Catnip: how does it help cats


Catnip is a drug for our beloved felines, but what else is it useful for? Here’s everything you need to know about this beneficial plant.

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In a pot on the terrace or on a patch of lawn, catnip can grow anywhere. It does not take a great deal of energy to cultivate it and it can be a real cure-all for the cat and its owner. If you want to find out what the benefits of catnip are, keep reading.

Index

  1. Catnip: what it is
  2. Catnip according to science
  3. Effects on the cat
    1. Exciting
    2. Narcotic
  4. Effects on humans
    1. How it ‘comes into circulation’
    2. Because some cats don’t like it
  5. Catnip: what is it for?
    1. Indigestion
    2. Halitosis
    3. Helps with training
    4. It stimulates activity

Catnip: what it is

It is a plant that grows practically all over the world because it does not need particular climatic conditions to develop. There are different types, but the definition leads us to think of that filiform plant of long green stems. In reality there are at least 250 species but among the most common ones, in addition to the filiform there are the Catnip, the Nepeta Cataria and the gattaria or cat’s mint. The peculiarity of this aromatic plant is the scent of mint in fact: it is a woody shrub that develops in lilac or pinkish-white holes and larger leaves below and gradually smaller at the upper end.


Catnip according to science

Veterinary claims that having a catnip seedling at home has enormous benefits on our cat. His senses will be stimulated and he himself will be induced to approach. So if we put at his disposal a large vase, perhaps at the bottom, he could use it as and when he wants. On the other hand, if we place the vase on top, we make sure to put it in safety when the cat approaches the window.


Effects on the cat

Why does the cat love catnip and are extremely attracted to this green seedling? Certainly not for its color but for its scent. In fact, the mint smell attracts cats just like animal pheromones: they have an electrifying effect for our feline friends.

Exciting

As soon as they come into contact with the plant they seem to be drugged by its effect and then jump off and jump like crazy. Many owners have witnessed strange behaviors but none worrying: some cats jump, roll, jump from one part of the house to the other like crazy splinters. In short, catnip stimulates sexual impulses in the cat.

Narcotic

Cats let themselves be so carried away by its smell that they seem drugged, drugged. In fact, unlike what was said previously, some owners claim that catnip has a relaxing effect on their cats. It is no coincidence that it is also used by humans for its calming effects.


Effects on humans

Not only the cat likes it, but also its owner: it is certainly a valid opponent against the bites of insects and mosquitoes that infest our homes in spring and summer. And of course they also protect our animal friends. The pleasant smell of mint spreads around the house giving a pleasant sensation of freshness. In addition, its calming effects are noticeable in case of menstruation, cramps, headaches and indigestion. Having it at home is therefore a pleasure!

How it ‘comes into circulation’

Although a third of the cat population is almost indifferent to the effects of catnip, most cats are extremely attracted to it. But how does it implement this bewitching power on felines? Releasing particles into the air that soon sneak into the animal’s nostrils. Its effects can last anywhere from a minimum of 5-15 minutes to a maximum of two hours.

Because some cats don’t like it

Yet there are exceptions: not all cats like it. It can happen if they do n’t have receptors that are sensitive to this particular type of odor. You cannot find out before the cat is six months old: as time passes and the cat becomes more adult it may like it less and less. In fact, it is no coincidence that catnip has no effect on older cats.


Catnip: what is it for?

When you have a cat at home, it is a good idea to have a catnip seedling with you as well. In fact, by virtue of the effect it has on the cat, it can be used in various ways. Here is a short list.

Indigestion

The cat eats grass mainly to get rid of a heavy meal or annoying hairballs. So they don’t actually have the disadvantage of causing vomiting, but rather a means of clearing the stomach.

Halitosis

With everything it eats, including carcasses and animal remains, our cat may have bad breath. It is obvious that it is easier to put a catnip plant under his nose than to try to brush his teeth!

Helps with training

Educating a cat is never easy, but catnip can be a great help. When the cat behaves well, positive reinforcement is often used, a sort of reward for understanding that they have used the right attitude.

It stimulates activity

Cats, as we know, like to relax and take some time to sit comfortably on the sofa, with the great risk of obesity. Catnip stimulates the cat by arousing him and inducing him to move. By playing, wriggling and exercising, the cat will certainly be more active and dynamic.


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