Everyone knows that some pets sometimes react inappropriately to a wide variety of medications. The most striking example is valerian, a simple sedative for humans, but for some reason the cat, on the contrary, goes crazy. Why does valerian have such an effect on cats and is it worth giving this drug to your pet?
Why do cats love valerian so much?
First of all, let's figure out what valerian is? So this is a perennial plant that grows closer to water and marshy areas. Large, up to 2 meters stem with umbrella-shaped flowers.
Only the root is used for medicine. It contains a large number of active substances.
In an attempt to figure out why cats are so thrilled by valerian, zoologists have come to the conclusion that the plant emits the same smell as the pheromones contained in the urine of an adult cat. So it’s all because of an irresistible “desire”.
It’s not clear why this smell causes euphoria in cats; it must be the other way around, someone else’s smell means an enemy on my territory. Maybe because valerian causes changes in the central nervous system, in short, it acts like a drug. For humans, the effect of valerian is well known - calming for the nerves, restful sleep. But giving your cat valerian as a medicine or just for fun is not worth it.
Effect of valerian on a cat
A quiet and well-mannered cat becomes an uncontrollable rowdy: he rolls on the floor, yells, raises his fur, runs around and tears off curtains, and can even make a puddle in the corner. There is an effect comparable to a hard drug, behavior changes enormously, manifestations of hallucinations are possible - running after an imaginary enemy, attacking him. There are cases of panic fear; the cat is afraid of any rustle for several days. Previously, an affectionate, calm cat becomes an aggressive predator, which at any moment can attack even its owner, it is not clear why.
Valerian in tincture is even more dangerous because it contains alcohol. In general, animals have little tolerance for alcohol, or rather, they cannot resist at all, so they become alcoholics the first time.
Therefore, think several times before giving alcohol to a cat, remember what happens to a person. And even more so with a cat, you can get kidney failure and stomach ulcers.
It is no less dangerous in tablets, which contain only 1.5 percent valerian essential oil, and the rest is a set of synthetic substances, which in turn can provoke an allergic reaction.
Valerian overdose
Valerian acts like a drug on a cat, and addiction to it occurs with the first “dose”. There have been cases when a cat ate an entire package and then only a veterinarian can help.
How much valerian can a cat eat without overdosing? The correct answer is not at all! Each cat reacts differently, two tablets are enough for one to die from a heart attack or stroke, while another will “get high” and calm down.
Do all cats love valerian equally?
Surely you have heard someone say: “I gave it to my cat and nothing happened, no changes.” This is true, about a third of cats are indifferent to this smell or, on the contrary, are afraid of it. So what does it mean you can give it if the cat reacts calmly to this plant? What's the point? Why give it to him at all? There is absolutely no benefit, but potential harm always remains.
By the way, cats love valerian more than cats, why this is not clear. Kittens, for example, generally either ignore or avoid this smell, of course, until puberty has occurred. The Siamese cat breed reacts less to the drug than other breeds.
In general, experiments with giving valerian to a cat do not bring anything good. You will only turn your pet into a drug addict.
What not to do!!!
Many owners are surprised to note the special predilection and undying interest of their pets for the smell of sweat. Cats poke their faces into the armpits (more often than men), bury themselves in dirty clothes, like to stick their head in a shoe or boot, and also play with stale socks.
The owners are surprised by this behavior and worry about the health of their pets. But don’t, your pets are fine, it’s just their natural interest in exploring new smells brought from the street, and the smell of the owner’s sweat generally has a calming effect on them, like valerian or catnip.
It has been noted that 20–30% of cats do not react in any way to mint and valerian.
Such representatives of this family will most likely be indifferent to sweat. But the smell of the owners’ clothes still attracts them and calms them down.
Why are cats interested in the smell of sweat?
This is because the cat’s olfactory organ is very well developed; it can capture and distinguish much more aromas than the human nose. Therefore, some of them may influence their behavior. Just as adult animals react more passionately to sweat and dirty clothes, these smells do not make such an impression on kittens; for them, the main thing is to play and explore new aromas, of which there are a limitless variety for them.
And although such cat passions in the form of chewing, sucking and rubbing on shoes, socks, shirts and armpits may look very strange to the owners, this is a completely normal and common phenomenon. Some cats only love the smell of their owners, while others are attracted to any person who comes to visit with a pungent odor, which may not be so sensitive to the human sense of smell. And pets most often enjoy such scents.
What attracts pets to the smell of sweat?
