It is often used by cat owners and loved by many cats – catnip. Anyone who has seen a cat together with catnip can immediately see the seductive effect the plant has on the velvet paws.
Catnip is usually found in any pet store and can be bought in the form of dried leaves, flowers, or a spray.
Many shops with cat toys offer toys that have already been pre-treated with this plant. These are usually labeled “catnip.”
But what exactly is this catnip, and why does it have such an intoxicating effect on cats? Find out here and more about catnip.
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What is the Catnip Plant?
The real catnip belongs to the family of the labiate family. (1.)
They are also known as cat balm.
The perennial plant reaches a size of about 60 to 100 cm.
The flowers can range from white to pale blue and can be seen between July and September.
The white-flowered plants have shown a more significant attraction to cats than the blue-flowered ones. The latter are often found as garden shrubs in gardens.
Catnip exudes a light citrusy fragrance that is reminiscent of mint. Such is also the reason for the second part of the name. With its lemon-tart scent, it smells pleasant for us and is full of essential oils.
In addition to your living room lion, catnip attracts lions, tigers, and other wild cats. Intoxicating!
Another reason for the name is the unique way of spreading: The scent has a euphoric effect on cats, which is why they like to rub or wallow on catnip.
During this activity, the Klausen fruits get stuck in the cat’s fur and are transported on.
At the latest, when the cat cleans itself up next time, the pollen will fall off and grow into a new catnip.
The Klausen fruits are germinal(at the first stage of development) for five years.
Why does catnip have a euphoric effect on cats?
The seductive effects of catnip on cats are the two chemically related alkaloids actinidine and nepetalactone. The ingredient actinidine is also excreted in the urine of female neutered cats.
Explains why male cats, in particular, react so strongly to catnip and get into a kind of intoxication almost. (2.)
The exact effect of catnip on cats has not yet been clarified in detail.
Is catnip harmful to cats? Is catnip safe for them?
Catnip is completely safe for cats and it can be a fun activity to introduce to your cat at times as it makes them happy. Do practice moderation though and don’t overdo it.
Nevertheless, cat owners can usually give catnip to their cat without hesitation. But there are exceptions here too.
Why should I give catnip to my cat?
Because your cat likes to give her catnip, catnip is excellent as a reward during exercise or to get the cat used to a scratching post or sleep in your bed.
It can also be a great way to get your cat moving, or it can help her relax. For whatever reason – it’s just fun!
How should I give catnip to my cat?
There are several products with catnip. You can buy it in powder or cut form and sprinkle it on the floor or a toy. Some toys already contain or smell of catnip.
Catnip is also available as an oil or spray.
With this, you can spray a toy or a cat bed. Cats already react to the smallest amounts of catnip, so you don’t need much of it.
My cat doesn’t seem to respond to catnip.
About 30% of cats show no discernible reactions to catnip.
The response to catnip appears to be hereditary, and many cats simply do not have the appropriate receptors to trigger such a result.
Kittens are generally very playful, but typically do not respond to catnip until the age of 6 months.
Cats may also lose interest in catnip as they age.
Also read: Maine Coon cats.
How do cats react to catnip?
Cats do not always react immediately to the beguiling catnip.
Depending on how they usually behave, the effects can also vary greatly: they can become tired or active, calm, and even aggressive in some cases.
The best thing to do is to test how your cat reacts to this plant with a small amount of catnip to avoid nasty surprises.
Don’t introduce your cat to catnip by giving him it all at once, but begin with very small amounts to see how it goes.
The effects usually look like this:
Nervous cats
If your domestic cat is quickly nervous, you can calm your darling in the next stressful situation with the help of a catnip.
It is best to give her the mint before the stressful situation begins. In this case, the plant has a calming effect.
Tired cats
It is more common for domestic cats to get tired or sluggish and gain weight.
You can counteract this with catnip, as this has an activating and stimulating effect on bored cats.
Tired cats suddenly wake up and wallow in the dried leaves and flowers, rub against the plants or even eat them.
Active cats
Even active cats can become more active or even tired. Make sure that your cat shows no aggressive tendencies.
Because especially with active cats, these can occur quickly. If your cat reacts aggressively to catnip, you should avoid them.
No effect
Not every cat reacts to catnip. There are quite a few that catnip doesn’t seem to have any effect at all.
Because this ingredient can also be found in the urine of female neutered cats, especially mature cats react to it.
Big cats like lions or tigers are not excluded from this effect and also show different reactions. With young or old cats, they may show no response.
Duration of effect, how long catnip lasts
The duration of the effect can vary significantly depending on the cat.
In one cat, it has already subsided after 5 minutes, while the other is still active, calm, tired, or aggressive an hour later.
After a maximum of 2 hours, however, it has finally disappeared.
Nice to know: This is how people react to catnip
Not only cats have discovered the plant for themselves. Catnip also has a unique effect on people.
Catnip is a medicinal plant that can be used to fight the common cold and fever.
The essential oils contained therein have an antispasmodic and detoxifying effect on the human body.
They are also said to have a positive impact on bronchitis or toothache.
Influence cats with catnip
Catnip is a drug for cats in it’s own way.
Accordingly, it should not be used too often, let alone continuously. But there are also some situations where you can take advantage of catnip.
Many cats are reluctant to go into the box if the next doctor’s appointment or a trip is in the transport box. You just don’t like the confined space. Some get nervous.
Just sprinkle a little of it in the transport box, and the cat will go in by itself for two reasons: On the one hand, she has become curious about what is unusual in the box.
On the other hand, she smells catnip and wants to get some of it. Is your cat more likely to like your furniture and sharpen your claws despite the great scratching post?
Catnip can make your house tiger turn back to the scratching post. This way, your furniture will remain intact and will not be destroyed any further.
Catnip can be a great motivation, especially for house tigers who don’t move much.
In this way, excess weight can be quickly reduced or even avoided entirely in advance.
Do-it-yourself: make catnip toys yourself
Catnip is easy to care for and, therefore, well suited for your garden, balcony, or window sill.
Instead of buying toys that are filled with catnip, you can easily make them yourself: Pick a handful of catnip and let it dry for several days.
Take an old sock and fill in the dried mint. Then sew the stocking on, and the perfect catnip pillow is finished – lovingly handmade and from our cultivation.
If you want to be more interactive, you can attach the cushion to a branch with a cord -voila: a catfishing rod for fun & play with your velvet paw.
You can find tips on how to keep your cat in your own four walls. Even old toys that have been carelessly in the corner for a long time can be made attractive again with catnip.
Spray the catnip on it or rub the toy a little, then your cat will be active still and suddenly love the doll.
Conclusion: catnip – intoxicating, beguiling and very effective
The use of catnip is widespread among cat owners. Cat mint can also be found in pet stores in pure form or toys treated with it.
The strong impact on cats has many advantages; it causes cats to calm down or to become more active. In a few cases, however, it leads to aggressive behavior and should then be avoided.
Bring a little change into your cat’s everyday life and revitalize or calm it down with catnip.
However, the plant should not be used too often, as this causes the cat to become intoxicated.
There are also alternatives such as Bach flowers or Valerian. Talk to your vet about this.
He or she will be able to tell you whether catnip is suitable for your animal or recommend other alternatives.
Now that you have your answer to “what does catnip do to cats?”, and read about how catnip affects cats, you may also enjoy reading our article about how long cats live.
