Catnip, catnip, field balm - it doesn't matter what you call it. Lions, tigers, panthers and the average domestic tabby just can't get enough of this fragrant herb.
Native to Europe and Asia, mint, lemongrass, and catnip Nepeta cataria have long been associated with cats. Even its Latin origin cataria means "feline".
Research shows that cats, big and small, adore this aggressive, aggressive member of the mint family.
But why do they like catnip so much? It is safe? What does it mean if your cat doesn't like it?
Benefits of catnip
Catnip can be used to overcome stress in any cat, making it more determined and confident, ready for active play.
So, for example, if you brought a cat home for the first time, you can relax it and relieve tension by using catnip. Also, to encourage your pet to sharpen her claws only on the scratching post and not on your furniture, scatter some mint near the claw point post or tie a toy stuffed with catnip to it. (You can read about other ways to accustom a kitten to a scratching post in the article: “How to accustom a kitten to a scratching post.”) But, it is important to remember that if a toy stuffed with catnip is constantly available to the cat, the animal becomes immune to it. Give catnip to your cat no more than once a week. If necessary, you can always allow her an extra session of pleasure, for example after a visit to the veterinarian or after a stressful situation.
Catnip toys: what they are for and how they affect cats
To maintain active physical shape and good mood, domestic cats need to exercise a lot and receive positive emotions. To prevent your pet from having fun with curtains and other prohibited items, it is worth offering him special toys for cats that contain catnip (catnip) inside.
Cat mint
is a plant that has a pleasant smell that delights some cats and resembles the effect of valerian, although they are different plants. Catnip contains the substance nepetalactone, to which special receptors are responsible for sensitivity in cats. This substance is what makes the plant so attractive to the cat family. But it should be noted that not all felines show interest in catnip.
How does catnip affect cats and why do they love it so much?
Catnip attracts cats with its scent. This property has been actively used in the production of toys and scratching posts. The aroma of catnip essential oil gives your pet a feeling of euphoria because it affects the neurons of the brain in a certain way. As a result, certain changes appear in the behavior of the animal. The cat begins to show increased interest in the new scent, rolls around on the floor, has fun, plays, expressing positive emotions in different ways.
Adult pets are especially sensitive to toys with catnip. The smell of the plant makes them incredibly affectionate. Cats begin to bite toys with mint, and the activity of pets noticeably increases. In this natural and unobtrusive way, it is possible to accustom your pet to a certain object in a short time. And you won’t need to constantly monitor your pet, returning it to its place. The animal itself will spend a lot of time where it smells catnip.
Benefits of Catnip Toys
Catnip toy for cat
- This is, above all, safe entertainment. Catnip essential oils relieve tension and eliminate the consequences of stressful situations. Domestic cats are often shy and restless in unfamiliar places. Even a routine trip to the vet can be a major irritant.
Returning home, where there is a favorite toy with a pleasant and relaxing aroma, the pet quickly becomes affectionate and calm. You can take your favorite mouse with you to the veterinary office or leave it in the car so that your pet feels safe during the move.
Key benefits of catnip toys:
• maintaining the active interest of cats;
• affordable price;
• high strength and durability;
• rapid improvement in the pet's mood;
• mitigating the impact of stressful situations.
The behavior of animals that smell catnip may seem unpredictable to you at first. But don't worry: the plant is safe for pets. Toys for cats with catnip do not cause addiction or cause any disturbances in everyday behavior. The pet may start running and licking an object that emits an alluring aroma. But the animal knows when to stop and calm down.
Catnip is used to accustom an animal to a specific object. If you want your cat to have a specific sleeping place, just put his favorite toy on the bed and secure it for a while. The pet will spend more time in a certain place and will quickly get used to sleeping there.
Varieties of catnip toys
Most often, owners buy toys for cats in the form of a mouse so that the pet can frolic with pleasure and satisfy its hunting instinct. It is worth paying attention to the quality of the materials used. They must be safe and non-toxic. After all, the pet will chew such a toy. But it must also be durable in order to last for more than one month.
A mint toy for cats often has a round, comfortable shape and is light in weight. This makes it easy to play with. Catnip is usually hidden inside in the form of a fine powder. Also, herbs or essential oil extracts are used in the production of special teasers for domestic cats.
