Catnip sprays are a good option for cats that get an upset stomach from ingesting the plant. You can also sprinkle dried catnip on a cat tree, scratching post, or cardboard scratcher, or you can roll a toy in it. KONG catnip products. Home News Views. What Does Catnip Do to Cats?
Published: November 03, What Is Catnip? Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb that is a member of the mint family. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Create Account See Subscription Options.
Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Subscribe Now You may cancel at any time. One interesting thing about this reaction, Grognet says, is that although it looks something like the frenzied, uncontrollable high a human might experience upon taking a hard drug, it's a bit different.
A cat will pretty much do the exact same thing every time it smells it," he says. The cat isn't rubbing their face and rolling in the catnip to get more of it as I'd assumed , but simply because getting high by inhaling the catnip compels them to do so.
Another difference between catnip and the drugs humans use is that not all cats are susceptible to it. It's estimated that around 70 percent to 80 percent are affected, and that the trait is passed on genetically.
For the cats that are susceptible, there don't appear to be any negative health effects, and they don't develop a tolerance over time. Catnip doesn't have the same sort of impact on us, because our olfactory systems and brains are differently structured. But it may have some subtler effects, and people have been using it for a long time.
As far back as the s, Europeans used the plant as a mild sedative , brewing tea with its leaves, making juice from them, and even smoking or chewing them.
At various times, the plant was believed to cure colic in infants and excessive flatulence, hives, and toothaches in adult. In the s, catnip was occasionally used as a substitute for marijuana, with some users claiming it caused hallucinations and euphoria when smoked by humans.
Eventually, though, scientists determined this was not the case. It does, however, have one positive effect. Back in the s, scientists discovered that catnip's active chemical acts as a mosquito repellant — one that's actually more powerful than DEET, though it wears off more quickly.
In fact, if you want a less harsh alternative to DEET, c atnip-based mosquito repellants are still available. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding. Usually these sessions last about 10 minutes, after which your cat loses interest.
It may take as long as two hours for him to "reset" and become susceptible to catnip again. Be mindful of overindulgence though—cats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, but they can get sick if they eat too much. Trust your kitty to know when they've had enough. Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of training techniques, problem-solving and important information about caring for your pet.
Catnip isn't just for cats! It's been grown in medicinal gardens for centuries for its sedative effect on humans.
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