Almost every adult cat finds it irresistible: catnip. It can be both stimulating and calming, and its scent magically attracts cats.
But what exactly is catnip? Why do cats like them so much? Does the herb really have an intoxicating effect on cats? And what about the effect on other creatures such as dogs, hamsters or humans? You will find out all of this in this article.
What’s blooming there? Nepeta Cataria!
First of all, a little botany: Catnip or English Catnip listens to the scientific name Nepeta Cataria and belongs to the mint family. It has grey-green, hairy leaves and is reminiscent of mint or nettle in terms of structure and leaf shape. Originally from warmer climates such as southern Europe, Asia, and Africa, the plant can grow up to 1 m in height. In midsummer, catnip develops small white or bluish flowers. So far so boring.
A scent to clean up
Catnip only becomes interesting because of its intensely “fragrant” essential oils, which are particularly pleasing to the animal’s nose. In contrast to valerian, which is also loved by cats and smells rather musty, catnip has a tart, lemony-minty smell.
In your cat’s olfactory organ, the herb creates a bewitching firework of fragrances that many cats can hardly resist. They feel almost magically attracted to the smell, want to rub against it, roll in it or even like catnip to eat. A cat intoxicated with catnip purrs happily, coos, and rolls on its back with relish – the total feeling of well-being!
Sedative with a feel-good effect
The olfactory spectacle is triggered by the active ingredient nepetalactone, which, like a mild opioid, can have a calming, anxiolytic or euphoric effect. The intoxicating effects of catnip can last 5 to 30 minutes before the cat turns to something else. Whether the plant makes you tired or alert is partly a question of the dosage form: while the scent wakes up tired kitties and encourages them to play and run around, a little catnip in the food can have a slightly calming effect on nervous fur noses. ATTENTION: Since every animal reacts differently, you should definitely consult your veterinarian before generously garnishing the cat food with catnip!
Why catnip has such a powerful effect on many cats is still not fully understood. Around 30% of all domestic cats are not at all interested in the herb for genetic reasons. And many kittens and seniors shrug their shoulders past the catnip toy, as if to ask: What is it that they all have? The effect is most pronounced in sexually mature cats. Nevertheless, catnip is not an aphrodisiac – even castrated animals react to the beguiling scent.
You can only try whether your kitty is receptive to the herb – for example with a toy from the pet shop enriched with catnip.
Enjoy well-dosed
Catnip is non-toxic, has no harmful side effects, and is non-addictive. Nevertheless, your cat should enjoy them with caution and not on a daily basis. A few cats react very intensely to the smell and can become aggressive as a result. In such a case, it’s best to give the catnip to your neighbor and make your cat happy in some other way.
But even with “normal” reactions, the catnip intoxication should not be a permanent condition. First of all, even the most beautiful drug loses its attractiveness if you keep enjoying it. And secondly, such a euphoric state is exhausting in the long run. Nobody can party every day, not even your cat. No, not even if he’s the biggest bully in the neighborhood.
Therefore, never spray the whole apartment with catnip scent. Not even the sleeping place or even the cat itself. The smell is very intense for the sensitive cat’s nose and in a concentrated form would lead to an unpleasant over-stimulation. Only use catnip very selectively and at most 1-2 times a week. Put the catnip toy away after use to keep the cat from wearing off. It should remain something special and interesting.
And another tip: keep it separate from the other toys – otherwise the whole cat toy will end up smelling of catnip. And that would be too much.
Beware of poisonous plants!
If you’re looking to buy catnip as a plant, you should make sure that it’s actually the herb with the botanical name Nepeta Cataria. Because many plants look very similar or have similar names, which can lead to confusion.
And unfortunately, there are some plants that can be dangerous for your cat. You should know and avoid these so as not to endanger your kitty.
Targeted use of catnip
The herb has a calming effect on nervous cats, while it has a stimulating effect on little sleepyheads and promotes the urge to play. If you know how your velvet paw reacts to catnip, you can use the plant in a spray or dry form judiciously and intervene gently when your cat needs some reassurance or a little encouragement. A new scratching post or a toy that has become uninteresting will also become more attractive for your animal roommates with a little “scent tuning”.
Encouragement for nervous cats
Nervous and shy cats particularly benefit from the anxiolytic effect of the relaxation herb and become more trusting when it smells like catnip. Shy newcomers may be easier to lure out from behind the closet wall with a laid out catnip cushion. As with the following application examples, the same applies here: Just try it out: Trying makes you smart (and the cat gets high!)