Pets are especially partial to felt. This material itself is very soft, comfortable and perfect for active games with pets. Felt toys for cats are bright and attract the attention of animals. They are incredibly durable: they can withstand contact with cat teeth and paws without losing their shape or visual appeal. The affordable price is also an advantage of such toys.
Felt is a very pleasant material to the touch that creates a feeling of comfort and homeliness. During active games, the fabric does not cling to the animal’s teeth and maintains its integrity and strength. The felt does not fray when cut and does not require special edge processing during production. Even if the pet actively frolics and constantly chews on the toy, there will be no debris left on the floor.
On our website you can choose and buy toys for cats with catnip. A large assortment allows you to find suitable entertainment for your pet and, if necessary, adjust its behavior.
Where is the best place to buy catnip?
Buy good quality catnip. It is better to buy it in bulk, dried, instead of buying toys stuffed with catnip. But, if you decide to buy a toy, study the label on the toy to make sure that only mint leaves and flowers were used in its manufacture. Lower quality fillers also contain stems, which have no effect other than creating volume. The dried stems are very tough and sharp, so if your cat enjoys chewing catnip (and most cats do), it could hurt her. Don't buy catnip from supermarkets. It is of higher quality in pet stores and specialty stores for cats.
Drugs
The number of preparations with catnip is impressive. These include tablets, capsules, dietary supplements, sprays and medications for cats. Their scope is different, as is their composition. Although the main element is catnip, other components are added to it, which create different effects. Mostly tablets and drops are considered common for use. And most of all, feed additives are purchased for animals.
Pills
Catnip-based tablets are mainly used to normalize sleep, eliminate insomnia and relieve stress. One of the best products on IHerb is Mason Natural Calming Sleep Tablets. Usually there are 90 tablets in a jar. The company that created it was founded in 1967, and the drug has undergone all kinds of research. It contains no soy, and in addition to improving and maintaining healthy sleep, can be used as a dietary supplement for normal digestion.
Mason Natural, a remedy for calmness and sound sleep, 90 tablets 390 ₽ Buy at a discount
Catnip is not only suitable for use by adults. Tablets have been developed that have a calming effect on children. Planetart Herbals – 150 tablets formulated by Dr. Michael Tierra. The drug not only calms the child, but also helps to increase concentration.
Planetary Herbals, Calming for Children, 440 mg, 150 tablets RUB 935 Buy at a discount
Drops
Drops are also divided into preparations for adults and children. For the most part, this is a tasty remedy for improving digestion, reducing heaviness and bloating, but there are drops for relaxation and improved sleep. The drug effectively copes with acute pain in the stomach and intestines. Relieves insomnia and helps align sleep patterns. Also helps in treating occasional digestive disorders. For children, the best option would be Gaia Kids drops.
Gaia Herbs, Children, Belly Tonic, Chamomile, 30 ml (1 fl oz) RUB 770 Buy at a discount
Adults can purchase Relaxing Sleep for calm and relaxation.
Herb Pharm, Relaxed Sleep Tonic, 1 fl oz (29.6 ml) RUB 980 Buy at a discount
Medicines for cats
The list of products based on catnip is different because it can be used to achieve different effects. Flavoring additives and feed are common.
Pet Naturals flavor contains live cultures and is suitable for cats of all ages, breeds and sizes. Helps the digestive system and improves immunity. It does not contain any chemical components and does not contain wheat or corn. Is an active probiotic for daily use.
Pet Naturals of Vermont, Daily Probiotic, for Cats, 30 Chewable Tablets, 1.27 oz (36 g) $4.40 Buy Now at Discount
Freeze-dried salmon treat contains catnip. Suitable for both cats and dogs. Does not contain chemical additives or preservatives. The drug can be crushed into food to improve appetite and restore the digestive system.
Storing mint
If you have a lot of catnip, I would recommend storing it in several small airtight containers in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. As needed, you will only need to remove one small bag and let it come to room temperature before giving it to your cat.
Instead of buying all those catnip-filled toys, buy a few furry mice and place them in a container of catnip for a while. When you take the toy out after this “pickling”, it will have a real smell of high-quality, potent catnip.
Can a cat have peppermint?
There are more than 25 types of mint and as many hybrid varieties. Each of them contains a large amount of menthol, so their aroma is quite similar. In our latitudes, the most common type of mint is peppermint. Often cats living in the private sector or traveling with their owners to the countryside in the summer prefer to chew this plant. If the cat decides to do this on its own, it means that it is not allergic to individual components in its composition, and this will not harm its health.
