Cats are small domestic animals that are widely celebrated and are kept as pets by humans.Catnip or Nepeta cataria is a plant most natively found on continents like Europe or Asia but is also commonly planted among landscapes within the US. Most cats love having a catnip toy, which contains dried parts of the catnip plant; keep reading to learn more about this loved feline treat.The catnip plant is an herb with a very high growth rate. The plants are related to the Lamiaceae family and almost 250 members are known to be present in this family. They contain a lot of green leaves and are white or purple flowers. These plants contain a specific oil called nepetalactone which is capable of turning a cat crazy. Most cats go wild over dried catnip, so if you ever wondered why your feline friend decided to eat catnip, it’s because they love the natural smell of this plant. The smell of this sweet and fresh catnip causes mild sleepiness in cats. The response to the sensitivity of the plant is a hereditary trait found in cats. Although, the essential oil seems to affect only 50% of the total population of cats. These behaviors seem to occur when kittens are around 3-7 months old. Before this age, kittens generally are not seen sniffing and are most likely to have no sign of side effects. Humans are known to cultivate this plant, in landscapes and due to its sedative effect when consumed. There are also a variety of catnip toys that are tons of fun for your kitty, and known to calm your pet cats.If you like reading this, you’ll want to check out more interesting articles are bay leaves edible? And are beans a vegetable?Is catnip harmful to cats?If you’ve ever heard that catnip is harmful to cats or catnip is toxic to cats, that’s not really correct. Although it does not cause serious health problems, it can cause excitement and even slight drowsiness in your cat. Hence, these plants are not harmful and cause a momentary reaction, which only lasts for a small amount of time.Catnip has very mild effects on cats. When cats eat catnip, the intense effect lasts for around 10-120 minutes at most. Few researchers claim that although these wild plants have a happy impact on the cat, smelling catnip for a long time or eating the plant will have an adverse effect. A lot of cats like this happy response collected by their scent receptors. In the case when your cats eat catnip, they are seen to go through various emotions, they go crazy, flip around, rub on things, or even roll on the bed or on the floor. On very rare occasions unnecessary scratching is seen, and at times aggressive behavior has been noted. This herb is not a toxin-containing herb. Although, excessive consumption might cause a reaction of upset stomach followed by vomiting and diarrhea. If this occurs, you should talk to your vet about how much of this catnip treat you can give your kitty.Consequences Of Consumption Of Catnip By CatsThe catnip treat has few positive effects on a cat as well, which can result in a calming effect. The vomeronasal organ present in the cat results in your cat loving catnip and once consumed can cause your cat to roll around, or run around the room, and jump on furniture and walls.An allergy to a member of the mint family is found in at least two out of three cats. According to researchers, this trait is passed on to the offspring by the parents. A kitty will be affected by the consumption of this herb once they reach the age of around 3-8 months. The oil found in the leaves and seeds of the plant creates some nauseous for your cat. An overdose, however, can lead to vomiting and an upset stomach in your cat. Like most cats, your cat might love catnip toys and if given the opportunity to play with catnip, they may be found rolling around or being extremely playful. A lot of chewing and licking of the toy is generally noticed by cat owners. Since a lot of drooling takes place, there are chances that your cat might fall asleep after some time, especially since catnip toys are so exciting to play with.List Of Treatments To Execute When Catnip Is Consumed By A CatConsumption of fresh or dried catnip is not considered extremely harmful. The poisoning caused here is not generally seen as real poisoning. Catnip causes mostly a nauseous feeling rather than severe poisoning of the cat’s digestive system. Hence, the reactions lack necessary and immediate medical attention in this case.When a sprinkle of catnip is consumed, the cat’s body is capable of providing the necessary immunity to the body. When an excessive amount is consumed, medical assistance might be necessary. In order to get the catnip out of the cat’s body, the veterinarian might induce vomiting. The effects of this plant on a cat are not permanent and last only for a few hours. A lot of water might be needed to be taken in by the cat to discharge the toxins. To restrict the cat from eating this in the future, pet owners are advised to keep catnip out of their cat’s reach.Sleeping Effects Of A Cat After Eating CatnipCatnip is a member of the mint family with a beautiful heart like structure of the flower and an even sweeter smell. Cats eat catnip and play with it, which is mostly dried catnip rather than leaves from the fresh catnip plant. The catnip plant is known to produce pheromones to attract a cat towards it.The presence of the nepetalactone creates interest in a cat to sniff the scent of the herb. When a cat starts smelling catnip, it causes the dilation of the pupils along with giving the cat a natural high lasting for some time only. During this time, the cat is found to be jumping around or playing extensively with their toys. In other words, the cats become comparatively more hyper, and drooling might happen in some cases as well. This drooling and nauseous feeling is noticed in around 50% of the cats. They are most likely to get a taste of it when they rub or bite the plant. Since catnip has a sedative effect, most cats fall asleep when they consume it. Before sleeping a lot of drooling and purring are noticed as well.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are cats supposed to eat catnip? Then why not take a look at are birds warm-blooded? Or are black diamonds real?
Cats are small domestic animals that are widely celebrated and are kept as pets by humans.
