Herbal treatment for cats

Question
I wanted to know if it is safe to give valerian herb drops to an adult cat. I go to a natural foods store and they recommended them for stress and bullying for a cat I have rescued to get along with my 2 resident cats. They said perfectly safe for animals--a few drops under tongue or in water. Websites I have checked give mixed info--say it is similar to catnip. Just want to ensure it is non toxic. Thank you for any advice.

Answer
Libby,

I had not heard of valerian being used in cats, so I had to do a little research.  I've heard of valerian toys, and that they cause a similar rxn in cats as catnip does, and that if your cat doesn't respond to catnip, you might want to try honeysuckle or valerian toys.  But as far as giving cats oral or tincture of valerian, I'd not heard of.  

The research I did seemed to indicate that valerian was relatively safe.  However, there were plenty of warnings that it's not been studied or recommended by the FDA, and as such, no one really knows what is a recommended dose or a safe dose.  I found a few different dosage ranges, but they were pretty different, so I'm not sure that I'd feel completely safe giving valerian to my cat.  There were also several warnings that because valerian isn't standardized and not manufactured commercially for pets yet, the quantity and quality of each batch of valerian is unknown.  This means that you can be giving your cat varying amts of valerian from package to package, which is scary, because several articles I read did state that too much valerian can be toxic and result in overdose.  Also, pure valerian root oil is too potent for cats, so I wouldn't give them the pure root oil.  

I would definitely check with your vet before giving it.  I just feel that before administering any herbs, it's important to make sure your vet is aware and in agreement.  Herbs are not benign products, and they can interact with meds your cat may be on, or cause a rxn or bad side effects, just like with meds.  Should something adverse happen to your cat, it's good for your vet to know that the cat is on valerian.  Furthermore, your vet may have a lot of knowledge about valerian use in cats, and be able to guide you in the correct dosage.  

You state this is a new cat.  How long have you had the cat?  If the cat is relatively new--within the last couple of months, the cat is going to be nervous and anxious.  That's natural, especially if it was a true rescue situation.  I'd rather you allow the cat to adapt to its surroundings naturally before you start administering herbs.  Not to mention that it's perfectly normal for the 2 resident cats to bully the new cat, and create a stressful environment.  They need to work it out amongst themselves, as cats are very territorial, and there is an hierarchy they establish, respect, and follow.  If the new cat is medicated, then the new cat will not be able to establish it's real personality amongst the resident cats, and you could actually have the opposite affect if you eventually try to take her off valerian---a chronically anxious cat.  

It just seems fair that no one be medicated, and instead, introduce them the way they should be introduced---slowly.  The new cat should be put into it's own room where the resident cats cat get into.  Let them smell one another under the door for a wk or so---no face to face introductions.  After a wk or two, open the door a crack, and allow them all to see each other face to face.  There will be hissing and growling and spitting and fur flying, but that's normal.  Do that several times a day.  Also, you may want to take a small towel and rub it all along and over the new cat's body.  That will put it's smell on the towel.  Take the towel out and let your cats smell it and play with it.  They then get the smell of the new cat.  Take another towel and rub it along your resident cats, and bring it into the room where the new cat is and let the new cat smell that towel and keep it in there with the new cat.  

As you continue every day to allow them to see each other more and more, eventually you'll get to a point where they'll be ready to be in the same room together.  Let the new cat out and again, the fur and spit will fly, but it should abate fairly quickly.  Pretty soon, all 3 cats will be together and coexisting peacefully.  If you force a new cat in with resident cats and vice versa, there is going to be stress and unhappy kitties.  They need to establish dominance and an hierarchy, and once that's done, they'll be fine.  

I would not give any valerian without the okay of your vet.  Furthermore, if it's just to keep the new cat from being stressed, then you could actually be doing more harm than good.  If the cat is "doped up" so to speak, then the cat will never be itself around the other cats, and you'll never really know how the new cat is really adjusting or feeling around the other cats.  That's not really fair to the new cat, as you're not giving the new cat a fair chance to adjust on its own, not to mention when and if you do stop the valerian, the new cat will suddenly be without its chemical to relax it, and may revert back to severe anxiety and fear, and then you've just taken 10 steps back.  

I'd hold off on it, check with your vet, and if your vet gives you his/her blessing, then great--he/she can advise you on dose, frequency, and duration.  Otherwise, I'd follow what I outlined above to introduce them and that will keep stress to a minimum.  You can't completely avoid stress in this situation, but you can avoid bullying by doing the introductions like I stated above.  

Good luck!

Savannah