Cats are domestic felines that have not lost their hunting instinct, hence their independent, exploratory and adventurous nature that often drives owners crazy, who must remain alert and informed, for example, about of those plants toxic to cats.
Nevertheless, practically all those people who have welcomed a cat into their home know that there is a plant that far from being toxic they love and cause various reactions in them, we are facing the well-known catnip. If you want to know more about this plant, in this AnimalWised article we talk about the properties of catnip
What is catnip?
Catnip is known by the botanical name of Nepeta cataria, although it also goes by other names such as catnip, cat's basil, cats, catnip, catnip or catnip.
Certainly it is a plant whose appearance is similar to that of mint and spearmint, its leaves are green, with jagged edges and its length is between 20 and 60 centimeters high. Although is a plant native to Europe, it also grows wild in North America and western Asia.
Why do cats like this plant so much?
Catnip is very rich in essential oils and this makes 7 out of 10 cats react to it, showing unusual interest on this floor.
First we can observe how the cat approaches the plant, rubs against it, licks it, chews it and emits sounds similar to those of a cat's heat, but this reaction does not end here, later There are many cats that begin to jump from one place to another, to run…. They can also roll over and chase imaginary mice. Yes, without a doubt this plant exerts a narcotic effect that seduces more than one feline, but why does this reaction occur?
This narcotic effect is due to an active ingredient called nepetalactone, this substance is capable of binding to those cells whose function is to stimulate sensitive neurons and the reaction that the cat experiences before this plant is due to an overstimulation that does not occur naturally when faced with other stimuli.
In addition to the narcotic effect, catnip induces behaviors in cats similar to those that occur during courtship and mating.
Catnip properties
Due to its properties, catnip provides various benefits to your cat:
- Incites you to play and move
- It makes it easy for you to stay active and exercise
- Stimulates the cat's mind thanks to the game
This is why it shouldn't surprise us that many cat toys and scratching posts include catnip. In addition, it can now also be found in aerosol form and spray it on your pet will allow him to react through smell to nepetalactone, thus obtaining an immediate reward that can be used as positive reinforcement.
Can catnip be toxic to your cat?
Catnip is not toxic to cats and is also not addictive, therefore, there is no problem in our cat being moderately exposed to this plant, and yes, moderation here is very important.
A cat continuously exposed to the narcotic effect of catnip can be dangerous, since although it is not usual, it can show aggressive behavior, in the same way, excessive exposure can endanger the he alth of the animal if there are open terraces or windows.
Catnip is ideal for our felines, which is why they generally love it, however, we emphasize that moderation and supervision is important.
