What Is Catnip Or Catmint ?

Most cat owners are aware what catnip is and what it can do to their feline pets. However, many are still not aware or mistaken about this simple tool that would help them improve the behavior of their home cats.

Catnips are not toys or an accessory that would tame your cat. It is actually a perennial herb. Catnip is a plant specie that belongs to one of the families of mint called Labiatae. Experts also said that catnips are related to the plant called Marijuana. This kind of plant is popular among cat owners because it can actually give the animals a feeling of euphoria. The catnip is very common in countries located in Europe as well as Asia. But recently, it has already been introduced in countries like Canada and America. As of today, there are at least 250 different kinds of catnips that have been discovered all over the world. However, this does not yet include the hybrid species of catnips.

Some of the most common types of catnips include:

1.Nepeta Cataria
-This is the type of catnip that is most enjoyed by the cats. It has white flowers and can grow as big as three feet.

2.Nepera Camphorata or Camphor Catnip
-It has a camphor scent that is not like any other catnip. The camphor catnip also has white flowers but it has purple dots as well. This type of catnip can grow up to eighteen inches.

It is believed that the term Nepeta came from a certain town in Italy called Nepete. On the othemes such as r hand, the term Cataria is a Latin word which means cat. It is also known in other names such as catnep, catswort, nep, nebada, chi hsueh tsao, cat's heal all, herba catti, field balm, and more!

The catnip's most active ingredient is the Nepetalactone. This is an essential oil that can be found at the stem and at the leaves of the plant. The Nepetalactone is the oil responsible in giving the cat the hype or a positive behavior.

When your feline pet encounters a catnip, it sniffs it at first. Afterwards, it would rub against the catnip then lick it. In the end, if the cat already loved the smell it would eventually eat it. But the cat would not get the euphoric feeling when it sniffs the catnip not when the pet eats it. Experts believe that cats eat the catnip so that more Nepetalactone will be released, making them more high. More often than not, the euphoric feeling usually lasts from five up to ten minutes. What's interesting about the catnip is that it can stimulate the cat when it is sniffed. But when eaten, the catnip will become a sedative to the pet.

At least half of the population of cats would react at the catnip. However, the degree of effect varies from one cat to another. This must not be used on kittens that are not older than 8 weeks since the feline would still not enjoy the effect.