Herbal Energy Boost for Cats

Want to put a little excitement in to your cat’s life? Try a little Nepta cataria, better known as catnip. Scientists, veterinarians and cat owners will all agree that the majority of cats will respond to the plant oils, neptaloactone with wild abandon but they can’t tell you specifically why.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s newsletter has reporter a genetic basis for a cat’s ability to react to catnip. It is not just the domesticated cat that gets a thrill from the herb, but also jaguars, mountain lions, leopards and lions.

A sense of excitement and elation are the typical reactions that a cat owner will witness. Don’t worry. Your cat will not experience long lasting detrimental side effects and will not become an addict. Cats have been known to open drawers and cupboards where an owner has stored this euphoric and helped themselves to a pinch. Catnip is not a psychoactive drug like Marijuana, though some cats do tend to get the munchies after frolicking with a catnip filled toy. They can’t overdose. The reaction seems to be self-limiting. After a bout of wild abandon, they usually curl up in a ball and nap.

Catnip is not a psychoactive drug like Marijuana.

Cat behaviorist, Pam Johnson, recommends using Nepta cataria for felines with behavioral issues. Johnson suggests that if you have a cat that is anxious, or very nervous, catnip can relieve some of its anxiety and allow it to relax. If you have a very uptight cat, the herb can permit it to let loose and play more with its toys and you. Have an overweight cat and can’t get it to exercise? A catnip filled mouse could put the kitten back in your cat and help it to shed a few pounds.

You don’t have to buy fancy herb filled toys, you can make your own inexpensive objects of desire by stuffing a mismatched sock with some catnip and tying a knot in the end. Catnip is easy to grow, either from seed or purchased from your local nursery. Want a soothing cup of tea? Try brewing a cup of catnip tea for yourself.

For a little feline fun and excitement, offer a sprig of fresh catnip several times a week or an herb stuffed toy. Well-being is part mental and physical. As pet owners you need to attend to both and this is important because it is “Your Pet…Health Matters.”