Yes, cats can get stoned. They have cannabinoid receptors throughout their bodies, including in the brain, skin, and gastrointestinal tract, which means THC affects them much like it affects humans. The difference is that cats are smaller and more sensitive, so what feels like a mild buzz to a person can become a frightening, disorienting experience for a cat.
Why THC Affects Cats
Cats have the same type of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) found in humans. CB1 receptors, the ones primarily responsible for the “high” feeling, have been identified in feline brain tissue, skin, reproductive organs, the gastrointestinal tract, and even the lining of the mouth. When THC binds to these receptors, it alters neurological function in cats just as it does in people. The problem is body size. A cat weighing 4 or 5 kilograms needs far less THC to experience significant effects than a 70-kilogram human, so even small exposures can produce a strong reaction.
What It Looks Like When a Cat Is Intoxicated
THC intoxication in cats doesn’t look like a relaxed, mellow high. Based on data from the Pet Poison Helpline covering cases from 2018 through early 2023, the most common signs are lethargy (about 30% of cases), loss of coordination (21%), and vomiting (15%). Many cats also experience urinary incontinence, meaning they lose control of their bladder.
Other signs include trembling, exaggerated reactions to sound and movement, head bobbing, agitation, twitching, and dilated pupils. Some cats swing between abnormally high and abnormally low body temperature. A slow heart rate is another documented effect. The overall picture is a cat that seems deeply confused, unsteady on its feet, and unable to respond normally to its environment.
How Cats Get Exposed
The most common route is ingestion, not secondhand smoke. Cats eat cannabis edibles left on counters, chew on cannabis plant material, or get into stashes of flower or concentrates. Edibles are particularly dangerous because they often contain other ingredients that are independently toxic to cats, like chocolate or xylitol (a sweetener). A cat that eats a pot brownie, for example, needs treatment for both cannabis and chocolate poisoning.
Secondhand smoke exposure is less common but still a risk, especially in small, poorly ventilated rooms. Cats groom themselves constantly, so THC-laden particles that settle on their fur get ingested during grooming. Cannabis oil products that have become increasingly popular for pet use also account for some exposures, particularly when owners misjudge the dose.
How Dangerous Is It?
The minimal lethal dose of THC for cats is unknown. No controlled study has established exactly how much it takes to kill a cat, though in dogs the oral lethal dose exceeds 3 grams per kilogram of body weight, roughly 1,000 times higher than the dose that causes behavioral changes. Most cases of THC intoxication in cats resolve without lasting harm.
One controlled study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery gradually escalated THC doses in healthy cats up to 41.5 mg/kg. All adverse effects observed were mild and temporary, resolving without medical treatment. That’s a reassuring finding, but it involved pure, measured cannabis oil given under veterinary supervision. Real-world exposures are messier: the dose is unknown, the product may contain chocolate or xylitol, and the cat may have eaten packaging material along with the edible.
The real danger often comes from these secondary ingredients rather than the THC itself. Chocolate contains compounds that are toxic to cats at relatively low amounts. Xylitol can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar. Foods high in fat can trigger painful inflammation of the pancreas. So while THC alone is unlikely to be fatal, the full package of an edible can be significantly more hazardous.
Cases Are Increasing Rapidly
As cannabis legalization spreads across North America, veterinary poisoning cases have surged. Reports of cannabis poisoning in companion animals increased 448% over a six-year period in the United States and Canada. The Animal Poison Control Center reported a 765% jump in cannabis-related calls in 2019 alone compared to the prior year. A Colorado study found a fourfold increase in cases between 2005 and 2010, closely tracking the number of registered medical cannabis cardholders in the state. While dogs account for the majority of these cases (they’re less picky eaters), cats are part of the trend.
CBD vs. THC in Cats
CBD and THC are both cannabinoids, but they act very differently. THC is the compound that produces intoxication. CBD does not create a high and appears to be well tolerated by cats even at substantial doses. In the same escalation study mentioned above, cats given CBD-predominant oil (up to 30.5 mg/kg) experienced only mild, transient side effects. Cats given THC-predominant oil also tolerated it under controlled conditions, but THC still produced more noticeable behavioral changes.
If you’re considering any cannabinoid product for your cat, the distinction matters. Products marketed for pets typically contain CBD with minimal THC. Products designed for human use, especially edibles and concentrates, contain much higher THC levels and are the ones most likely to cause problems.
What Recovery Looks Like
Most cats recover from THC exposure within 12 to 24 hours, though some may seem off for up to 72 hours depending on the amount ingested. THC is fat-soluble, so it takes time for the body to process and eliminate it. During recovery, cats typically need a quiet, dimly lit space away from loud noises and other pets. They may be unsteady enough to fall off furniture or stairs, so keeping them on ground level helps prevent injury.
If a cat has eaten an edible containing chocolate, xylitol, or large amounts of fat, the recovery timeline and severity can change. Veterinary care in those situations focuses on addressing each toxic substance individually. For straightforward THC-only exposures, treatment is supportive: keeping the cat warm, hydrated, and safe until the effects wear off.