Peppermint contains many beneficial vitamins, trace elements and minerals necessary for the health of the animal. Sometimes cats just really like the menthol scent - it has been noticed that some whiskered cats are in love with mint-scented toothpaste. But you definitely shouldn’t offer it to your pet.
Note! Sometimes cats become aggressive after catnip or peppermint and can even growl at their owner. This usually happens to males during the mating season. The solution is to prevent the cat from sniffing and chewing the plant.
Advice
My favorite way to give catnip to my cats is to put some catnip in a sock, tie it, and give it to the cats, who start jumping, throwing the sock up, and rolling all over the floor. You can also give catnip in bulk. Just sprinkle a little on the floor or on a paper plate and watch your cat do somersaults. To extract essential oil, rub the leaves and flowers between your fingers before scattering them onto the floor. If you already have catnip in your sock, rub the sock to give the plant full effect.
Impact principle
When a cat inhales the aroma of this plant, certain substances enter the respiratory tract. There a special signal is produced in the animal’s brain, namely in the hypothalamus. This is how short-term auditory and visual hallucinations appear, which explain the pet’s strange behavior. This can be expressed in purring, an unreasonable increase in activity in the form of games, jumping, running. This effect can last 10-15 minutes.
Question to the expert
What are the effects on a cat from taking catnip?
After a surge of emotions, the cat quickly gets tired and simply goes to sleep or doze. If parts of the plant enter the cat’s body, the effect may be the opposite. The plant affects animals in different ways; lethargic cats can become active and vice versa.
The animal owner should not be afraid of this. The cat itself will understand when to stop and stop inhaling the aroma of the plant. Many people are sure that catnip contains some dangerous substances that can be addictive. However, this is not true; it does not cause addiction in cats.
Schisandra bush
Comparison with regular mint
Catnip or in Latin Nepetia cataria. usually grows in vacant lots and roadsides. This is a perennial plant with a strong and tough rhizome. Melissa or Melissa officinalis L. is similar in appearance. But its leaves are ovoid in shape with a round base, they do not have a heart-shaped cutout, which catnip has. Melissa's flowers are collected in so-called whorls and racemes, but not as dense as those of catnip. These criteria distinguish these two plants.
Catnip and Valerian
Catnip differs from valerian in its safety for the animal.
It has a lighter chemical effect on the animal. This plant also contains other substances:
- glycosides;
- saponins;
- tannins.
Why cats love catnip
The substance nepetolactone contained in catnip is a biologically active substance that has a short-term effect on the animal’s psyche. It can cause visual and auditory hallucinations and a feeling of euphoria.
When ingested by a cat, nepetolactone begins to act within a few seconds, and this effect lasts about ten minutes. This does not depend on the gender or age of the animal.
Catnip has a relaxing effect. The difference in effect depends on the way the substances enter the cat’s body - through the respiratory tract or through the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the opposite effect may be observed.
Peppermint can be used to influence her behavior. Special bags with dried mint leaves are available. Using them you can invigorate your pet or, on the contrary, calm it down. Some manufacturers treat their products with essential oils.
Material on the topic: Abyssinian cats.
How to grow catnip yourself?
You can grow your own catnip. However, if you decide to grow it outside, I warn you that word of it will quickly spread in the cat world, and you will soon see all the neighbors' cats in your garden. Catnip spreads quickly, so you will need to trim it back to prevent it from taking over your entire garden. Choose a secluded place for it on the street near your dacha, or try growing it at home near a window on the south side.
Packets of catnip seeds are sold at gardening centers and seed stores. Information on how to plant and care for the plant is usually provided on the label. To maximize the effect of the plant, do not allow it to bloom, otherwise you will be left with only skinny stems. Always cut off flower buds. To prepare catnip, cut the branches, tie them into bunches, and hang them cut side up in a dark, dry place. Once the plants are dry (the leaves will look shriveled), carefully sort the leaves into airtight containers and discard the stems. To prevent catnip from losing its potency, do not break or squeeze the leaves.
When not to use mint
There are situations where mint, despite its benefits, can be harmful. That is why, before giving catnip to your pet, you should familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications for use.
Under no circumstances should you give the herbaceous plant:
- pregnant cats;
- nursing cats.
