Catnip, catwort, catmint, field balm – it does not express whatever you call it. Tigers, Lions, Panthers, and your usual domestic tabby simply cannot look to get plenty of this fragrant herb.
Cat loves catnip. Remember that not every cat is affected by catnip, however, about 70-90 % of cats get happy and excited when they get catnip. Catnip sprays are one way of conveniently giving catnip to cats without causing a mess by spreading some leaves everywhere. If somehow your cat eats catnip in a large amount, it may get a mild tummy upset, although that is not likely to occur.
Like most of the cat owners, do you also have questions regarding the catnip spray? Don’t worry, after reading this catnip spray review, I am sure there won’t be any questions left!
WHAT IS CATNIP SPRAY?
Before learning further about the catnip in this catnip spray review, let’s first understand what is Catnip spray?
Catnip, also called by the name catswort or catmint, is a herb plant belonging to the mint family.
Catnip, also known as catmint and catswort, is an herb plant that belongs to the mint family. Catnip sprays are a concentrated form of oil from the catnip herb, that’s usually sold in the pump-spray bottles. This spray can be sprayed to cat beddings, scratching posts, toys, and anything you want your cat to be brought to. It’s applied to draw the attention of the cat to a specific area, or simply to provide your kitten something to enjoy for some moments.
Nepetalactone is the chemical used in catnip that creates a response in some cats. Young ones may show sensitivity to this chemical initially when they’re between 3 and 6 months old. Just around half of all kittens are sensitive to catnip. However, the rest will not respond at all after smelling the herb. In spite of the blissful response of some cats to the catnip spray, it’s not considered addictive or dangerous for the animals.
WHY DO CATS LOVE CATNIP SPRAY?
As mentioned earlier in this Catnip spray review, Nepetalactone is the active chemical used in the catnip. A cat detects this compound by the smell. It is commonly believed that the nepetalactone mimics cat pheromone’s effect, likely associated with mating.
Catnip works as a natural mood enhancer. With this spray, your cat might act very unusually; they may act particularly affectionate or more kittenish. The cat might roll, rub or paw their fact too in the source of catnip, or might jump about and get frisky, running from a room to another appearing to follow unseen prey.
Some of the cats will become quite relaxed and stare into the space. All this behavior might be marked by some growling or mewing. The results of catnip do not last very long, the effects last between only 5 – 15 minutes. After that, it’ll be some hours before a cat will again show the effects of catnip.
HOW TO USE CATNIP SPRAY
Test If Catnip Affects Your Cat Or Not
Around 10 and 30 % of the cats do not respond to catnip. With catnip spray, spray an item and make your cat smell it. If a cat does not react or do something unusual, it might not be affected by the catnip. In this case, catnip spray might not be the best choice for that cat. When a cat smells oils from the catnip plant, it will usually roll around and rub over whatever thing has catnip. The effects commonly last for about fifteen minutes. Then, they might seem more content and mellow. Remember that all cats are different!
- Your Kittens might not give any response to catnip, however, this could change when they get older.
- Also, Older cats tend to be not very responsive to the catnip.
Apply Catnip On A Scratching Post To Make Your Cat Use It
Spritz all sides of a scratching post with 1 to 2 catnip sprays from your spray bottle. This helps in associating your cat the post with something positive and begin to use it rather than scratching your furniture or couch. For cats who already have some favorite scratching surface, like bed or sofa, it helps in placing the scratching post close to the favorite. In this way, the cat becomes more likely to use the post as an alternative option.
Use Catnip Spray On Toys To Make Your Cat Exercise And Play.
Spray all sides of the toy once with the catnip spray to get the interest of your cat in that object and play with that. I’ll love rolling around with and hitting that toy with his/her paws to do some exercise. Balls hanging from strings or bouncy balls are the ideas of extremely interactive toys you can do spray with the catnip.
Spray The Catnip In The New Environment To Allow More Comfort To Your Cat.
When first bringing a cat home, use the catnip spray to make him/her feel welcome. Spray catnip over a specific room where your cat should feel comfortable, or completely everywhere home, to make your cat feel less scared and more relaxed. When bringing a new cat home or moving your cat to a new place, it will possibly search for a hiding spot to live in for a day or few days. To make your cat start exploring and feel comfortable, you can apply catnip just outside the hiding spot.
Apply Catnip Spray To A New Bed To Make Your Cat Sleep On It.
Apply 2 to 3 sprays of the catnip on the new bed and reveal it to the cat. This way, your cat will get encouraged to get into the bed and feel relaxed and happy there.
Give Catnip To Cat Once Every Two Weeks Or So.
