Cats Handle Hemp Differently Than Dogs — Here's What a New Feline Review Actually Shows

Cats Handle Hemp Differently Than Dogs — Here's What a New Feline Review Actually Shows

If you own both a dog and a cat, you may have assumed a hemp product that works for one will behave the same way in the other. A comprehensive review published in September 2025 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery makes the case that this assumption is wrong. Cats absorb and break down cannabinoids through their own distinct pathways — and the honest headline for cat owners is that the feline science, while promising, is still early and much thinner than the dog research.

We think that's exactly what cat owners deserve to hear before they spend a dollar. So here's what the review, titled "Cats and cannabinoids: past, present and future," reports — and, just as importantly, what it says we still don't know.

Why a cat is not a small dog when it comes to hemp

The review's central point is metabolic. Cats process cannabidiol (CBD) and its raw acidic form, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), differently from dogs, humans, and lab rodents. According to the pharmacokinetic work the authors summarize, cats absorbed CBDA far more efficiently than CBD: at roughly comparable doses, one study reported a CBDA blood-concentration curve (AUC) of about 2,639 ng·h/ml versus roughly 908 ng·h/ml for CBD — meaning the acidic form reached the bloodstream on the order of three times more effectively in these cats.

The breakdown pathway is different too. In cats, the authors note, CBD metabolism "involves more extensive 6-hydroxylation" — producing a 6-OH-CBD metabolite — while "7-OH-CBD and 7-COOH-CBD, the primary metabolites in humans and rodents, are formed minimally or not at all." In plain terms: your cat's liver runs cannabinoids through a different chemical route than your dog's does. That doesn't make hemp uniquely dangerous for cats, but it does mean dog data can't simply be scaled down by body weight and applied to a cat.

What the safety picture looks like — honestly

On safety, the review is cautiously reassuring about the short term while flagging real caveats. In a group of geriatric cats (average age about 14 years) given a CBD/CBDA product for four weeks, researchers reported "no alterations in any parameter across all liver or kidney health markers," and the authors conclude that "short-term use appears to be safe." A dose-escalation study running from roughly 2.8 up to 30.5 mg/kg found the main adverse events were diarrhea and vomiting — some of which also showed up in the placebo group — with lethargy noted more often in the CBD group.

The caveat that matters most: in one treated group, two cats developed abnormal elevations in the liver enzyme ALT and were removed from the study. The authors treat this as a signal that hepatic (liver) monitoring is sensible, not as proof of harm. This is the kind of detail a marketing page tends to skip — and precisely the kind of thing a cat owner and their veterinarian should discuss before starting anything.

The dosing wrinkle: cats absorb poorly, and food matters

Several studies in the review point to cats being relatively inefficient absorbers of oral CBD. One trial documented serum levels with "no cat exceeding 35 ng/ml CBD, and many registering below 10 ng/ml," which the authors describe as "probable subtherapeutic dosing." A six-month study found essentially no measurable CBD in the bloodstream after a washout period — pointing to "relatively poor absorption yet adequate safety."

Two practical, evidence-based takeaways emerge. First, the authors note that "CBD absorption is improved in the fed state" and recommend that "dosing should occur with a food matrix" — in other words, give hemp with a meal, not on an empty stomach. Second, formulation genuinely matters: the review stresses that "various cannabinoid mixtures or products may have different effects on absorption," so two products at the same labeled milligrams can behave very differently in a cat.

How this stacks up against the dog evidence — and against our own trials

The contrast the review draws is the heart of the story: "the literature about clinical use of cannabinoids in cats remains limited, while there is an ever-growing body of work that favors the addition of cannabinoids in dogs." The dog side of the field has climbed higher up the evidence ladder — including randomized, placebo-controlled trials. The cat side is still building its foundation.

We hold ourselves to that same honest yardstick. HempMy Pet's own university clinical trials sit at Level 3 on this ladder — a 90-day prospective study in 30 dogs with chronic joint discomfort, run with researchers at Colorado State University, and a separate equine study at Tarleton State University. Those are prospective clinical studies, meaningfully stronger than the anecdotes (Level 8) that most of this industry relies on. But we won't pretend our dog trial tells you what happens in a cat. It doesn't. For cats, today's best available evidence is expert review and a handful of small trials — Level 7 — and we'll say so plainly on our cat hemp products and everywhere else.

What this means for you as a cat owner

The feline cannabinoid field is early but moving. If you're considering hemp for a cat, the review supports a measured approach: choose a product with published, verifiable third-party lab results so you know exactly what's in it; give it with food; start low and go slow; and loop in your veterinarian, especially for a senior cat or one with any history of liver concerns, so bloodwork can be monitored. Cats are their own species, with their own chemistry — and the science is finally starting to treat them that way.

Frequently asked questions

Do cats really process hemp differently than dogs?
Yes. The 2025 review reports that cats metabolize CBD mainly through a 6-hydroxylation pathway and produce little to none of the 7-OH-CBD metabolite that dominates in dogs, humans, and rodents. They also appear to absorb CBDA more efficiently than CBD. Because of these differences, dog dosing and dog research don't translate directly to cats.

Is hemp safe for cats?
The reviewed short-term studies were generally reassuring — one four-week geriatric-cat study found no changes in liver or kidney markers, and the authors write that "short-term use appears to be safe." However, two cats in one study showed elevated liver enzymes and were withdrawn, so the authors recommend liver monitoring. This is a structure/function wellness discussion, not medical advice — talk to your veterinarian about your individual cat.

Should I give my cat hemp with food?
The review notes that CBD absorption improves in the fed state and recommends dosing with a food matrix. Giving hemp alongside a meal is a simple, evidence-supported way to help a cat's body take up more of what you're giving.

How strong is the science on hemp for cats right now?
Honestly, still early. The authors count only four placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trials in cats. That places the current feline evidence at expert-review level (Level 7 of 8 on our Veterinary Evidence Ladder) — promising and worth following, but not yet the robust clinical proof that exists on the dog side.

Why does HempMy Pet talk about "evidence levels" at all?
Because pet owners deserve to know how strong the science actually is before they buy. We grade every claim on an 8-level ladder and only draw the conclusions that level supports. It's the same standard we apply to our own clinical trials.