How to Make CBD Cat Treats with Hemp Flower

CBD doesn’t just benefit humans: this non-intoxicating cannabinoid helps our furry friends live happy, healthy lives as well. As a result, cat owners across the country are starting to give their kitties CBD treats, but they’re often disappointed by the choices that are available in this product category. 

If, like many cat owners, you’ve flirted with the idea of making your own CBD-infused cat treats, we’ll make things easy by laying out each of the steps you’ll need to take in this guide. Along the way, we’ll also cover some of the most compelling benefits of crafting your own CBD cat treats instead of relying on pre-made options.

Research into CBD cat treats

Just like humans, cats have endocannabinoid systems. In humans, cats, and other mammals, the endocannabinoid system serves as a complex regulatory network that modulates bodily functions as varied as mood, metabolism, and pain sensation. The endocannabinoid systems in humans and cats are naturally modulated by endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) like anandamide, and they are also affected by plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) like THC and CBD.

Since their endocannabinoid systems are so similar to the endocannabinoid systems present in humans, it’s safe to assume that CBD affects both cats and humans in similar ways. To date, only one study has been conducted into the effects of CBD on cats, and this research focused more on the pharmacokinetics of CBD in felines rather than this cannabinoid’s potential benefits.

This study found that, while CBD affected cats less intensely than dogs, it did not cause any serious negative effects. Interestingly, this study did indicate that cats might show signs of distress when fed raw CBD oil, providing evidence that treats are a more effective way of giving cats CBD.

Benefits of CBD for cats

To understand how CBD affects cats, we’ll need to extrapolate our assumptions from research that has been conducted into the effects of CBD in human subjects:

Potential anti-inflammatory benefits

Human and laboratory research has been conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of CBD. Just like humans, cats commonly suffer from inflammation-related conditions like arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders, so CBD might be the perfect solution if inflammation is taking away your kitty’s happiness and energy.

Potential pain-fighting benefits

We all encounter sources of pain from time to time, and our feline friends aren’t spared from this reality. Research into CBD has determined that this cannabinoid may interact with the 5-HT1A and TRPV1 receptors, which modulate the sensation of pain in both cats and humans.

Potential anxiety benefits

To cats, the world can be big and scary. Human studies have been conducted to determine the potential anxiety-relieving effects of CBD, and research has also been conducted into the benefits of CBD for social anxiety specifically. If your cat frets whenever you’re away or startles at the smallest noise, CBD might be the right choice.

Why you should make your own CBD cat treats

While there are plenty of pre-made CBD cat treats on the market, these feline snacks are often packed with unnecessary ingredients, and it almost always costs more to buy CBD cat treats in packages than it does to make your own. Crafting your own CBD cat treats from scratch gives you total creative control over the process, helps you save money, and provides you with a creative culinary activity that both you and your cat will thoroughly enjoy.

Secret Nature CBD flower is the purrfect choice

Making your own CBD cat treats with Secret Nature flower allows you to fully customize your kitty’s CBD experience. Each strain of CBD flower has different benefits, so if your goal is to provide your kitty with extra energy, you might want to choose an upbeat sativa strain like Citron.

For a more laid-back, experience that will make your cat want to lay on the windowsill and doze, however, you might want to choose an indica strain like Frosted Kush. Making your own CBD oil with hemp flower is a rewarding experience, and adding your DIY CBD oil to cat treats will show how much you love and cherish your feline friend.  

How to make DIY CBD cat treats

Now you know why Secret Nature CBD flower cat treats are the best hemp-infused snack for your kitty, so it’s time to learn the steps you’ll need to take to transform your CBD cat treat dreams into reality:

1. Choose a Secret Nature flower strain

First, you’ll need to select the perfect Secret Nature CBD hemp flower strain for your purposes. As we discussed, indica and sativa strains have different effects, and if you can’t decide which type of CBD flower is right for your cat, you might want to stick with a hybrid strain like Sour Gummi. Our recipe calls for 3-10g of CBD-rich hemp flower, and if you’d like, you can even mix multiple strains together.

2. Make your own CBD coconut oil

Once you’ve chosen an ideal Secret Nature CBD flower strain, it will be time to make the CBD-infused coconut oil that you’ll add to your cat treats. We provide detailed instructions on how to make DIY CBD oil in another post, but we’ll summarize the steps you’ll need to take below:

Materials you’ll need:

• 3-10g of Secret Nature CBD flower
• 1 cup of coconut oil
• A double boiler or a crockpot
• A mesh strainer
• Cheesecloth
• A mixing bowl
• A mason jar
• A probe thermometer

Step-by-step instructions:

• Start with decarboxylating your ground-up hemp flower by placing it in your oven inside an oven bag or on top of a cookie sheet at 250° F for 30-45 minutes.
• Set your crockpot to low, or fill the bottom half of your double boiler with water, and place it on your stovetop on low.
• Melt 1 cup of coconut oil in your double boiler or crockpot.
• Add your decarboxylated hemp flower.
• Simmer the coconut oil and hemp flower below 200° F for 30-60 minutes.
• Place your strainer on top of a mixing bowl, and line it with cheesecloth.
• Pour your CBD coconut oil through the cheesecloth into the mixing bowl.
• Pour the filtered CBD-infused coconut oil into a mason jar.

3. Combine your DIY CBD oil with the other ingredients

There are plenty of ways to make delicious and healthy CBD cat treats. We’ll provide a simple recipe below, but feel free to improvise within reason:

Ingredients you’ll need:

• 2 cups of mashed sweet potato
• 1 can of drained tuna
• 1 cup of coconut flour
• ½ cup of DIY CBD coconut oil
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup vegan gelatin powder (optional)

Step-by-step instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350° F
• Mix all of the ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl
• Roll the mixture into small balls, and slightly flatten the balls with a fork
• Bake your cat treats for 10-15 minutes
• Wait for your kitty’s new treats to thoroughly cool

4. Share your homemade CBD cat treats with your kitty

Once your DIY CBD cat treats have cooled properly, you can try feeding them to your feline friend. The aroma of tuna will lure your kitty in, and the delicious fishy flavor will cover up any hint of hemp.

Once you’ve fed your cat 1-2 treats, store the rest in an airtight container. Place your DIY cat treats in the fridge to make them last longer.

Share the benefits of homemade CBD with your feline friend

Now that you know how to make CBD cat treats, it’s time to share the joys of CBD with your kitty. No longer will you have to rely on pre-made treats or put your cat through the discomfort of swallowing raw CBD oil. With Secret Nature CBD flower at your side, you’ll be free to let your feline chef dreams take flight while providing your cat with the natural, non-intoxicating benefits of organic CBD.