Today I have been again immersed in the CD-40 natural antagonist literature, but the post is still not ready. So, in the meantime, I have decided to post a couple of items on another topic that I am very interested in (for two obvious reasons!): cats and curcumin.

A blog reader who unfortunately has an ailing cat sent me a private message earlier today asking if I had ever heard of curcumin being given to animals. Well, it just so happens that I have. Another blog reader, Vince, treated his cat, diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a blood disorder, with curcumin. She is alive and well today. You can read Bella’s amazing story here: http://www.mo-driver.com/bella.htm

I would have no hesitation in giving curcumin to one of my cats in case of need. But how much curcumin? Well, my blog reader sent me a file about a kitty called Bud who was given curcumin to treat FIV (feline AIDS). The website is: http://goo.gl/KV4jg (updated in Jan 2012). The information on curcumin dosage is as follows:

“Because it stimulates bile flow, contraindicated if there is bile duct blockage or gall stones. Should be taken with food. to minimize irritation. One source places a therapeutic feline dose of curcumin at 50-100mg daily and cites 100mg/kg as a benchmark ulcerogenic dose in ‘animals.’ (Human dosage: 2000mg curcumin, 20mg piperine, divided three times daily; Bud’s Dosage: 225mg curcumin, 6mg piperine, divided three times daily between meals; second round, 200mg with piperine and 50 GDU bromelain, divided twice daily with meals.).”

My concern: six mg of piperine sounds like a lot for such a small dosage of curcumin. I wouldn’t give my cat that much. Indeed, I might even skip the piperine and try something else (some sort of fat that my kitty would find palatable).

I also found the following, which confirms the 50-100 mg/kg dosage: “At very high doses (100 mg/kg body weight), curcumin may be ulcerogenic in animals, as evidenced by one rat study. […] Feline dosages are in the range of 50-100 mg daily of curcumin and approximately one-quarter teaspoon daily if using whole turmeric.” (see: http://goo.gl/xQaxl)

I will look into this matter more closely once I emerge from the world of molecular science.