What is catnip? Everything about the herb

Wat is kattenkruid?

What does catnip do to a cat?

First things first: Catnip won't hurt your cat! Catnip is a plant, and the catnip in cat toys are dried leaves of this plant. The plant contains several essential oils and one of them is Nepetalacetone. This causes the mild hallucinatory effect in cats. Nepetalacetone stimulates the Jacobson's Organ, which is located in the back of your cat's nose. This organ allows your cat to absorb a scent better. So your cat has to inhale the scent of the Nepetalacetone to even get the benefits of catnip.

What is catnip?

Catnip is a plant that is often seen as a weed: the nepeta plant. When the plant is in bloom, beautiful purple flowers emerge! The effects of catnip are due to various oils that this herb contains. Nepetalactone is an example of this - Nepetalactone is the chemical responsible for the bizarre reactions seen in cats! This substance has a mild hallucinogenic effect when your cat inhales it and therefore produces the typical catnip effects! 

Is catnip good for cats?

Catnip is a fantastic herb for your cat. It can be grown indoors or outdoors and can be added to toys or scratching posts to stimulate cat behavior. To maintain the effectiveness of this herb, it is important to regularly care for the plant. It's nice when cats can really relax. But is catnip consumption potentially harmful to cats? What about the addictive effect, does catnip make cats addicted? Do you end up with a catnip junkie in your living room? Rest assured: the answer is no! Many cats love catnip, but the herb is not addictive! Excessive consumption of catnip can possibly lead to stomach and intestinal complaints in your cat - so it is better not to offer it too often or in too much as food or snack!

What can catnip be used for?

You can use catnip to calm your cat, get him used to something, or to train him. For example, is the new scratching board waiting to be conquered? How do you get your cat to like it? Spraying it with some catnip can make it more attractive! If you have a little tiger in your living room, you will also face very different challenges every day. Depending on what you have in mind, you can use the minty herb in food or as a scent as a floral “helper” to make life a little more pleasant for you and your cat.

With the herb's powerful properties, it can be a good tool for training your cat. For example, you can rub catnip on the scratching post or the brand new cat bed to make them more attractive. You can also make your own catnip toys. Your cat will certainly love them! Keep in mind that you may need to replace the catnip after a while, as the essential oils disappear fairly quickly. 

FAQ's about Catnip:

  • Q: What does catnip do to a human? A: Catnip's extract contains a chemical called nepetalactone. This chemical may promote relaxation, which is why people may utilize catnip to help with managing anxiety, unrest, headaches, insomnia and diseases.
  • Q: Is catnip safe for cats? A: Cats are able to consume catnip safely, and it may even have a beneficial effect on their digestive system. The catnip plant has actually been employed in humans as a result of its anti-depressant properties.
  • Q: What is catnip made of? A: Catnip is composed of numerous essential oils. One of these is nepetalactone, which has a mild psychotropic effect and is primarily responsible for the typical symptoms of catnip. Nepetalactone causes the receptors in the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ) at the back of your cat's nose to activate.

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