![]() ![]() ![]() Nepetalactone is the oil that’s found within the catnip plant’s leaves that can cause behavioral changes in cats. This special pathway allows scents that are collected in the nose and mouth to be carried to the brain. Talk with your vet, he or she will be able to tell you if they think catnip is right for your pet or recommend other alternatives.What Does Catnip Do to Cats? How Does Catnip Work?Ĭats have an extra scent organ called the vomeronasal gland in the roof of their mouth. You might consider an alternative like honey-suckle or valerian. If this is the case with your cat, then stop. Some cats, usually males, will become aggressive when you give them catnip, possibly because of catnip's connection to mating behaviour. You may also find that as your cat gets older, she loses interest in catnip. Many cats simply don't have the receptors to be affected by catnip.ĭespite their playful nature, kittens don't generally respond to catnip until after their first six months. Being affected by catnip is apparently an inherited trait. My cat doesn't seem to be responding to catnip.Ībout 30% of cats have no observable response to catnip. ![]() Cats will react to even very small amounts of catnip so you don't need to use very much. You can also get catnip oil or oil spray, which can be used to scent a toy or bedding. Some toys come pre-scented with catnip or have catnip inside them. You can buy powdered catnip or catnip bulbs which you can sprinkle on the ground or on a toy. Whatever the reason, it's good fun!Ĭatnip products come in a variety of forms. It can also be a good way to encourage your cat to exercise, it may even help your cat relax. After that it will be a couple of hours before a cat will demonstrate the effects of catnip again.īecause your cat will enjoy being given catnip, it makes a great treat to be used during training or to encourage a cat to use a scratching post or sleep in her own bed. The effects of catnip are short, usually lasting between 5 to 15 minutes. All of this behaviour may be marked by a lot of mewing or growling. Some cats will just become very relaxed and stare into space. Or she may jump about and become frisky, running from room to room appearing to chase invisible prey. She may also roll, paw or rub her face in the source of the catnip. It might make your cat act quite unusually she may become more kittenish or particularly affectionate. It's generally thought that the nepetalactone mimics the effect of a cat pheromone, possibly associated with mating.Ĭatnip acts as a natural mood enhancer. The active compound in catnip is nepetalactone. The plant's nicknames, catnip, catmint or catwort are no doubt inspired by cat's well-known taste for the plants. It originated in Northern Africa and the Mediterranean but now commonly grows wild throughout Europe and North America. If by some chance your cat was to eat a large amount of catnip, it could cause a mild tummy upset, but that's not likely to happen.Ĭatnip is a perennial herb of the mint family. And it's perfectly safe - there's nothing in it that can harm your cat. ![]()
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