So why do cats like the smell of sweat? You can offer several options, this is either just one of them or even all together. So, cats love the smell of sweat because:
- Specific hormones released along with human sweat are similar to pheromones that are released in animals of the opposite sex to attract attention;
- The concentrated and strong aroma of the owner on his clothes affects animals as a calming and relaxing agent;
- As you know, cats are not indifferent to salty foods, which is why perhaps they like the taste of sweat - because of its saltiness;
- When the owners return from the street, traces of the aromas of the places they visited remain on their feet and shoes. They bring new and endlessly interesting smells into the home, especially for pets who don't have access to the outdoors. They rub in order to, as it were, secure their rights to objects, enveloping them with their smell. After all, cats have scent glands on their faces;
- Those cats who, on the contrary, can walk along the street, returning home, try to replace the foreign smell with their family, or rather the owner’s, and therefore rub against the owners’ things;
- Adult animals react to the smell of human sweat, as well as to catnip, which also contains a pheromone that imitates the pheromones of adult animals ready to reproduce.
This is why cats like the smell of sweat. It could be one factor or all. And male pheromones have the ability to attract felines, especially cats in heat. This is why pheromones that are associated with apocrine glands on parts of the body such as the genitals and armpits, as well as the legs, are the places where pheromones are most clearly released.
Why do cats go crazy over valerian?
We have already found out why cats love the smell of sweat. Let's now shed some light on why they love the smell of catnip and valerian so much.
The thing is that these plants contain a component called nepetalactone, which is what is attractive to cats, imitating their sex hormones. This theory is confirmed by the fact that kittens do not react in any way to these herbs, and males are much more susceptible to it than females.
Catnip belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which also includes some mint plants. Although these plants contain toxic substances, they do not have harmful effects.
Another attractant, valerian, produces a stimulating effect on cats, thanks to the substance it contains called actinidin; it causes the same reaction in felines as nepetalactone. Animals under the influence of these substances may become agitated and, in some cases, slightly aggressive.
And although growing valerian is not harmful to cats, medications containing high levels of it can be dangerous. Chlorine can have a similar effect, but unlike plants, it is very toxic.
Cat owners have probably observed more than once how their pets react to the smell of valerian. The aroma of this plant, since ancient times called “cat root,” brings cats and cats into real delight, making them fawn over their owner, begging for a fragrant delicacy. So why do cats love valerian?
Why is valerian so attractive to cats?
Pleasure and Addiction
Valerian is an infusion of medicinal valerian, consisting of 70% ethyl alcohol. Valerian gives cats a drug-like pleasure. At the same time, it causes the animal to become dependent on this substance, exactly the same as people experience from alcohol, drugs or nicotine.
An overdose of valerian causes cats to fall into prolonged sleep, during which the pet may even die. Due to the presence of actinidin in the herb, frequent use of the drug causes addiction in felines, after which their behavior becomes similar to the behavior of drug addicts: animals become aggressive, demanding a new dose, get nervous, and attack their owners.
The consequences of addiction can further affect the pet’s health: damage to the animal’s kidneys, stomach and liver, as well as allergic reactions, is possible.
If you do not want to share your living space with a tailed drug addict, it is advisable to remove the bottle of valerian away from your pet.
Awakening the reproductive instinct
If we talk about males, cats love valerian because its aroma reminds them of the smell of pheromones contained in the urine of females during the mating period. Smelling valerian, cats' sexual instinct awakens. This fact is confirmed by the fact that kittens up to three months do not respond to the medicine, and castrated cats do not respond to it so violently.
Inappropriate behavior in cats that smell the essential oils of valerian can be explained in a similar way: its smell may remind them of males, or trigger the production of certain hormones that encourage them to mate.
Self-medication
Scientists agree with the theory that wild cats instinctively seek out valerian root when they feel unwell: the herb helps relax the gastrointestinal tract in animals. Even domestic cats love valerian, because among herbs it is distinguished as a medicinal panacea.
Cats' reaction to valerian
Each animal can react to the smell of valerian in its own way. General features of the behavior of cats when reacting to valerian are characterized by the following manifestations.
Aggression first
The pet may react inappropriately to the smell of the drug: it will rage and actively run around the room without stopping, jump on furniture, howl loudly, throw things off open shelves, and roll on the floor.
It is believed that valerian extract, being a heavy drug for cats, can even cause hallucinations in animals - they see an imaginary pursuer or target that must be attacked. This behavior usually lasts no more than 20 minutes after taking valerian.
And then apathy
After vigorous activity, either a long sleep of up to 4 hours occurs, or apathy: the animal becomes lethargic and indifferent. Many owners of cats that bother them at night struggle with the temptation to give the mischievous cat valerian to drink in order to calm him down. However, you should not risk the health of the animal, since the unreasonable use of this drug by your pet, in addition to addiction, can cause mental disorders.
Valerian as a method of education
In cases where cats mark their territory in the corners of the house, it is usually recommended to spray a composition with a strong, pungent odor in areas that are attractive to the pet.
You should know that valerian in this case will be the worst option for weaning an animal from a bad habit. It is best to use smells that will be truly unpleasant for the cat: the aroma of hot pepper, vinegar or a special pharmaceutical product.
