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So, what Exactly is Catnip?
Catnip, is a plant called Nepeta cataria, a shrub in the mint family, which has stalks, bulbs and lavender flowers. It was first native to Europe and Asia, but now grows wildly across the United States and can even be found growing along highways.
How do cats get affected by CatNip?
Cats get high off catnip by inhaling the plants oil called Nepetalacatone. This oil can be inhaled from a live catnip plant, a dried plant, or the oil extract itself.
The chemicals bind to receptors inside the cats nose, which stimulates sensory neurons leading into the brain. In the cats brain catnip affects the olfactory bulb, amygdala, which controls the perception of emotions, fear, or excitement, AND the Hypothalamus which controls the bodies hormones, hunger, thirst, and also regulating emotional responses.
When a cat inhales catnip, they begin to roll their face into where the catnip is, roll on the floor, flip around, some drool and they seem to have a sense of euphoria when they’re doing all of this, and then afterwards they are calm.
Catnips excited phase lasts about 15 minutes, followed by a chill buzz and calm phase that can last 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Can you give your cat more catnip after this? And the Answer is NO. Cats become immune to the catnip and it no longer has effect on them that day.
A question I get as a veterianarian is “Can too much Catnip harm a cat? Or “Can cats Over Dose on Catnip? And the serious answer is yes. Too much catnip can cause health problems in cats such as uncomfortable vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness or having trouble walking. Use just a little at a time and increase the amount of catnip depending on how your cat handles it.
And Lastly, How often should you give Catnip to your cats?
The answer is, about Once every two to three weeks!
Wow! Mind blown right? Giving your cat catnip should only be a once in a while thing. First cats given nepetalacatone consistently or daily will become less sensitive to it and may experience unwanted health issue side effects. So, as fun as it is watching your cute cat roll around and become euphoric, its best to limit your cats buzz to only a few times a month.
Comment below how you use catnip withyour cats? And maybe leave some funny stories in the comments about how your cat reacts!
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2 июл 2024
