Do you ever end up asking, “Why do cats like catnip?” Or possibly you might be questioning what catnip (nepeta cataria) is, precisely. It seems that catnip, a uniquely stimulating plant for a lot of cats, is nearly as puzzling as cats themselves.
Whether or not you’re watching a cat in the midst of a catnip excessive or learning the secrets and techniques hidden inside the ‘nip itself, the dynamic between the plant and the feline is a continuing supply of fascination. On this article, we’ll dig deeper into the mysterious methods of catnip, discovering what it’s, the way it impacts cats, and how one can get began with utilizing catnip your self.
What Is Catnip?
The catnip plant resembles different members of the mint household, bearing pointed, serrated leaves and white or lavender blossoms.
While you take a look at a catnip plant, your first impression is of a weedy inexperienced perennial herb, typically topped with a bundle of white or lavender blossoms. Branching off the stalk are serrated leaves that appear to be softer, dustier sprigs of lemon balm.
The plant is a member of the mint household (Lamiaceae) and is well mistaken for lemon balm, catmint, and peppermint.
What makes it totally different from these vegetation is one thing you may’t see—a chemical compound known as nepetalactone.
Secreted in fragile microscopic bulbs coating the plant’s leaves, stems, and seed pods, nepetalactone constitutes between 70% and 99% of the important oil in catnip.
The Catnip Craze
Between 67% and 80% of the grownup feline inhabitants is delicate to catnip and its results. Delicate cats react to catnip by going a bit loopy—rolling round on the ground, licking up as a lot ‘nip as they will, rubbing their heads within the plant, and frisking across the room. Some cats even begin drooling. Others get agitated and violent.
Each small and large cats react to catnip. Lions, tigers, leopards, and different huge cats exhibit all the identical reactions to the herb. However whereas the expertise is widespread amongst all forms of cats, they’re the one animals that get such a giant buzz out of catnip.
For the remainder of us, catnip is something between a repellent and a gentle sedative. Brewed right into a tea, smoked, or combined into treats, catnip, and catmint are soothing to people, canine, and different animals. And for those who’re not excited by stimulated cats or chilled-out people, you would possibly like realizing that the energetic compound in catnip is a mosquito repellent extra highly effective than DEET.
How Does Catnip Work?
To grasp how catnip impacts your cat, we now have to take a better take a look at two issues—what catnip consists of, and what makes your cat tick.
When these tiny bulbs rupture, nepetalactone molecules float off of the catnip plant and get inside a cat’s nostril. From there, they bind to protein receptors, which stimulate sensory neurons that attain out to different neurons positioned within the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is a nervous construction within the cat’s mind that acts as a processing middle for smells.
The olfactory bulb tasks this odor info to a number of areas of the mind, together with the 2 neuronal clusters known as the amygdala. This gland controls behavioral responses to stimuli. In different phrases, the amygdala will get the message that it’s time to rev up the emotional response and get the physique transferring.
In the meantime, the olfactory gland additionally tasks to the hypothalamus or “grasp gland” of the mind, which controls nearly every little thing within the physique. It seems that the hypothalamus interprets the nepetalactone of catnip as one thing similar to feline sexual pheromones, regulating the response via the pituitary gland and triggering a behavioral response.
What Does Catnip Do to Cats?
No matter intercourse, cats affected by catnip begin appearing so much like females in warmth—with a twist.
You’ll discover estrus-esque behaviors like rolling round on the ground, frenzied cheek rubbing, purring, and vocalizing. Along with these behaviors, cats turn out to be usually excitable, chasing invisible mice, and frisking round the home.
How Lengthy Do the Results of Catnip Final?
The impact of catnip lasts for 5-Quarter-hour after which it fades away, leaving your cat catnipped-out for as much as two hours. Throughout that point, cats lose their sensitivity to catnip and want a while for the immunity to put on off.
So, since it seems that catnip causes one thing of an emotional response just like these created by feline pheromones, is it some sort of plant-derived pseudo-pheromone?
