Catnip and All You Need to Know About It
You might have seen videos and pictures where a cat goes mad and silly while playing with its toys and even sometimes rubbing its head, chewing, and jumping around a plant. You might have heard of this plant as a catnip but do you know what it is?
The Plant :
Catnip is a small herb that belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. Its scientific name is Nepeta cataria. Although commonly it might be known as catmint or catwort, different plants exist. Catnip or Nepeta cataria originally would grow in Europe and Asia. However, now catnip can be found growing wildly in America also.
How Catnip is used?
Catnip or Nepeta cataria releases a volatile oil called nepetalactone. For the purpose of cats, catnip is available in the market in various forms such as sprays, seeds, and even cat wine. Cat wine is made by mixing salmon oil and catnip with infused/distilled water. Some cat owners also like to grow their own plants at homes in small beautiful pots for fresh catnip.
The effect on cats :
When the volatile oil nepetalactone diffuses through the cat’s nose, it is seen to behave in an exciting way. The molecules of nepetalactone bind to the protein receptors and stimulate the sensory neurons. This stimulates the amygdala and hypothalamus and acts as an artificial pheromone.
Thus your cat seems to get “high” and excited when present near Catnip. They shake their heads, sniff the plant, chew the green foliage, wiggle, and jump around the plant or the infused toys. You can also find them scratching their backs, meowing, and even purring loudly. Many people think that catnip acts in the same way as recreational drugs act in human beings. However, no proof has been found regarding this.
Not all cats are affected — Only about one-third of cats show respond to catnip. Scientists believe the reaction of cats to catnip is hereditary. If any ancestral generation might have been engulfed by the volatile oil, your cat will most probably respond to catnip as well. Also, it is to be noted that kittens are not affected by catnip. Only sexually mature cats (above 6 months of age) can show stimulated behaviour to catnips.
Is too much catnip dangerous for my cat?
If you are conscious about the fact that whether or not you’re giving too much catnip to your cat, then relax! Our cute little friends have an inside biological system that prevents them from having too much catnip. After your cat has had enough, he/she will remain immune to the captivating smell of nepetalactone for about half an hour.
FUN FACT: Sometimes big cats like tigers, cougars, and even lions get stimulated by Nepeta cataria. In fact, catnip was recognized as an attractant when big cats started jumping around, sniffing, and chewing wild bushes!
Did you know catnip was used by humans as well?
Studies show that catnip has been used by humans for decades of years in numerous ways. Nepeta cataria or Catnip has been grown as an ornamental plant for various reasons such as :
- The same volatile oil which stimulates cat behavior also acts as a repellent for mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches.
- The compound present in nepetalactone is found to prevent aphids and mites by attracting lacewings.
- It has also been used traditionally in the form of juice medicine and has even been used for smoking. However, with the advancement of Technology catnip flower has lost its medicinal purpose with the availability of more effective pharmaceuticals.
Well, we can definitely try some nature-friendly ways to shoo insects and bugs we dom’t want in our house (instead of toxic chemical sprays). Isn’t it?
So, if you’re planning to make your cat happy on a vacation, or want them to feel good, and dust away all their stress and anxiety, treat them with their favourite food, spray their toys with catnip or you can even give them a little bit of cat wine.
Afterall, “What greater gift, than the love of a cat” — Charles Dickens.
