This cat blog will answer the major question, “Can cats eat catnip?” we will also discuss the major benefits of catnip, the effect of catnip on your cat, and how you can give catnip to your cat.
Can cats eat catnip?
Yes, cats can eat catnip. It is safe and beneficial for your cat to eat catnip. Catnip is a herb that is used to give pleasure to cats. It has a compound that can stimulate your cat to mate with its male or female partner. consuming too much catnip can upset the stomach of your cat.
What are the major benefits of consuming catnip for your cat?
Following are the major benefits of consuming catnip for your cat:
Reduce stress
The first benefit is reducing stress. Catnip reduces the stress on your cat. If your cat has a stressful day and is not able to sleep properly, you can give catnip to your cat to sleep in the bed quietly and peacefully.
Reduce skin irritation
The next benefit is reducing skin irritation. Many cats have skin allergies which can be very distracting and annoying for your cat. You can give catnip to reduce the skin irritation of your cat. Following are the major clinical signs of allergies in your cat:
- Skin irritation
- Rashes on the skin
- Breathing problems
- Itching
What is the effect of catnip on your cat?
The catnip is a perennial herb that has a compound called nepetalactone. This is the oil of the catnip which has a sweet smell for your cat. The cat has a vomeronasal organ which is present in the oral cavity. When your cat sniffs the catnip, it takes the scent through the vomeronasal organ to the brain. The brain processes it and takes it as the pheromones which can activate your cat, and your cat comes on heat.
The cat after sniffing the catnip will show signs of heat. It may run here and there in the house. It will also become aggressive sometimes but not all the time. It has a soothing effect on the mind of the female cat.
Does catnip work on kittens?
The kittens less than the age of 6 months are not sensitive to catnip. If you give catnip to your 3-month-old kitten, then it will have no effect on the behavior of your kitten.
Does catnip affect the behavior of senior cats?
It may or may not affect the behavior of your senior cat because as the cat grew old, it will lose interest in the catnip because the reproductive performance of your cat decreases, and so does the sensitivity of the senior cats towards the catnip.
How does catnip affect the male cat of the house?
If you have given the catnip to the male cat in the house it will come on heat as that of the female cat. You need to be sure about it whether you want it or not. If you give catnip to your male cat it will become aggressive as it is one of the signs of heat in male cats.
Does catnip affect all the cats in the house?
No, around 30% of the cats are not affected by catnip. The response to the catnip is inherited by the cats from their parents. If a cat is not responding to the catnip it doesn’t mean it has some issues, but rather it is born like that.
How can you give catnip to your cat?
You can give catnip in dried form or in fresh form to your cat. You can also give a catnip bulb on the ground or the catnip powder would also be good for your cat. Look for the most appropriate way of giving catnip to your cat depending on the habit of your cat.
Catnip toys are available on the market and you can buy them for your cat. You need to be sure if your cat needs the catnip because if there is a male in the house, they will mate and will produce offspring. You better keep this in mind before giving catnip to your cat.
What is the bad effect of catnip on your cat’s health?
If your cat happens to consume more catnip than the required level it can lead to stomach upset in your cat. The stomach upset is not a big problem, and you can deal with it easily. Following are the major clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered our important question, “Can cats eat catnip?” we also covered the major benefits of catnip, the effect of catnip on your cat, and how you can give catnip to your cat.
