Truth or Information on Catnip, Why do cats like it so much
It doesn’t matter what you call it: catnip, catmint, catwort, or field balm. This fragrant herb is so irresistible that lions, tigers, panthers, and even your typical domestic tabby tend to eat it up.
Nepeta cataria, a cat-loving plant with origins in Europe and Asia, is known for its powerful, minty, lemony flavor. Its Latin-derived word cataria itself means “of a cat.” Furthermore, research demonstrates that cats of all sizes like this invasive, weedy member of the mint family. However, why do they enjoy catnip so much? Is it safe? What does it signify if your cat dislikes it, too?
Results of Catnip
Your kitty friend’s susceptibility to this oregano- and basil-related cousin depends on her genetic makeup. A sensitivity to the herb runs in about one in every two cats. but you won’t know if your kitten is one of them until sometime between ages 3 and 6 months.
Even though it is strong, this euphoria typically only lasts for around 10 minutes for most cats. Some people’s joy manifests as violent playfulness. Others become relaxed and tranquil as a result at the same time. No of how your cat reacts, it will take them roughly two hours to respond to catnip again once the initial thrill has worn off.
Catnip: Training and Toys
Catnip can be an effective training tool since cats respond to it repeatedly.
Want to stop the cat from scratching the furniture? To make a scratching post more enticing, coat it with catnip. Invested in a new cat bed? To make your cat’s cushion more appealing to him, add a little of the herb to it.
Making catnip toys is another way to give an indoor cat enrichment. Put a little of the herb inside an old sock and tie the top closed. Alternately, add a significant amount of catnip to a tiny paper bag and compact the bag into a ball.
The kind of catnip you use will have an impact on how strongly your cat reacts to toys and instruction. Despite the fact that most cats prefer the herb dried or fresh, catnip sprays typically don’t have enough nepetalactone to pique their interest.
Fortunately for Kitten, catnip is simple to grow in a sunny window and is both non-addictive and safe to consume. With one pot of catnip and one of wheat, oat, rye, or barley grass, you might even go as far as to build your very own cat garden. Along with enjoying both, kitten might stay away from your plants if it has its own. Keep in mind that catnip is a perennial plant if you choose to grow it directly in your garden. remember that, like most mints, it’s a vigorous, sometimes invasive, grower.
Catnip’s potency doesn’t last forever; the essential oils quickly dissipate. So if you buy dried catnip for your feline friend, store what you don’t use in the freezer.
