Cats have a sharp sense of smell, with reactions to various scents varying based on individual traits, tastes, and past experiences.
Reasons some cats might enjoy the scent of weed include:
Curiosity: Cats, inherently curious creatures, could be captivated by new or peculiar smells, seeking to explore their origin.
Catnip-like impact: Smelling weed may elicit a catnip-like response in some cats, causing euphoria, playfulness, or relaxation. Weed’s THC compound bears resemblance to catnip’s nepetalactone, with both binding to receptors in a cat’s brain and inducing similar effects.
Association: Cats might link the scent of weed with positive occurrences, such as receiving attention, treats, or affection from weed-using owners. They may learn to connect the scent with rewarding experiences and pursue it.
Reasons some cats might detest the scent of weed include:
Aversion: Cats might have an inherent or acquired aversion to weed’s scent, causing anxiety, nausea, or irritation, and prompting them to evade the odor or flee from it.
Toxicity: Ingesting or inhaling excessive amounts of weed can be toxic for cats, leading to symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, low blood pressure, seizures, or even death. Cats may detect the hazard in the smell and keep their distance.
Sensitivity: With a more potent sense of smell than humans, cats might find the scent of weed overpowering or displeasing, opting for milder or natural smells while disliking artificial or potent ones.
What is the effect of weed smell on a cat’s behavior?
Marijuana is toxic to cats and can cause various symptoms such as incoordination, depression, vomiting, seizures, and even death.
Weed smell can also affect a cat’s behavior by making them fearful, paranoid, or agitated.
Therefore, it is not advisable to expose your cat to weed smell or any form of marijuana.
If you suspect your cat has ingested or inhaled marijuana, you should take them to the vet immediately.
Do cats react differently to the smell of weed than dogs?
It appears that cats and dogs can experience the impact of the scent of weed, with potential variations in their responses based on individual differences and the extent of their exposure.
Cats and dogs possess a higher number of cannabinoid receptors in comparison to humans. Therefore, they exhibit greater sensitivity towards THC, the psychoactive constituent present in cannabis.
Weed smell can cause them to experience altered states of consciousness, anxiety, fear, or paranoia.
However, some sources suggest that cats may be more prone to these effects than dogs because they have a higher number of CB1 receptors in the brain, which are responsible for the “high” feeling of marijuana.
Additionally, cats may be more susceptible to thirdhand smoke, which is smoke that has penetrated household surfaces like furniture and clothes.
Therefore, it is best to avoid exposing your cat or dog to weed smell or any form of marijuana.
What happens if a cat ingests or inhales marijuana?
If a cat ingests or inhales marijuana, it can experience marijuana poisoning or intoxication, which can be very dangerous and even fatal for the cat.
Some of the common signs of marijuana poisoning in cats are:
- Extreme sleepiness or excitation
- Hypersalivation or drooling
- Dilated pupils
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Bradycardia (slow heart rate) or tachycardia (fast heart rate)
- Incoordination or ataxia (wobbly gait, swaying, leaning, high steps)
- Agitation, anxiety, fear, or paranoia
- Hypothermia (low body temperature) or hyperthermia (high body temperature)
- Seizures or coma
Are there any benefits of exposing cats to the smell of weed?
No known advantages exist for subjecting cats to the scent of cannabis.
Catnip, a member of the mint family, can elicit similar euphoria in cats, but marijuana contains the psychoactive substance THC, potentially inducing fear, paranoia, and further detrimental consequences in cats.
Cats possess cannabinoid receptors in their bodies, comparable to humans, and THC can attach to these receptors, resulting in toxicity.
Despite medical marijuana’s legality in certain states, research on its impact on our feline companions remains insufficient.
In fact, it is highly advised that cats avoid exposure to smoke from marijuana or any other substances, as it poses a threat to their well-being.
What are some alternative scents that cats may prefer over weed?
According to a recent study, there are three alternative scents that cats may prefer over weed. These scents are the silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian root.
The study was conducted with 100 different cats, and the response rate was striking with almost 80% of the cats responding to silver vine, which is a higher response rate than even catnip.
Roughly 40% of the cats responded to valerian root and honeysuckle.
Interestingly, some cats who did not react to catnip would react to one of the other stimulants, and only 23 of the cats in the study responded to all four plants.
This finding not only gives cat owners more options to sprinkle on their pets’ cardboard scratchbox, but it may also help solve the chemical mystery of why cats love catnip so much.
