Why do most cats love catnip so much? The answer lies in the essential oil of the plant. It contains a chemical that cats love to roll in, scratch whatever surface it is on or chew objects with catnip on them. This effect lasts for only a few minutes, maximum half an hour, after which the cat is exhausted from this intense smell and needs a break of a couple of hours before it can get high again. You can use it when you want your feline friend to rediscover an old toy or put the scratching post to good use.
Another plant, which contains the same amazing essential oil, is tartarian honeysuckle. You can often see small pieces of honeysuckle wood in cat toys to encourage them to play. In America, this plant is considered a harmful weed, so if you ever come across it, feel free to harvest it. Your cat and local farmers will thank you.
Some of our purrfect overlords do not react to catnip. Why is that? Research has shown that about 1 in 3 cats does not react to catnip. Most cats have a genetic predisposition for their love of all things catnip, but if your cat is part of this 33% where catnip just does not cut it, fear not, there is always valerian. Now, I know what you are thinking: “wait a minute, is valerian that poisonous plant?” The truth is that valerian is commonly used to improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety. For us humans, it functions as a sedative. However, it has proven to be a cat attractant, similar to catnip. Valerian is not available freshly chopped like catnip, but you can find valerian sprays, treats or even capsules to help your cat get through stressful moments.
Fun Fact: Roaches hate catnip! Not only will your cat love you for using catnip, but you will never face a roach invasion as long as you have catnip in the house.
Want to buy some catnip for your cats but don’t know where to start? Here we’ve picked out 10 top rated catnip products for your cats.