Coconut Oil for Cats, Part II-When Your Sick Cat Needs Help Now

Thanks for tuning in to Part II of the lifesaving wonders of coconut (and MCT) oil for cats and kittens! Of course we have to state that this is not supposed to take the place of conventional care for your loved ones, but having cared for multiple sick cats and litters of kittens all at the same time over the years while in between full-time work- going to the vet for every cough and sneeze just wasn’t practical. Everything we are sharing with you was learned through direct experience, the scientific research behind it all came later.

Chances are, if you are reading this article it is because you need practical steps and uses, which is what we are going to give you. You can scroll through and find the use case that fits your cat or kitten’s situation specifically if you desire. Just note that coconut oil does become a solid at tempertures below 72 degrees Farenheit, so you may need to warm it in colder months first, or subsitute MCT (Medium Chain Trigliceride) oil instead. It is processed coconut oil, which can be found in most grocery stores in the coffee aisle or baking aisle. We use the Bulletproof brand, but any brand will do. Let’s dive in.

Use Case I: General Coughing, Sneezing, and Watery/Goopy Eye

Cats and kittens can cough and sneeze for a myriad of reasons, so it is difficult to diagnose upper respiratory distress unless it is severe in nature. Regardless of the specific issue, more than 3 days of any kind of upper respiratory issues can become serious in cats and kittens, as a sense of smell is imperative for them to eat and drink. So if your cats or kittens have any of the above symptoms, using coconut oil can help alleviate bacterial, viral, fungal infections as well as greatly reduce inflammation and pain in the affected area.

Adult cats- your pinky at the first joint (under the finger nail) is a good measuring device for how much coconut oil to use on a daily basis. Wiping the oil on the side of the body on the fur twice a day is easiest for cats who don’t like things directly in their mouths. It can make fur a little oily, but the benefits are worth it.
Do this for twice a day for a week if possible. If the eyes are impacted, the same amount can be applied to the eyes twice a day. Also, an often overlooked option is the ears. Putting a little oil in the ears will help clear nasal congestion quickly, and allow for better breathing.

Kittens- the application is the same, but if the kitten has mobility issues or is severely weak/lethargic, use only enough oil to provide a very light coating on the affected area, no more than twice a day. Coconut oil will trigger a detoxifying reaction, and a severely ill kitten may have a hard time releasing all the toxins being pushed out by the coconut oil.

Use Case II: Feline Calicivirus (FCV), Feline AIDS (FIV)/Stomatitis

While Feline Stomatitis and FIV are separate conditions, the weakened immune system of FIV-positive cats can make them more susceptible to developing stomatitis, and managing stomatitis in these cats may be more challenging. Feline Stomatitis is a painful and severe oral condition that affects a cat's mouth. It is characterized by widespread inflammation of the gums and oral tissues, often leading to painful ulcers and difficulty in eating and grooming. Stomatitis can cause severe pain, making it challenging for cats to maintain their overall health and quality of life.

Feline Calicivirus, a common respiratory illness in cats. Up to 35% of cats will carry it in their gut. It causes respiratory symptoms, often manifesting as sneezing, nasal discharge, and occasional mouth ulcers. Typical treatments for FCV and stomatitis include gabapentin as well as prednisolone, both of which create excess sugars and led to diabetes and candida in the body, not to mention aggressive or fearful behaviors and brittle bones, just as in humans. Luckily, coconut oil (and MCT oil is even better for this) is a great way to kill off excess sugars in the body and reduce inflammation of the mouth AND gut at the same time.

Cats and kittens: again no more than a top of pinky amount daily, the cold-pressed virgin coconut oil (which is essentially tasteless and not ‘coconutty’) can be added to wet or dry food to encourage a healthy gut and mouth lining. It is excellent for shrinking any sores and reducing pain so your little one can eat again. While safe for long-term use, it is best to give the body a rest after a week of use. My rule of thumb is: 7 days on, 3 days off. Just to give the body time to flush everything out properly. And if your little one is dealing with anemia related to FIV, FeLV, or FIP, it may be wise to change this ratio to 7 days on, 7 days off.

