THC in cats: Dangerous because they can hardly break it down

What might just be a relaxing evening with a joint or edible for us humans can quickly become a serious emergency for cats. This is because their little bodies tick completely differently - and are usually completely overwhelmed by psychoactive substances such as THC. In this blog, we explain what really happens in a cat's body, how you can recognise intoxication - and what you need to do in an emergency. No scaremongering, but no whitewashing either. Just honest answers that will really help your cat.

When your cat suddenly seems high - what's behind it? 🐾🌿

You're relaxing on the sofa, maybe some music is playing, and somewhere on the coffee table is the remains of a joint or half a piece of the "special" brownie. And then it happens: your cat is suddenly walking around the flat as if on clouds, seems completely lost, wobbles when you walk or stares into nothingness for minutes on end. 😵💫

Sounds funny at first - but it's not at all.

What might just be a relaxing evening for us humans can be really dangerous for cats. Their small bodies are not designed to process psychoactive substances such as THC. And what has a slow and calculated effect on us hits them like an ICE train without brakes.

That's why it's worth taking a closer look:
Can cats even break down THC? What happens in the body? And how can you tell if your pet might be seriously under the influence?

We will get to the bottom of these questions in the following sections - with a mixture of clear knowledge, a little healthy concern and the wish that no pet has to suffer through ignorance. Because one thing is certain: your cat not only deserves cuddles, but also protection from things that aren't good for them - even if they were only picked up by mistake.

2 Can cats break down THC - from a purely biological perspective 🧬🐱

When it comes to THC, cats are not little people. Sounds logical, but this is often underestimated. While our bodies are pretty good at processing THC via the liver and breaking it down over time, cats' bodies are faced with a rather haphazard biochemical challenge.

THC meets the cat's liver - and gets stuck there

The crux of the matter lies in the metabolism, or more precisely: in the liver. In humans, this is where certain enzymes (especially the famous cytochrome P450 system) are located, which break down THC into smaller, water-soluble components that are then excreted via urine or faeces. Zack, out with it - at least eventually.

Cats, on the other hand? They also have a detoxification system, but one that is much more limited. Certain enzymes are completely absent or barely active - which is also the reason why many drugs that are harmless to humans can have a toxic effect on cats (paracetamol, for example, is a really nasty candidate). THC belongs in a similar category: it is broken down much more slowly - if at all. In the meantime, it can accumulate in the body and unfold its effects much more strongly than in our case.

A small crumb, big effect

What may only cause a slight high in humans can lead to coordination disorders, tremors, vomiting, drowsiness or, in the worst case, even seizures in cats. The reason: the cat's nervous system reacts more sensitively to the psychoactive substance. It simply lacks the "biological equipment" to deal with THC.

Or to put it another way: A single crumb of brownie can be for your cat what a whole trip would be for us - only without the understanding of what is happening.

And how long does the THC stay in the body?

The exact breakdown times are difficult to determine - they depend on weight, age, state of health and quantity. But the fact is that it takes significantly longer than in humans, sometimes several days, for the active substance to be completely excreted. And that can mean a damn unpleasant time for the cat.

Is THC toxic for cats? ⚠️

The short answer: Yes, unfortunately.
And not just "a little worrying", but potentially life-threatening - depending on the amount, body weight and general health of the cat. The nasty thing is that cats are masters at quietly sneaking up on things they shouldn't touch. And that includes cannabis products - whether in the form of flower, oil, biscuits or smoke.

Why is THC dangerous for cats?

As we have already seen in the previous section, the cat's body only has a limited ability to metabolise THC. This means that even small amounts can become a massive burden on their organism. And because they do not understand what is happening to them, the experience is extremely stressful for them, not only physically but also psychologically.

Typical symptoms of THC poisoning in cats 🧯

If you suspect that your cat has come into contact with THC, look out for the following signs:

• Wobbly gait or severely impaired coordination
• Glassy look, dilated pupils or eye tremors
• Lethargy - the cat lies there apathetically and hardly reacts
• Restlessness or excessive vocalisation
• vomiting or profuse salivation
• trembling or in extreme cases even convulsions

Some cats appear dazed at first and then simply sleep a lot - which is dangerous because it is easily underestimated. Others show conspicuous panic reactions to noises or touch. Neither is harmless, but a sign that their nervous system is completely overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, there is no "threshold value" above which it becomes critical - because even tiny amounts can cause problems. Individual sensitivity is very high. Concentrated products such as THC oils or edibles are particularly dangerous because they contain much more active ingredient than a joint, for example.