnip and Marijuana
Catnip is a plant that comes from the mint family. The evergreen shrub features fluffy foliage, violet-hued white blossoms, and an overpowering aroma that sends cats into a trance when inhaled. Contrarily, cannabis is derived from a plant known as Cannabis sativa. Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the compound in cannabis that causes the altered states of consciousness that people experience.
Sometimes doctors will prescribe marijuana to cancer patients to help with pain and nausea from chemotherapy, and to treat specific ailments in AIDS patients. Still, it’s unclear if the plant offers any advantages for our feline companions. It is actually highly recommended that cats stay far away from smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or marijuana use.
Symptoms
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states that your cat might have low blood pressure, hypersalivation, dilated pupils, or extreme sleepiness or excitement. In rare cases, there may also be instances of low body temperature or even death. Additional symptoms most commonly observed include:
- Uncoordination, falling over
- Depression, sometimes alternating with agitation or anxiety
- Vomiting
- Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
- Seizures, sometimes coma
You should take your cat to the vet right away if it exhibits any of the aforementioned symptoms.
- It’s crucial to let the veterinarian know if you have any reason to think your cat has consumed marijuana in any form or was exposed to marijuana smoke. In some cases, prompt treatment can even save your cat’s life by reducing the most severe symptoms.
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The Spruce / Hilary Allison
How Cats Are Exposed to Marijuana
Cats are typically exposed to marijuana through smoke inhalation or consumption of dried marijuana. While some individuals who have tried smoking catnip report feeling content and at ease, cats shouldn’t be made to “smoke” anything.
It is not advisable to smoke marijuana anywhere near a cat because of the cumulative effects of breathing in any kind of smoke, especially if the cat has asthma or other lung conditions. This is something to keep in mind because, unlike cats, humans are capable of making informed decisions about these kinds of subjects.
Cats may occasionally nibble on the buds and/or leaves of a marijuana plant that is growing. Additionally, marijuana-infused cookies or brownies may be given to cats by humans. The brownies and/or cookies may also contain chocolate, which is poisonous to cats on its own, so the harm to the cat is doubled up.