Precautions when treating cats with valerian
Often, if cats have heart problems, the veterinarian will prescribe them a course of valerian drops. The main thing here is to strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations, observing the minimum dosage, since, as we found out, valerian can be dangerous for cats due to manifestations of drug addiction in case of addiction and spur the development of allergic reactions.
So, why do cats love valerian? And do they love her? Maybe it’s not their love for this “drink,” but something else that makes them pull their muzzles towards the treasured bottle to at least sniff it, if they can’t lick it? Let's remember that valerian, well known to all of us, is a tincture of rhizomes in 70% ethyl alcohol. This alone should alert owners, because if it enters a cat’s body, even in small quantities, it can negatively affect its nervous system.
Someone might say: “How much alcohol is there!” Yes, the cat will only get a little alcohol, but he’s small himself! His weight is forty, or even fifty to eighty times less than the weight of an adult man. So, when counted, its drops turn into our glasses. But this is only one side of the problem and does not answer the question of why cats love valerian. And they “go crazy” not only if they lick valerian, but even if they just smell it.
Let us remember that the second component of the tincture is the rhizomes of a plant whose name means “health” in Spanish. Indeed, valerian helps with many diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, as well as with gastrointestinal spasms. This is due to the presence of essential oils and alkaloids in the rhizomes of valerian. The components of the oil are bornyl isovalerate, borneol, limonene and others. To the uninitiated, these names will mean little. The initiate knows well that the explosive mixture of chemical elements contained in valerian essential oils adversely affects the very important neurotransmitter systems of the brain, which are responsible for many functions.
The mechanism of their influence is too complex. All we can say is that it is similar to the mechanism of action of cocaine, which is also an alkaloid. A cat is not a person. It is unlikely that she can tell what visions the intake of valerian caused her. Whether she experiences euphoria or not - we can guess by looking at her behavior. Animals often sway on the floor, meow loudly, and cannot coordinate their actions. It is very difficult to talk about the pleasure they experienced at that moment. Especially seeing how the unfortunate cat is not able to stand on its paws, “fit” into a door that is wide open, or reach a bowl of water.
But the fact that valerian is addictive in animals is a scientifically proven fact. Only this fact again does not answer the question of why cats love valerian, and whether they do. In this case, addiction is caused not by the taste of the tincture, but by disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, which can ultimately lead to schizophrenia and the death of the animal. Here again there is a complete analogy with cocaine. There is hardly a drug addict who will say that he loves the drug because it is incredibly tasty.
Why then is valerian so attractive for cats if it is so harmful? Are animals really so hungry for poison for themselves? It is believed that the smell of the tincture acts on the genes of cats and seals. If this is so, then nothing can be done about it - the call of genes is invincible. Where do the genes call our cats so much that they suddenly turn from quiet and affectionate pets into inadequate ones? And their genes call them to reproduce, or rather, to mate.
Valerian vapor, not to mention drops licked from the table (carelessly spilled by us), cause biochemical processes due to which a certain amount of male hormones are released in the body of males. When this happens naturally, the animal behaves in a similar way, but slightly differently. In any case, he does not fall into a long sleep and stands confidently on his paws, because the cat’s body is fully prepared for reproduction. When the release of hormones is caused by a chemical, the cat suffers more than it enjoys. This can be determined by his gaze, by his desire to stick his head under the stream of water. In a normal state, cats do not have such desires. In some animals, large doses of valerian that entered the body caused nervous shock, vomiting, and irreversible disturbances in perception.
Valerian is also harmful and dangerous for cats. The female body reacts to this substance in approximately the same way as the male body. It has been determined that the chemical composition of valerian and cat urine contains common elements that cause a surge in hormonal disorders in females. That is why they begin to swing on the floor, meow, and are eager to run somewhere.
It turns out that to the question of why cats love valerian, one can answer: “Because it has a stimulating effect on them, similar to the effect of Viagra.” This is confirmed by the fact that in small kittens who have not yet developed their symptoms, this wonderful drug does not arouse the slightest interest.
But what is curious is that fresh valerian, and not in tincture, can have a healing effect even on cats. Sometimes you can see how they pull them out of the ground with their paws and eat them. The cats do not experience any madness after this. And they use grass, most likely, when they have stomach problems.
There are many videos on the Internet where cats are crazy about valerian. Tell me, please, is this not harmful for them? Pauline
Cats love grass - it vitaminizes the body, cleanses the stomach and all that. But there is a herb that gets special respect from our pets - it is used to lift the mood. Well, just like people
Cat mint
Cat mint or catnip(in Latin - Népeta catária) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a woody branched root, a high (up to 1 m) stem, triangular pubescent leaves and whitish flowers with purple specks, collected in a corolla. It blooms in June-July, the fruits - brown smooth nuts - ripen in August.
