A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Animals found that cannabidiol (CBD) may significantly reduce fear-related behaviors in domestic cats exposed to simulated thunderstorms.
Researchers from Japan’s Center for Research of Developmental Disorders tested 40 healthy cats in a laboratory setting designed to mimic a thunderstorm. The animals, none of which had prior exposure to the test, were divided into two groups. One group received CBD at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg/day for two weeks, while the other received a placebo consisting of sunflower oil.
Each cat was evaluated twice—once at the beginning of the treatment period and once at the end—during exposure to the same storm simulation. Among the most notable outcomes was a significant reduction in undesirable urination among cats in the CBD group. This behavioral improvement was not seen in the placebo group.
The findings suggest that CBD may be a useful option for managing noise-related anxiety in cats, offering pet owners a potential alternative to traditional treatments.
The study’s full abstract can be found below:
Abstract
In humans, cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-addictive component of cannabis, is known to possess considerable therapeutic potential. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CBD administration on reducing sound-induced fear in healthy domestic cats in a laboratory model of thunderstorm simulation. A total of 40 cats, each naïve to the current testing, were randomly assigned into either of two administration groups (CBD and placebo). Each group was then exposed to the thunderstorm test twice; once at the beginning of the administration (the administration of CBD at 4.0 mg/kg/day over a 2-week-period or the administration of the same amount of sunflower oil as a placebo) and once after the end of the administration. When undesirable urination was observed, occurrences of this behaviour were found to decrease significantly when CBD was administered. However, no such changes were recorded when the placebo was administered. These results indicate that CBD could be an effective option for the treatment of noise-induced fear.