Not Fairly.
Not like pheromones, the unstable oils in catnip solely have an effect on cats via the nostril. Cats don’t choose up nepetalactone with their Jacobson’s organ—also called the vomeronasal organ—positioned on the roof of their mouth. It’s a nose-driven expertise.
Although cats typically eat catnip after they’re in the midst of excessive, ingested catnip doesn’t have the identical impact. When cats eat catnip, they expertise it roughly the identical method we do once we eat it or brew it right into a tea—they might really feel a gentle sedative impact.
We will’t say precisely what cats are experiencing after they odor catnip. Within the scientific group, there’s no consensus on precisely why catnip impacts cats.
Catnip Security and Advantages
For all of its euphoric results, catnip is fairly secure. It’s unattainable to overdose on and is non-addictive. Cats of all ages can attempt it, however solely grownup cats have the wiring to expertise a excessive. Most cats develop their curiosity in catnip across the time they attain sexual maturity (6 to eight months outdated).
Whether or not your cat is nibbling it contemporary or rolling round in a pile of dried buds, catnip might be useful to their well being.
When eaten, catnip might help stressed-out cats to chill out and really feel a bit calmer, and when inhaled, the energetic parts of catnip encourage your cat to play. Frisking, pouncing, and different types of play act additionally as highly effective stress relievers.
Catnip is a secure, mild different to harsh behavioral redirection instruments.
When sprinkled or spritzed on a brand new scratching put up or mattress, catnip might help to encourage your cat to go to and use the designated object. Paired with a delicate deterrent, this type of constructive course is an efficient option to change your cat’s patterns with out hurt or stress.
Options to Catnip for Cats
What in case your cat is likely one of the roughly 1/3 of the feline inhabitants who doesn’t react to catnip? You could have a number of options. Whereas silvervine is essentially the most promising catnip different, you can even attempt valerian root, Tartarian honeysuckle, and different sorts of catmint.
Silvervine
Options to catnip like silvervine are nonetheless an important deal with to your cat to get pleasure from.
Although catnip will get extra press, silvervine—also called matatabi—is a potent different. This native of China and Japan is a species of kiwifruit from the Actinidiaceae household.
As an alternative of nepetalactone, silvervine accommodates excessive concentrations of a chemical known as actinidine. Actinidine triggers a response just like nepetalactone, however it seems to have an effect on a bigger share of cats. In accordance with a examine revealed in BMC Veterinary Analysis, nearly 80% of cats in a 100-cat group reacted to silvervine, together with 75% of the cats who didn’t get something out of catnip.
Silvervine additionally causes an extended excessive. Whereas catnip wears off after 5-Quarter-hour, a silvervine frenzy can final for as much as half-hour.
Like catnip, silvervine is secure for cats and the enjoyable comes side-effect-free. In case your cat is a part of the inhabitants that doesn’t get something out of a dose of catnip, take into consideration attempting silvervine as an alternative.
Valerian Root
Valerian root has a popularity in herbalism for having soothing qualities.
Valerian root is a flowering perennial maybe finest identified for its soothing properties. It’s additionally reasonably stimulating for cats, triggering a response in about 47% of cats. And simply as valerian might help to alleviate insomnia and nervousness in individuals, this plant might help cats chill out as soon as the excessive involves an finish.
Tatarian Honeysuckle
Whereas not all cats reply to catnip, there are fortunately various options to attempt – such because the tatarian honeysuckle.
Tatarian honeysuckle is a flowering shrub that, like catnip, accommodates the monoterpenoid nepetalactone. Its wooden triggers catnip-like reactions in about 50% of cats. Whereas even catnip-sensitive cats don’t begin reacting to the plant till they’re about six months outdated, it seems that cats of all ages can get a buzz out of this honeysuckle species.
Different Kinds of Catmint
In case your cat doesn’t reply to catnip, give different herbs wealthy in nepetalactone a attempt.
Of the Nepeta species, nepeta cataria has the very best focus of nepetalactone and essentially the most highly effective results, however catmint varieties like Blue Surprise, Persian, and Faassen’s catmint may also set off a response.