The plant owes its name, including its Latin version, to special attention from representatives of the cat family. Moreover, not only domestic pets show interest, but also their wild counterparts - lions, tigers, pumas, lynxes, etc.
When animals smell catnip, they become excited. They can pounce on it, chew it, roll around and roll on the floor, and purr loudly. Some cats just sit there with glazed eyes and drool, others become hyperactive and run around in circles around the house.
Why such a passion for inconspicuous weed?
Catnip contains essential oil, the main ingredient of which is nepetalactone. This is what has a powerful appeal to many cats. For many, but not for all.
Approximately 70% of cats react to catnip, but the remaining 30% are indifferent to it. That is, every third cat is not susceptible to this plant. Why?!
A special gene is responsible for sensitivity to nepetalactone, and not all cats have it. Thus, the addiction to catnip is genetic.
Interestingly, the effect of the grass on a cat lasts 5-10 minutes and appears again no earlier than an hour later.
How it works?
It is not clear exactly what causes the “catnip reaction.”
- The grass has a strong, distinctive odor and a pleasantly bitter taste that attracts cats.
- The plant's main active ingredient, nepetalactone, is chemically similar to a hallucinogen. However, it is harmless and non-addictive
- There is an opinion that catnip has an aphrodisiac effect - it provokes sexual desire in cats (most likely the smell of the herb, reminiscent of the urine of a sexual partner, is responsible for this)
- Perhaps it exacerbates predatory instincts in cats
And then it’s clear why cats of reproductive age are most susceptible to grass. And in kittens up to 8-12 weeks it does not arouse interest at all.
Is catnip bad for cats?
Within reasonable limits, no. The herb is harmless when ingested by an animal. It is a common component of cat toys, applications for scratching posts, beds, and play complexes. However, you shouldn’t get carried away - for maximum effect there should be a little weed - just a pinch for the mood
BUT! As always, there is a but. If used incorrectly, catnip can become explosive. Much here depends on the cat’s temperament and its mood at a particular moment. Calm cats tend to have a muted response to mint. But in bully cats, troublemakers and creators of problems when communicating with other pets, harmless weed can cause overexcitation and an attack of aggression (!).
In addition, in its pure form, catnip essential oil can be toxic to cats.
The owner should once find out exactly how his pet reacts to catnip
Note to the hostess Catnip is an unpretentious plant; it can be grown effortlessly in a summer cottage or at home. When using mint commercially, all its parts are used. Therefore, when purchasing grass in free form, preference should be given to a product that retains the greenish color and herbal smell and contains more leaves and flowers than stems, since they contain the highest concentration of nepetalactone.
Another plant is of even greater interest to cats.
Valerian
Valerian officinalis or cat grass(oops!) is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 1.5 m high, with several erect stems, pinnately dissected leaves and small fragrant flowers. Blooms almost all summer.
But the main interest is the rhizome - short, thick, with many thin roots, with a strong aromatic odor. This is what is used in medicine.
Valerian affects both humans and cats. Only if for people it is used as a sedative (soporific, calming, relieving emotional stress) agent, then for cats (and other felines - lions, tigers, pumas, etc.) valerian has exactly the opposite effect.
Valerian root extract contains actinidin, and its smell (like catnip) is similar to the smell of cat urine, which causes a sexual reaction in them.
A period of excitement (5-20) minutes is usually followed by a relaxing sleep.
Impact
Drug?
Quite possible. The behavior of cats under the influence of this plant is very similar to intoxication - the animal clearly enjoys it and is very excited. In any case, valerian has a powerful effect on the animal’s nervous system, and this is not good. So you shouldn't abuse it. Especially for fun.
Valerian in plant form does not cause harm to the cat’s body, but medications based on it (concentrated alcohol tinctures) may be unsafe.
Valerian is contraindicated in pregnant cats, as well as animals with liver or kidney problems.
Since one of the abilities of valerian is to relax smooth muscles, it reduces spasms in the digestive tract and is recommended for cats with gastrointestinal problems.
Again, as with catnip, cats' reactions to valerian can range from complete indifference to overstimulation, aggression, and even sexual activity. Here are typical examples of the effects of valerian, taken from an online forum:
There are other plants that have an emotional effect on cats, for example, honeysuckle, thyme (thyme).
The name of the plant supposedly comes from the Latin “valer” - “to be good”
Pharmacists once determined the quality of drugs containing valerian based on the cat's reaction.
Catnip and valerian are used as bait in research work with wild cats
Rats and mice have a strong dislike for catnip and tend to avoid areas where it grows.
The nepetalactone contained in catnip is effective against mosquitoes and is included in many repellents. It also repels cockroaches
Nepetalactone is not only found in plants. Some insects and ants also possess it. Perhaps this protects them from other insects
