Evaluation of Cannabidiol Oil's Effects on Sedation, Behavioral Responses to Handling, and Nociceptive Thresholds in Healthy Cats

Abstract

This study explored the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on clinically relevant parameters, including sedation, compliance, and temperament, as well as mechanical nociceptive thresholds in healthy cats. Nine client-owned cats (3.44 ± 2.35 years, mean ± standard deviation) were assessed prior to (baseline) and 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after oral administration of 8 mg/kg CBD oil via capsule. Sedation scores increased significantly 2, 4, and 8 h post administration compared to baseline (all medians = 1 vs. 0 at baseline; p < 0.001). Compliance and temperament scores were significantly reduced 2 and 4 h post dosing, with median scores decreasing from 1 at baseline to 0 after 2 and 4 h for both parameters (p < 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively). Mechanical nociceptive thresholds and sensitivity, assessed using an algometer and von Frey filaments, respectively, along with physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature), remained unchanged across timepoints. These results indicate that 8 mg/kg CBD induces mild sedation and reduces handling resistance in healthy cats without affecting nociceptive thresholds or physiological stability. Therefore, CBD may facilitate non-painful procedures requiring animal cooperation; further controlled studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Keywords: behavior; cannabidiol; cat; compliance; nociceptive threshold; sedation.

Figure 1

Sedation scores of individual cats (n = 9) at baseline (0 h) and 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after administration of 8 mg/kg CBD oil. Each symbol represents a single cat.

Figure 2

Compliance scores of individual cats (n = 9) at baseline (0 h) and 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h following administration of 8 mg/kg CBD oil. Each symbol represents a single cat.

Figure 3

Temperament scores of individual cats (n = 9) at baseline (0 h) and 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h following administration of 8 mg/kg CBD oil. Each symbol represents a single cat.

Figure 4

Mechanical sensitivity measured using von Frey filaments at the lumbosacral joint area of eight cats at baseline (0 h) and 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after administration of 8 mg/kg CBD. The horizontal line within each box represents the median. Box limits correspond to the 25th and 75th percentiles, and whiskers extend to the minimum and maximum values within 1.5 times the interquartile range (IQR). Outliers beyond this range are displayed as individual markers.

Figure 5

Mechanical nociceptive thresholds measured using an algometer at the lumbosacral joint area (a), the medial aspect of the right stifle joint (b), and the medial aspect of the left stifle joint (c) in seven cats at baseline (0 h) and 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after administration of 8 mg/kg CBD. The horizontal line within each box represents the median. Box limits indicate the 25th and 75th percentiles, and whiskers extend to the minimum and maximum values within 1.5 times the interquartile range (IQR). Data points beyond this range are considered outliers and are displayed as individual markers.

Figure 6

The Venn diagram compares all identified proteins labeled as “Cannabis” (44,657 proteins) with “Reviewed” entries (116 proteins). The intersection shows 33 proteins that are common between these two datasets, indicating proteins associated with cannabis and also reviewed entries (a). The Venn diagram displays the distribution of the 33 “Cannabis/Reviewed” proteins compared to THCA and CBDA synthase proteins (22 proteins in total). A single protein is common between these datasets (b). Below each Venn diagram, bar graphs illustrate the size of each dataset: A: “Cannabis” (44,690) and “Reviewed” (116); B: “Cannabis/Reviewed” (33) and “THCA/CBDA synthase” (22).

Figure 7

Line graphs illustrating the concentrations of five cannabis-related proteins (CBDAS3 (a), THCA (b), THCA4 (c), THCA5 (d), and THCAS (e)) in each cat 1 h (H1), 2 h (H2), 4 h (H4), and 12 h (H12) after administering 8 mg/kg of CBD oil. Box plots presenting the median concentrations of the same five cannabis-related proteins (CBDAS3 (a), THCA (b), THCA4 (c), THCA5 (d), and THCAS (e)), along with their interquartile ranges (IQR), across the four timepoints (1, 2, 4, and 12 h). The median concentrations remained consistent over time, with no statistically significant differences observed at any post-administration timepoint (p > 0.05).