A cannabis extract food supplement is believed to have saved the life of a much-loved Burton pet.

Jacek Matusiak, from Burton, says the CBD (Cannabidiol) was able to reduce the size of a potentially fatal tumour and bring 16-year-old cat Ginge back from the brink of death.

He says the poorly puss was about to be put down after suffering from two strokes and a large tumour.

But, reluctant to give up, he went to Natural Choice, in St John Street, Ashbourne, after reading a story in the Derby Telegraph about the positive effect CBD may have had in shrinking a woman's tumour .

Ginge the cat.
Ginge the cat.

After purchasing and putting the CBD in Ginge's food, the cat made a full recovery and is now back to his usual self again.

Jacek, 35, said: "Putting him to sleep was imminent. It was heart-breaking to think of letting him go.

"Over last winter, Ginge's health was rapidly deteriorating and he was getting weaker and weaker.

"There was a massive change in his behaviour, he was losing his balance a lot and he lost his voice.

"He had two strokes, an enlarged liver, significant weight loss and tumour growth to the front paw pad.

"So we went to the Vets 4 Pets Veterinary Surgery in Walsall on January 10.

"Ginge was given poor prognosis by the vet and a very small chance to survive as he was very withdrawn and almost lifeless."

Jacek explained how Ginge was prescribed antibiotics and steroids by the vet for a week but nothing was working.

He said: "So the same week on January 15 we went to Natural Choice, in Ashbourne, and bought a little vial of food supplement CBD. It was £35 for 500 milligrams of it."

Natural Choice in St John Street is a shop that sells natural and Fair Trade foods, along with dietary supplements and recycled goods.

The supplement Jacek bought from the store contains an extract of cannabis. It is legal and sold without the psychoactive component that causes a high.

While it is not scientifically proven as a medicine, it is marketed as a general food supplement that might help reduce aches and pains.

Last year Jacek read an article in the Derby Telegraph about a woman who believed that cannabis oil had shrunk her tumour and thought that the product could help Ginge.

He also noted that he had read research and case studies that influenced him to treat Ginge with the food supplement and that his vet was not involved in the decision at all.

He said: "We put five drops a day in Ginge's food and just two days after starting it he started walking better and keeping his balance.

"He completely perked up and started being more responsive. Most of all, his voice came back.

"Ginge now walks around the garden, climbs the stairs, washes himself and overall has regained his vitality and strength.

"Everything else didn’t work, but we believe it was the oil we gave him that helped him out.

"Now he can walk around the garden and he is back to his usual self again. He's put on weight too, as he was underweight and skeletal before.

"He's a really adorable, loving cat. He comes to us a lot for cuddles and he's just like a little baby."

Even though the supplement has only recently been marketed to the public, Jacek says there is around three decades of research surrounding it.

He said: "It is very possible that it could be used to treat pain and arthritis in humans too. I can't judge if this is 'it' but I've been overwhelmed by the effects on my cat.

"People just need to be aware that this could be really useful. I want to spread the word about how this could help people."

Natural Choice was unable to comment on the case.