USE CASE III: Painful Ears or Skin Conditions

Bacterial or yeast infections in the ear can cause inflammation, redness, and pain. Infections often result from moisture buildup, allergies, or foreign bodies in the ear. Ear mites can infest a cat's ear canal, causing intense itching, inflammation, and discomfort. With these you will see black, crusty pieces of wax inside your cat’s ear, especially if one ear is being scratched at more than the other. Excessive earwax, which can be hereditary in some cats, can block the ear canal as well. Skin conditions include everything from flea dermatitis to feline hyperesthesia, and everything in between.

As mentioned in the previous article, MCT oil and coconut oil have different use cases. MCT oil is definitely better to fight fungal infections like yeast infections because of its higher caprylic acid concentration. Yeast infections typically manifest as red, itchy, and inflamed areas on the cat's skin and inside the ears. To prevent bottle baby kittens or spoonfed cats/kittens from getting these infections under their necks, we will lightly soak a paper towel in MCT oil and use it to wipe the fur under their necks after feeding to prevent yeast growth.

MCT oil for cats and kittens: use MCT oil sparingly on the affected area twice a day. Unlike coconut oil, it remains an oil at all temperatures, so it is good for cold weather climates! But it will trigger yest die-off quickly, which may be an issue for severely sick cats. A little goes a long way! ½ tsp (total) daily for 7-10 days over any affected areas will help.

Note; for ear mite treatment you will have to repeat application of either MCT oil or coconut oil multiple times to kill off all the eggs- they bury very deep in the ears and the dried blood and wax flakes in the ears. 2-4 weeks is a reasonable timeframe of use for ear mites. 3-4 times a week in each ear for two weeks, off one week, then 3-4 times week for a third week. MCT oil dissolves very quickly and kills fast, so I prefer it to coconut oil. But it will cause the mites to try and burrow deeper, which will cause an instant reaction in the cat’s ears until the mites die (in less than 5 minutes).

Coconut oil for cats and kittens: very well-tolerated for skin issues and has a soothing effect on hot spots of any kind. Of course fur will retain the coconut oil longer, giving the coat a greasy appearance temporarily. But with daily application for 7-10 days, the skin should be noticeably less irritated. For conditions like hyperesthesia, adding a little coconut oil on the fur or in food can add much-needed electrolytes to the body and reduce nerve inflammation. Again use care with exceptionally ill kittens and cats. Be sure to take a break of 5-7 days in between treatment cycles.

What Else Can I Do to Help my Cats or Kittens?

There are many therapeutic options available to cat families that do not involve pharmaceutical drugs. We are on a mission to being those modalities to you. We do not participate in any affiliate marketing programs, what we bring to you we have used on our own cats and kittens.

To highlight one such complimentary therapeutic to coconut oil, we want to share with you Proboost. It is a thymic protein developed for human AIDS and Feline AIDS (FIV) back in the 1990’s. It helps to rebuild the thymus gland, the seat of all immunity in the body. Half a packet a day is a general dose per cat or kitten. It is excellent for long-term use, and was highly effective as an injectible under the LCTI for arthritis in dogs and cats.

This wraps up Part II of our coconut oil series! We will wrap up this series with a Part III next week, where we discuss use cases for fleas, dewormers, and other ways to use this incredible oil. We truly hope this is helpful for you and your cats and kittens. Coconut oil and MCT oil have filled numerous health gaps in the lives of our loved ones over the years.

I personally discovered its incredible benefits at a very low point in life years ago dealing with a sick, flea-ridden cat family while dealing with substantial financial restrictions. The knowledge we are sharing with you today comes out of a time of desperately wanting to help loved ones through a difficult situation, and developed in to a multi-facted treatment modality far and above what we could have imagined.

Have a lovely day, and blessings to you and your beloved cats and kittens. Until next time!