How To Give Your Cat Catnip
Giving your cat catnip is straightforward. If you happen to’re utilizing catnip leaves or a toy, pinch and therapeutic massage it earlier than giving it to your cat. This helps to heat issues up, burst the floor bulbs, and launch the catnip’s unstable oils. If you happen to’re utilizing a sprig, no preparation is important. Simply spritz it in your chosen space.
Catnip lasts longest if saved in an air-tight container in a darkish, cool space. When you’ve got freezer area and need to maximize the longevity of your catnip, place your sealed containers of catnip within the freezer and thaw them out once you’re prepared for some enjoyable.
Catnip is at all times the identical herb, however it is available in a number of codecs. Listed below are a number of of the choices accessible.
Dried Catnip
You should purchase dried catnip nearly anyplace you should buy cat meals. Efficiency varies from product to product, with lower-quality catnip merchandise containing an excessive amount of stem and never sufficient bud.
Catnip Toys
Catnip toys are additionally accessible, giving your cat one thing to kick, drool on, and bat round whereas they’re buzzing.
Catnip Spray
You can too use catnip sprays, that are a much less messy different to catnip leaves scattered on the ground. Catnip spray is beneficial for refreshing catnip toys and might help to get your cat all for new furnishings like scratching posts, beds, and bushes.
Develop Catnip at Residence
If you happen to like the thought of a contemporary plant, take into consideration rising catnip in your house backyard. It’s a perennial plant that’s hardy and straightforward to develop in a spread of climates. Decide and dry the catnip as wanted. Although cats react to each contemporary and dry catnip, dehydrated catnip is stronger and simpler to retailer for the long run.
How A lot Catnip Ought to You Give a Cat?
A bit of little bit of catnip goes a great distance—only a teaspoon of dried catnip is sufficient to induce a full response. And simply as there’s no clear minimal dose at which the results start, there’s no solidly-defined restrict to how a lot catnip you may give a cat. Nonetheless, cats who eat an excessive amount of of it could expertise GI misery because of the plant’s excessive fiber content material.
Keep in mind that a cat’s response doesn’t enhance in proportion to how a lot catnip they’re given, so it’s finest to begin small and monitor your cat’s response. In case your cat licks up all the catnip and nonetheless appears to need extra, you would possibly need to drop an additional teaspoon or so. If you happen to’re left with a multitude of unused catnip, attempt dialing it again a bit of bit.
Keep in mind that publicity to leftover catnip could lower your cat’s sensitivity to it, so it’s finest to scrub up afterward to ensure your subsequent session is simply as enjoyable because the final.
In the end, Catnip Stays a Thriller
Whereas we are able to go into extra depth on how the compounds in catnip work together along with your cat’s mind, we are able to’t reply precisely why one species—catnip—has such an intense impact on so many members of one other species. It’s a thriller as intriguing and enchanting as our cats themselves.
Additionally Learn: The 5 Finest Catnip Merchandise
Continuously Requested Questions
What does catnip do for cats?
For a lot of cats, catnip may cause a little bit of a nice and innocent “excessive,” due to a chemical compound in catnip known as nepetalactone. It may possibly trigger cats to roll round, rub up towards and lick on the catnip, frisk round, drool, and customarily expertise euphoric sensations. Different cats turn out to be agitated, and nonetheless some in a small minority have no response to catnip in any respect.
Is it secure to offer my cat catnip on a regular basis?
Whereas catnip is innocent for cats, overindulgence can uninteresting the results over time, which is why every day use of it isn’t thought-about optimum. It’s higher to offer your cat a small quantity of catnip at a time – a couple of teaspoon’s price – after which clear it up afterward to keep away from overexposure.
How lengthy do cats expertise a catnip
Sometimes, a cat’s response to catnip lasts between 5-Quarter-hour. After cats come down from the results of catnip, it sometimes takes 1-2 hours earlier than they can really feel the results once more.
