This plant has an intoxicating and beguiling effect on the house tigers and especially on tomcats. Catnip sprays are a good option for cats that get an upset stomach from ingesting the plant. It’s not uncommon for cats to eat some plant matter. It contains a substance called nepetalactone that causes reactions ranging from sniffing, rubbing, and licking to getting exuberant and even somewhat aggressive. To give catnip to your cat, try filling a sock with a couple pinches of catnip and tying the end off so your cat can use it as a toy. Catnip tea may be useful in relieving pain for teething babies. They’re odd little things and they like familiarity and routine (which you’ve probably noticed if you’re 5 minutes late putting their food down!). However when the cat eats too much of the catnip, it may lead to vomiting and diarrhea.This may put you off balance and you don’t want that. However, eating catnip often provides them with sedative effects. Therefore, the lethal consumption level for an average 11-pound cat would be about 8 grams of catnip oil. (Is It Normal? For cats health issues, should you feed them the same ingredients in the tea, that is, can they have the same nutrition as their raw meat diet? If you notice that your cat is reacting to the catnip in a weird manner like he jumps around crazily or just lies down like a drunk person, keep in mind that it is only the effect of the catnip. If you want to see just how much of an effect catnip can have, check out Cats on Catnip. It is a relative to the mint family and has a mild taste. | Powered by WordPress, The Crazy Effects Catnip Has on Cats – That You Don’t Know. Catnip can also be grown indoors as long as long as you can give the plant ample sun and regular waterings. While it’s possible to distill your own catnip oil, a better choice for your cats is a diluted spray like KONG Naturals Catnip Spray for Cats. Turns out either reaction is common and you'll see why in a You can also sprinkle some catnip into a paper bag and then crush it up into a ball for your cat to play with. So, how does catnip work? After college, Phil continued working as a vet tech part-time while caring for a private collection of mountain lions used in wildlife educational programs. As it gets many cats amped up, catnip is a great way for your indoor cat to get a little bit of the exercise they need. You need to be cautious when purchasing catnip for your cat, as you may purchase calmit, which more often than not produces no effect on cats. That said, we will not be held responsible for any correspondence you have had with any of the cat breeders, cat sitters, cat groomers, or rescue programs listed on our website. Are there other substances besides catnip that have a similar effect on cats? Click here to see how often cats can have catnip, may need to come of age, say about 6 months, chews it (Click here to find out how to stop your cat chewing your shower curtains), activated through the sense organs of the cat, catnip (Click here to see if it can stimulate your cats appetite), keeping your furniture protected (Click here to learn how to protect your leather furniture from your cat), Catnip helps in activating the happy pheromones, catnip toys can create a high for the cats, Cat Proof Fish Tank? There is some discrepancy between the use of catnip and catmint especially in the dried state. We’d love to hear from you! Catnip acts as a natural mood enhancer. Some believe this triggers the receptors that mimic feline pheromones, acting like an aphrodisiac. Easily mixed with other plants, catnip blooms in mid to late summer with white or purple flowers. You must be wondering if it is alright if your young cat turns out to be a catnip freak, or if it can be dangerous for them. Through cultivation, people have spread catnip throughout the world and it can now be found growing wild in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. Tea enthusiasts may brew tea for health or recreational purposes. In the past, it was thought that giving catnip to kittens when they were very young could result in behavioral imbalances. These effects are similar to those induced by stimulating drugs in humans, and are varied depending on the manner of consumption. Stronger tea: Use more catnip; Dried catnip leaves: Crush them, and use 1 ½ tsp per 8 ounces of water. D Three Ltd also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. A Final Word You can also harvest and dry your catnip so you have some stored up for later. We are simply here for reference, it’s up to you to complete due diligence prior to engaging in any business activities with any service listed on our website. Is This a Concern?). One solution that’s often used for mint is to plant them inside an open-bottomed barrier that’s at least 18 inches deep. This compound, which just so happens to attract felines, is found in the microscopic bulbs … Remove the catnip and add the milk. Nepetalactone is an organic, aromatic compound that belongs to a class of chemicals known as iridoids. How Long Should A Cat Play With a Catnip Toy? I mean, they'll probably have a lot more fun shoving their head inside the bag of dried catnip you bought to make tea, but heck yes, your cat can drink it, too. You should know that your kitten will not react to catnip before she is three months or older, and if she