This category of furry pets is easily overstimulated, so mint can cause serious stress to the cat. Such an emotional state depletes the nervous system. In addition, you should wisely give a sedative herb to your cat when its use is appropriate and will not lead to disruption of the activity and mental state of the tailed cat.
Is catnip safe for animals?
The harmlessness of mint is due only to the cat's temporary dependence on enjoying the smell of the plant. A cat, under no circumstances, will inhale incense for days on end.
Experts recommend giving catnip to animals with a high degree of aggression with caution.
Excessive overexcitation of the nervous system of an already aggressive animal can provoke:
- throwing a cat at other animals;
- aggressive attitude towards children and adults;
- room marks.
Under no circumstances should you offer grass to an animal every day.
Growing catnip in the garden
Lemon balm - what it looks like, care rules
Why grow catnip if it can be purchased at any veterinary pharmacy. The answer to this question is simple: the natural product does not have any chemical impurities and its use will in no way harm your beloved pet. Another reason to start growing the species yourself is its decorative qualities and very pleasant aroma.
Catnip in the garden
Planting can be done in two ways:
- Direct planting in the ground.
- Seedling method.
If you plant seed directly into the soil, it is important to understand that the first shoots will appear no earlier than in 14-20 days. Sowing seeds in open ground can be carried out throughout the spring and even in the fall.
On a note! The germination of seed directly depends on weather conditions.
If you follow the rules of care, this extremely unpretentious plant will delight your pet this year and decorate any garden.
Sowing in the soil should be carried out in a light, drained substrate. Location: sunny side, or at least partial shade.
Watering the plantings is a mandatory procedure. Despite the fact that the plant tolerates drought well, it will definitely not refuse timely watering.
Important! It is necessary to moisten the soil after the first cutting to stimulate the restoration of the above-ground part.
Organic and mineral fertilizers have proven themselves to be good for feeding catnip in open ground: humus or manure, as well as any superphosphate preparations. We must not forget about timely loosening after each watering and weeding out all harmful weeds.
If possible, you should not resort to cutting catnip shoots in the first year of life. This will create a stronger and stronger plant.
To achieve flowering this season, you should use seedlings as planting material. Seeds for seedlings are sown at the very beginning of March. Transplantation into the ground is carried out in May, after the formation of the first true leaves.
By summer, the bush will grow greatly and if you do not carry out decorative pruning, in the fall it will self-sow as abundantly as possible.
Description of the plant
This is a perennial herbaceous plant reaching a height of 1 meter (see photo below). In various sources, the description of the herb also indicates its other names: lemon catnip, catnip, budra, fragrant horehound. The grass looks like a thick and low bush. The bushy crown of mint is decorated with oblong oval leaves with pointed tips. If you rub the leaves, the plant begins to secrete an essential oil with a specific odor that excites the smell receptors of cats.
In addition to the aroma, animals are also attracted to the taste of the leaves, which they eat with pleasure. In summer, mint bushes are covered with purple, white and blue inflorescences consisting of small flowers. In appearance, lemon catnip is very similar to regular mint, but its aroma is different, reminiscent of the smell of lemon. The plant contains many essential oils, ascorbic acid and various tannins.
Wild varieties of the plant are distributed throughout Europe; its bushes can be found in Central Asia and the Far East. Horehound is actively cultivated on the Eurasian continent; various species grow in India and Pakistan. Once introduced, the plant has taken root well in Japan, North America and South Africa. Today, about 200 species of catnip are known.
What is the plant for?
Veterinarians classify catnip as a natural corrector of cat behavior, which affects the animal’s body in different ways. Why use catnip:
- Having bactericidal properties, the plant relieves stomach cramps;
- if in a stressful situation you give your pet some fresh or dried grass leaves, for example when moving, he will more easily endure a negative event for him;
- if you add a little dried plant to the food or treat it with a spray with the smell of catnip, the animal’s appetite increases and it becomes possible to feed a pet that refuses to eat;
- The aromatic herb is also used as an anthelmintic.
The main advantage of the plant as a mild psychotropic drug is that it does not cause addiction in animals. The state of excitement or rest does not last long and passes without leaving a trace on the cat’s health. Dried herbs must be stored in completely sealed packaging, otherwise the essential oils will quickly evaporate and it will lose its medicinal properties. This flower is also useful for humans.
