Can Cats Get High? Marijuana Toxicity in Cats — What Owners Need to Know

Cats are sensitive to THC. Inhalation or ingestion can cause neurologic and cardiovascular signs; edibles and secondhand smoke are risks. Seek vet care for any exposure.

Danger level: Moderately Toxic

Can Cats Get High? Overview

Because cats are generally more sensitive than humans to many drugs and because veterinary data are more limited than for dogs, any suspected exposure should be treated seriously. This article explains what to expect, how quickly signs appear, what to do immediately, and how veterinarians treat cannabis toxicosis.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, Merck Veterinary Manual, veterinary toxicology references.

Toxic Dose

• Reported clinical effects in pets often occur at low mg/kg doses. For dogs, mild signs have been reported around 1–3 mg/kg of THC; more severe signs at higher doses (for reference only). Cats may be as sensitive or more sensitive than dogs, and there are fewer controlled data for cats. (Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual, ASPCA)
• Because edible products (brownies, gummies, oils) can contain concentrated THC and additional toxic ingredients (xylitol, chocolate, macadamia nuts), the effective dose can be much higher and more dangerous.

How Cats Are Exposed

• Ingestion of cannabis plant material (leaves, flowers)
• Eating human edibles (gummies, brownies) or oils — these are common and often more dangerous due to concentrated THC and other toxic ingredients
• Secondhand smoke inhalation — can produce signs, especially with heavy exposure in confined spaces
• Transdermal exposure (topicals) — less common but possible with oily products and concentrates

Symptoms Timeline

Onset

• Inhalation/secondhand smoke: signs can appear rapidly — often within 15–60 minutes after exposure.
• Ingestion of plant material or edibles: onset is typically slower — commonly 30 minutes to 4 hours, sometimes longer with fatty edibles.

Peak and Duration

• Clinical signs often peak within a few hours and may persist 24–72 hours depending on dose, product type (edibles with fats prolong absorption), and the individual cat’s metabolism.

Typical Signs (what to look for)

• Central nervous system: sedation, stupor, profound lethargy, wobbly gait (ataxia), tremors, mydriasis (dilated pupils), hypersalivation
• Behavior changes: disorientation, vocalization, decreased responsiveness, staring
• Cardiovascular/respiratory: slow heart rate (bradycardia), low blood pressure, slow or shallow breathing in severe cases
• Gastrointestinal: vomiting (if ingestion), drooling
• Others: urinary incontinence, hypothermia (low body temperature)

Emergency Action Steps (What to do immediately)

What the Vet Will Do (Treatment)

Emergency clinic actions may include:

• Stabilization: oxygen therapy and intravenous (IV) fluids for low blood pressure or dehydration
• Decontamination: if ingestion was recent and the patient is stable, the veterinarian may induce vomiting and/or administer activated charcoal to reduce absorption of THC and other ingredients in edibles (only if safe to do so)
• Monitoring: heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, blood glucose and neurological status for several hours to days
• Symptomatic care: warming for hypothermia, medications to control severe tremors or seizures (e.g., benzodiazepines under veterinary supervision)
• Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE): in some severe cases of THC poisoning (especially with concentrated oils), vets may consider ILE therapy as an adjunct to bind lipophilic toxins like THC — this is case-dependent and not routine for mild exposures
• Support for complications: treatment of aspiration pneumonia if vomiting occurred while sedated; treatment of co-ingestants (e.g., xylitol causes hypoglycemia and requires specific therapy)

When to Seek Immediate Veterinary Care

• Collapse, unresponsiveness, or difficulty breathing
• Seizures or repeated tremors
• Vomiting with marked sedation (risk of aspiration)
• Known ingestion of concentrated cannabis oils, large quantities of edible products, or products containing xylitol/chocolate
• Any abnormal behavior in a recently exposed cat if you are uncertain — err on the side of veterinary evaluation

Prevention: Pet-Proofing Against Cannabis Exposure

• Store cannabis, concentrates, edibles, tinctures, and vaping products in locked cabinets or high, inaccessible places. Childproof containers are not pet-proof.
• Dispose of packaging and leftovers immediately in a secure trash can with a lid that pets cannot open.
• Avoid smoking cannabis around pets and don’t allow pets in rooms where heavy smoking occurs; secondhand smoke can still affect them.
• Educate household members and visitors about the risks — guests may unintentionally leave edibles within reach.
• Keep topical cannabis products sealed and out of reach — pets may lick ointments or oils.

Special Considerations

• Edibles are a particularly common cause of severe toxicosis because they are palatable and often contain high levels of THC and other toxins (xylitol, chocolate, macadamia nuts).
• Cats metabolize some drugs differently than dogs and humans. Because fewer controlled studies exist for feline cannabis toxicity, clinical judgment and caution are critical.

Key Takeaways

• Danger level: Moderately Toxic — THC-containing products can cause significant neurologic and cardiopulmonary signs in cats.
• Any known ingestion or concerning exposure should prompt a call to your veterinarian or a poison control hotline: ASPCA (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
• Symptoms can appear within minutes for smoke exposure or within hours for ingestion; effects usually resolve in 24–72 hours with supportive care.
• Treatment is mainly supportive: decontamination if appropriate, IV fluids, oxygen, monitoring, and specific therapies for complications.
• Prevent exposures by securing all cannabis products, trash, and packaging; do not smoke around pets.

Sources and further reading:

• Merck Veterinary Manual, “Cannabis (Marijuana) Toxicity” — https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/cannabis-marijuana
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Cannabis information and hotline (888) 426-4435 — https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
• Pet Poison Helpline, cannabis resource page — https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/cannabis/
• Veterinary Toxicology reference texts (e.g., Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook and standard toxicology textbooks)

Frequently Asked Questions