Catnip Plant Safe For Cats

Specifically the terpenoid nepetalactone is produced in the oil glands on the underside of the foliage and on the stems.

Catnip plant safe for cats. Absolutely cats really enjoy this safe non addictive herb from the mint family. Catnip will not have an effect on every cat. This isn t breed specific either. Is catnip safe for cats.

A member of the mint family catnip is also used in food and herbal remedies. If the catnip is ingested it causes fatigue and works as a sedative. It s all in the genes and if your cat lacks the appropriate dna nothing will happen. Catnip grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and has featherlike light green foliage and small clusters of lavender flowers that grow on spikes.

As with anything your cat is exposed to all things should be in moderation. Cats are good at self regulating so typically won t overdo it if they get hold of a catnip plant or unexpectedly get into a bag of catnip. For example tea made from the leaves and flowers of nepeta cataria is said to relieve coughs. The ingredient that causes a reaction in cats is called nepetalactone.

If your cat experiences this limit or withhold catnip. This oil has also been used as an insect repellent although it isn t effective when applied on the skin. Effects only lasts 5 to 15 minutes. Catnip contains essential oils that act as stimulants to cats.

Catnip can drive a mountain lion crazy while a munchkin cat shows no interest. Can humans get high on catnip. However if they eat a lot of the fresh or dried catnip leaves they can get an upset tummy along with vomiting or diarrhea. The nepeta plants became known as catnip very simply due to the effect of the plants on cats.

In any case for all of the sometimes entertaining behaviors seen catnip is completely nontoxic to cats. If a large quantity of fresh catnip is consumed you may see some vomiting or diarrhea but this is rare and self limiting. People used to use catnip to brew tea to soothe upset stomachs. Garden mint and catmint are listed as toxic plants for cats according to the animal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals aspca.

For cats that sniff catnip and rub against the plants they ll get more of the stimulating effects rotman said. While it is one of the plants that are non toxic for feline consumption it has no vitamin taurine or protein benefits. It is an essential oil found in the stems and the leaves of the nepeta plant. Catnip doesn t affect people the way it does cats though.

Both garden mint and catmint go by a multitude of common names including lamb mint spearmint catnip and more.