Is Marijuana Toxic to Cats?

[yuiyoshida]

Last edited Mon Mar 26, 2018, 06:39 AM - Edit history (1)

Question:
Is marijuana toxic to cats?
Will inhaling second-hand pot smoke cause problems? How about eating marijuana brownies or the leaves of the plant? I've heard that it just the same as catnip as far as cats go, but I wouldn't want to do anything to harm my cats.

Answer:
I'm glad you asked, as there seems to be differing opinions out there. Marijuana comes from a plant called "Cannabis sativa." The chemical in Cannabis that produces the altered states of consciousness human users enjoy is called "delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol" or "THC."


Although marijuana is sometimes prescribed for relief from pain and nausea from chemotherapy in cancer patients, and for certain conditions in AIDS patients, it is still questionable whether there is anything beneficial in this plant for our feline friends. I would certainly remain vehemently against allowing cats to be in close proximity to the smoke from marijuana use, as well as exposing them to a cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke.

How are cats exposed to marijuana?
The most common ways cats are exposed to marijuana is by inhaling smoke or ingesting dried marijuana. Although people who have experimented with smoking catnip became happy and relaxed, cats should not be forced to "smoke" any substance.

Because of the cumulative effects of inhaling any kind of smoke, it is inadvisable to smoke marijuana anywhere near a cat, particularly one with asthma or other lung diseases. Remember, humans have choices, cats often do not.

In some cases, cats may nibble on the leaves and/or buds of the growing marijuana plant. Humans may also feed their cats cookies or brownies made with marijuana. This is a double whammy of injury to the cat, as the brownies and/or cookies may also contain chocolate, which is toxic to cats on its own.

continues...
https://www.thespruce.com/is-marijuana-toxic-to-cats-555055

[safeinOhio]

1. Last year I came home and found

Lilly in distress. She could hardly stand or walk, eyes were watery and I feared she was having a stroke
I rushed her to the vet. He took her vitals and asked if she have ate some poison set out for mice. I said no. Antifreeze, no. Meds, I said no. Then I told him I do have a medical card. He said that had to be it. Said he sees it happen all the time. I felt so bad and he could tell.
He told me to take her home and give her some pizza and she’ll be fine.

[Glamrock]

2. I had a cat that loved to burn

He always got up in my face when I packed a bowl. He loved it.

[waddirum]

7. My kitty comes out of hiding

When a smoke session begins.

[BigmanPigman]

3. There are pot meds for dogs but do NOT do it yourself!

Mine almost died when a friend secretly gave my dog some oil for her pain and it almost killed her then I almost killed him for doing it. There is medicinal pot/THC for dogs but it is different than humans and you must go via a vet to be safe.

[concreteblue]

4. Cats love to eat fresh leaves.

Every cat I have ever owned loved to nibble on the fresh green leaves. Never affected them at all as far as I could tell.

[PoiBoy]

5. My dog loved to get high with me...

...whenever I "packed the pipe" she would jump up on my lap and watch me eagerly and expectantly... after a couple of hits she would jump down, lay on the floor and stare at the wall clock for about 45 minutes...

Sure do miss that girl...

[mopinko]

6. yeah, i have a dog like that, but

he is 100lbs, so i assume he has a high tolerance.

[Runningdawg]

8. Let me start by saying

no one ever encouraged my cat to smoke and he lived to be 21 years old, was never sick a day in his life and died in his sleep. Kitty liked a bong hit. Just one, a small one. It started when he would stick his head down the chamber of the bong after we had smoked. He became soooo insistent that we started leaving a little smoke for him. He didn't do it every time or even every day, but several times a week he would let you know what he wanted. Afterwards he would go mess with the dogs, pig out and then sleep. He wasn't interested in raw leaves or any edibles and cat nip had no effect on him.
Our current cat will sniff the container occasionally but that is where her curiosity ends.