Suggestion for animals who are reluctant to exercise
Indoor cats also need exercise. If your cat is more of a sofa type or has already put on a bit of flab, you can use catnip to lure it out of its reserve. Simply prepare a previously unnoticed toy with a little catnip and it will develop a whole new attraction – and your little lazybones an unexpected mobility. The same applies to catnip cushions, which you can always hide in hard-to-reach places in the apartment to encourage your furry friend to go on a small (safe!) climb.
Anti-stress remedy for cat mating
A little catnip in the room and everyone makes love. Of course it’s not quite like that – but the herb can create a relaxed atmosphere in which the cats find it easier to approach each other. And anyway, what smells so good there, hmmm, I have to lie in there for a moment, wonderful…. purrrrr…. and the trouble is gone. In the best case anyway.
Catnip for scratching post and carrying box
Does your cat not want to go into its crate because it associates it with something negative after unpleasant car rides and visits to the vet? You scorn the new scratching post? In either case, catnip can help make the item more attractive to the cat. Simply put some in the cat box or spray the scratching post with catnip scented spray – and then see what happens! Many scratching posts or scratching pads come with a bag of Catnip to help you get used to them.
Catnip for cats in heat
Prolonged heat can be exhausting for humans and cats. If you know that catnip has a calming effect on your kitty, you can give yourself and her a little break with the herb and alleviate her love woes a little. It’s best to test the effect before the cat goes into heat. If the cat is more stimulated by the herb, the symptoms of heat can also increase. You don’t want that (and neither does the cat, actually.)
Traveling catnip
Is your kitty particularly stressed when driving? A little catnip spray on the car upholstery or a catnip-infused toy in the carry case can have a calming effect on four-legged passengers and make the ride a little more comfortable for both humans and pets
Help with the food change with catnip
Getting used to a new food is not always easy. If your fur nose is particularly picky about the new food, it can help to lightly rub catnip into the food bowl or sprinkle a little of it on the food.
Buy catnip
Now that you know how the “stuff” affects your cat, you probably want to know where and in what form you can get the good stuff. Nothing easier than that!
You can usually find pure catnip dried and crushed in small or larger bags (haha), as drops or as a scented spray with essential oil.
Also offered are small sizzling pillows filled with catnip.
Many cats like to carry them around, roll in them, or play with them.
You can also buy your cat a toy mouse or other toy with the delicious herb. Here the catnip is either firmly processed as a filling or is included in a small bag so that you can fill or coat the toy with it. With so-called scratch cardboard, a bag of catnip is also often included. This should be placed on the cardboard so that the cat accepts it willingly.
You can get catnip as a toy at pet stores or hardware stores with a pet section. As a plant for the balcony or garden, you can get the herb in well-stocked garden centers.
Catnip for dogs and other four-legged friends
Your cat just had the catnip toy and suddenly the dog takes off with it? No panic! Catnip is not harmful to dogs, nor is it particularly stimulating.
Nevertheless, your dog should rather get dog toys than cat toys – because the strong dog teeth chewed up your cat’s delicate play mice in no time at all and in the worst case even swallowed them – including inedible parts made of plastic or other materials.
Even hamsters, rabbits or horses cannot be endangered by the mint and have none of the euphoric effect of catnip. This really only works on cats – of any size, including lions, leopards and jaguars.
If your dog, hamster or Haflinger accidentally ate catnip or nibbled on the catnip plants in the garden, you don’t usually have to worry. The intoxicating herb has it all for cats, but is otherwise harmless. The only ones who run away from catnip are fleas, mosquitoes, cockroaches and rats. They don’t find the smell attractive, they just want to run away – which is nice.
Good stuff for animals – also for humans?
You’ve already watched your cat enjoying its cultivated high on catnip several times – and thought: Dude, I want that too???
Then let’s get to the herb! Trying is not forbidden – and that is meant quite literally, because the consumption of catnip is not illegal. The reason for this, however, and this is the bad news, is that there is no scientific basis for catnip to contain any intoxicating substances for humans. In short, scientifically speaking, this stuff is as psychoactive as chamomile tea.
Catnip as a tea
However, the herb can be used as a remedy and enjoyed as a tea. The tea infusion, which tastes of lemon and mint, is said to have a relaxing, analgesic, sweat-inducing, antispasmodic, antipyretic and digestive effect. Because of its antibacterial properties, catnip tea can help heal colds and flu. You can also use the tea for insomnia and nervousness. Chewing the fresh leaves is said to help against toothache. Ointments and poultices with catnip promote wound healing, and the herb is occasionally used to treat rheumatic complaints.
