Every cat owner has certainly already heard of cat mint, catnip or catswort. Under all these names hides a herb that makes most of the cats “high”.
Nepeta cataria, that is cat mint, is a wild-growing perennial herb that comes from southern Europe. Cat mint is related to mint. Its up to one meter tall bushes thrive in dry, sunny places and they bloom from late spring until the autumn. It is not popular among cat lovers only. It smells nice to people, it is grown as a decorative plant and a medicinal herb. It can also be used for a soothing tea, for instance (careful, pregnant women may not have it – it supports uterine contractions and bleeding).
Cats are mainly interested in the above-the-ground part of the plant, both fresh and dried. A lot of cats are a little crazy about it. They cuddle with it, roll around it, salivate excessively. This is caused by the nepetalactone silica that is released and that gets into the cat’s organism by inhalation.
If cats sniff cat mint, their pupils usually stretch rapidly and their behaviour subsequently changes to the typical behaviour that is caused by stimulating effects of the plant. And on the contrary, when they eat cat mint, it works as a sedative and the cats will calm down. They usually nibble it so that more essential oil that contains nepetalactone would be released by disruption of the structure of the leaves and the stem.
But some cats (a third to a half) don’t respond to cat mint at all. Breeds that don’t come from areas where cat mint grows naturally often have a lesser interest in this plant: Siamese and Burmese cats, for instance. Since response to cat mint is a matter of genetics and it is hereditary. Little enthusiasm is also shown by older cats and kittens that are yet to reach sexual maturity. Apart from cats, tigers or lynxes also respond to cat mint.
However, you don’t have to worry that your fluffy friend could be hurt by this herb in any way. It doesn’t have any side effects and it’s not addictive. The “intoxication” wears off by itself after 5 – 20 minutes and the cat has to rest for an hour before it starts to get interested in the herb again.
You can get it already dried, in spray or sewed in in toys. But its growing isn’t difficult. It will thrive in a garden or a flower box outside the window (it might be an issue if a “high” cat gets to it and manages to destroy it sooner than the plant grows properly).
If you plant it in the garden, take into account, that it spreads by underground vines. If you don’t like for it to spread uncontrollably around the garden, hitch the roots of the plant in a flowerpot.
It is picked when in bloom and dried in heat, dry and darkness – this way, maximum of the essential oil is retained. It is kept in the dark, since the sunlight destroys the active substance contained. A freshly picked cat mint can also be frozen.
Does your cat belong among those that get “high” on cat mint or is it indifferent to it? If you didn’t succeed with cat mint, don’t lose hope. Next time, I will introduce you to more cat drugs ;).
If you have decided to buy a purebred cat, you still have a lot of questions ahead of you. Which breed should you choose? A female cat or a tomcat? A kitten or an adult? Only if you consider everything carefully, you'll get the right companion for...
Lots of rabbit lovers choose this breed mainly by its appearance. The cuter, the better. But maybe they don’t know that a certain kind from the order of lagomorphs lives in nature, and hardly any domestic rabbit can match it in its cuteness. The same...
If you've noticed that your fluffy friend excessively licks and nibbles at his paws, you should not leave it like that. It might have several causes. Whether it's a psychological problem, allergy, yeast or other problem, the situation must be...
Did you know that our senses include the perception of the magnetic field? While we have almost lost this ability already, dogs still have it and use it every day. Do you know for what?
The British Shorthair cat is without a doubt the most popular cat breed not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the rest of Europe. This is caused not only by its appearance of a small Teddy bear, but also a mild, trouble-free nature.
In individual rodents, we’ll find breeds that are more popular with breeders than others. One of those is the American Teddy, typical with its peculiar hair structure that gives it the appearance of a teddy bear.
There is certainly no doubt that the Labrador belongs among the best known and most popular dog breeds. The reason is his extraordinary versatility, adaptability, intelligence and loyalty. Like the British Shorthair cat, the Labrador Retriever can be...
To spend a few days outside of civilisation - in the forest, on the ridges of the mountains - away from the hustle of the cities, in the wilderness and ideally with your dog. An imaginary return back to nature is the trend that did not avoid even the...
Hunting and exercise. If the dog loves both these activities, then coursing is the perfect activity for it. This cross-country race is based exactly on the desire of the dog to catch its prey.
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
Under the name of dogtrekking, imagine an orientation walk with the dog. Official rules rank it among extreme dog endurance sports.
There may be more causes of dog fear. And the first step to eliminate it is to find out its origin and cause.