does not react at all, it is because of her genes. Obviously, it needs to cool down first. Here’s a cat who’s pretty chill under the influence: The third reaction to catnip that you might see is no reaction at all. in Animal Science. Once fatigue sets in, the receptors in the cat’s nose will no longer react to the catnip. If you’re a cat lover, then you’re probably aware that catnip can make cats pretty goofy. Catnip is considered to be nonaddictive and completely harmless to cats. It should however be noted that the effect of nepatalactone could be limited especially in a case where cat consumes catnip more often than not. Shavings of this invasive bush are sometimes used as an alternative to catnip in cat toys. :) Just so you understand, I may take a share of any sales or other compensation from the links on this page. The main thing to be concerned about is whether the toy itself is appropriate for the age of kitten playing with it. Catnip works on the cats for a few minutes only, thereby leading to the crazy reaction of the cats. This site is owned and operated by D Three Ltd. D Three Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Feline stress is actually quite common amongst cats. You will notice that your cat starts licking, rolling over or chewing the catnip in absolute bliss. The main point of interest in the catnip plant, especially when it comes to cat owners, is the chemical compound that it houses. Scientists have identified nepetalactone as the chemical that attracts cats to catnip. Catnip is most potent when it’s flowering, which is the best time to harvest. They may also bite or scratch you if you offer them catnip by hand. Catnip’s attraction is in its volatile oil, particularly one chemical because oil– nepetalactone. Generally, the catnip episodes last for around five or ten minutes, and the cat tends to lose interest after that. In line with this, when they get older they can be affected by the chemical. Its scientific name is Nepeta Cataria and is used in some nativities like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and some parts of China.Catnip is also used to make tea, but this time it is used when dry. A number of other plants, such as valerian root and silver vine, contain related compounds that have a similar effect as nepetalactone on cats. The seedling plants are the easiest to grow and are available in most nurseries. Another important fact about cats consuming catnip is that, aside the euphoria that is compared to the human hallucinations after the consumption of stimulating drugs, it’s not an addiction to cats. Cat Ate Bacon Grease (What Now? Catnip is fun for your cat and watching your cat on catnip is fun for you. While this is unlikely, it’s not impossible, so concentrated catnip oil bottles should be kept out of reach of the kitties. It has been noted in scientific literature that about 50-70 percent of cats show the positive response to catnip. If you want to give indoor catnip growing a shot, try out this Catnip Growing Kit. CatKingpin.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Catnip oil is said to have a calming effect on humans and is also used by people as an effective bug repellent. Is it Dangerous? Additionally, CatKingpin.com participates in various other affiliate programs. Now back to cats... Ingesting catnip has no effect on a cat, it’s the nepetalactone vapour that the catnip gives off, that your cat reacts to. Cats detect this compound by smell. As with anything, cats should eat in moderation as well as humans, whether it’s jerky or chocolate! We know that nepetalactone is the volatile oil that is released into the air when the plant is touched, and the oil is what makes cats react (including lions, tigers, and other wild cats). Cats require at least one copy of a certain dominant gene to feel the catnip high. This could be quite disappointing especially if you wanted to see your cat drooling in ecstasy and having that satisfied look on your face. Now you know that catnip is a fun and safe form of entertainment for your cat. When your cat eats it, it mellows out. + Guide), Is There a Gravy Only Cat Food? This means that when you purchase certain products through our recommendations, at no additional cost to you, we receive a monetary reward for referring you. It’s this concentrate that is more of a risk to your feline companion. One substance that warrants a bit of caution is catnip oil, which is the distilled extract of the catnip plant. Most of them roll, flip and even rub themselves probably from too much excitement. It’s thought that cats have something similar to a sexual response when they sniff catnip. The active compound in catnip is nepetalactone. This book by Andrew Marttila captures dozens of cats’ silly and expressive personalities as they react to catnip. Cat Ate Raisin (Now What? It is widely naturalized in northern Euro The body language of the cat will help in determining if she is enjoying the catnip experience or not. Nepetalactone is the chemical compound in catnip that fascinates a cat. Luckily, catnip is about as close to nontoxic as you can get, with no proven negative health effects. Now you know that catnip is a fun and safe form of entertainment for your cat. I hope you enjoy any product or service that I recommend. 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