Catnips produce the most useful results when you do not use them for your cat very often. Applying catnip spray every two weeks will make your cat not too usual to it. But, every cat is different, therefore find a frequency that goes most suitable for your cat. The more cats get exposed to the catnip, the lesser responsive they tend to be.
Use Catnip Sprays For Fun And Training
Catnip sprays can be valuable for training a cat to use things such as scratching posts, carriers, beds, and toys. Applying something you want your cats to use will get them attracted to the item. For instance, if you would like your cat to play with a new toy but it does not get attracted to it, spray catnip to it to get your cat’s attention. They’ll associate that item with good feelings and fun after that, so they will know it is playtime when they view the toy!
Use The Catnip Spray In Carriers Or Crates To Reduce The Anxiety Of Your Cat While Trips.
Spray 2-3 times inside the carrier or crate of your cat with the catnip spray simply before taking it on a trip to the vet or somewhere else. During the journey, your cat will feel very relaxed and might get into a sedated state too. Moreover, this will help in associating your cat trips outside the home with positive feelings, which may make getting your cat inro carrier or crate easier the next time you want to.
Remove The Item You Applied With Catnip After Fifteen Minutes.
If your cat doesn’t show any sign of losing interest in the item covered in the catnip, take away it after fifteen minutes since some cats might get nausea due to prolonged exposure.
- Most of the cats start losing interest in the catnip after the primary effects wear off, within about 10 to 15 minutes.
If Your Cat Starts Becoming Aggressive Or Cranky, Stop The Use Of Catnip Spray
All cats are differently affected by catnip, and some of them represent increased aggressive behavior. Therefore, if your cats become aggressive, get them away from everything you sprayed on and try again at some other time. You may want to stop using catnip altogether if your cat always responds to it negatively. For cats that are already aggressive, it’s best to avoid catnip spray.
SIDE EFFECTS AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF CATNIP
Besides making cats happy and extra relaxed, catnip also has some health benefits. If your cat is one of those who favor naps instead of a feather want, catnip can be an excellent way to encourage movement and play. For anxious cats, catnip can overcome stress in unfamiliar settings.
Yes, catnip is entirely nontoxic, however, some cats still show an adverse reaction. If your cat has eaten a big amount of fresh catnip, it might suffer from some diarrhea or vomiting. Giving a very little sample to your cat is the best course of action when using catnip for the very first time to see how it reacts, then you can from there. Depending on the reaction of your cat to catnip, you can pick what amount should be given or avoided altogether.
CATNIP: TRAINING AND TOYS
Since cat gives response to catnip, again and again, this herb can be a useful training aid.
Do you want to prevent your cat from clawing furniture? With catnip, rub a scratching post to make it extra appealing. Have you bought a new bed for your cat? Spray a bit of this herb on the cushion of the kitty to make it attractive to your pet friend.
Also, you can give decoration for an indoor kitten by making catnip toys. Spray a little of this herb under an old sock, then make a knot on top. Or in a small paper bag, put a big pinch of catnip and crush that bag into a tight ball.
The intensity of the response of kitty to training and toys will depend on the catnip type you are using. While most of the cats love the herb fresh or dried, they usually have less interest in the catnip sprays, which commonly do not contain sufficient nepetalactone to attract most felines.
Luckily for kitty, catnip — which is safe to eat and non-addictive — can be grown in a sunny window. You can also go so far as to make your kitty’s own garden with one pot of the catnip and one of oat, rye, wheat, or barley grass. The kitty will enjoy both and having its own house plants might keep the kitty out of yours. If you directly plant catnip in a garden, keep in mind that, like most of the mints, it is a vigorous and sometimes invasive, grower.
The potency of catnip does not last permanently; the essential oils dissipate quickly. Therefore, if you purchase dried catnip for your kitty, store what you do not use in your freezer.
HOW TO STORE CATNIP?
Dried catnip expires over time. Dried catnip loses its efficacy and scent after some time. That’s why bulk buying of catnip should be avoided. It’s always better to purchase in a little quantity instead of throwing away a large quantity of unused catnip.
After purchasing a dried catnip’s pack, transfer the bag’s content into a container that’s airtight to keep the moisture out. Moisture promotes the mold which in turn, makes catnip useless.
Make sure that the catnip container is stored in a dry, cool, and dark place. Extreme exposure to the sunlight can break the oil down in catnip, reducing its potency.
Keep in mind that your feline friend is a clever creature and it can figure out where you have stored catnip. Make sure to choose a storage area that’s out of the reach of your cat.
For catnip sprays and oil, it’s best to notice the printed expiry date on the packaging. As soon as the expiry date arrives, throw away the products.
If you desire to have close at hand, a fresh batch of herb, you should consider planting the catnip. However, make sure to keep your plant away from your kitty and feral cats as well that might invade your yard.