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 ;).
Arthritis ranks among the most frequent diseases of the joints in dogs. It is accompanied by pain and limitations for physical activity. And because it cannot be cured I’ll give you some tips how to make the life of your buddy with arthritis easier.
It is nowadays completely normal to have dog restaurants, saloons and spas. People try to indulge their pets with all the luxurious things. Some procedures are more helpful than others. But thalassotherapy is one of those that can have a positive...
Nowadays even our pets are subject to diseases of civilization. Obesity is no good for them as well as for people. Do you know how to tell if your cat is obese and what are its causes and consequences?
The season of ticks is back again and so it is the right time to start protecting our pets. These parasites also bring anaplasmosis except from borreliosis. And the fact that this disease is not generally know does not undermine its serious impacts on...
You, as cat keepers, will probably be frightened when hearing “cat plague”. But precisely this phrase is sometimes used for panleukopenia which is a very dangerous cat disease. You may not only prevent it thanks to information obtained but to identify...
The whiskers on cats’ face are probably too noticeable to ignore them. But do you know all the places where cat’s whiskers with sense of touch are? And do you know how this comprehensive tactile body functions?
As you might know, the assistance dogs help people with various physical or mental disabilities nowadays. But there is a program in the US and in other countries which helps children to improve their reading and communication skills.
We are all try to give our dog companions the best, from health care to the leisure activities. Nutrition is no exception to that and it is prone to modern trends similar to those of regular human food. Reducing or opting out the grain from the diet is...
Whether it has undergone castration or any other surgery, your dog needs to rest more after it. But this can sometimes seem almost impossible. To “force” your beloved pet to rest is not easy, indeed. A few tips how to handle this situation follow.
The last time, I shared with you my opinions on castrations in general and I’ve named the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure in bitches. Now, let’s take a look, how it is with dogs.
Castration is still quite a tricky and discussed topic. Today, I will introduce you to the facts about this procedure and about its consequences and I will also share my opinion.
If you have one of the furry furring balls at home, maybe you know, in what kind of devil some of them are capable of turning into, if you need to give them a pill. If your cat belongs precisely among those, in which it’s almost a superhuman task, I...
