The 5 Wondrous Health Benefits Of Catnip
Catnip is like magic! A member of the mint family, the natural herb is loved by most kitties.
Gordon, our office Golden British Shorthair cat, adores catnip too. Although he is typically not a big fan of stuffed toys, much to our surprise, he was very enthusiastic about playing with a particular pink pig plush toy. What's the answer to this mystery? After scrutinising the toy, we found out the reason: catnip. The toy’s belly was filled with catnip. Now, we know why Mr Laidback, Gordon transformed into Mr Lively for a while.
But did you know that there are other remarkable health benefits of catnip for cats besides making them 'high' for about 10 minutes?
Don't worry, catnip is a safe herb. Your feline friends can't become addicted to catnip no matter how much they're exposed to. Still, they can develop a mild tolerance over time.
Now, let’s discover what makes catnip truly magical!
Magical health benefits of catnip
1. Boosts mental health
Catnip can have both calming and energising effects. The effects of catnip depend on the individual cat and how catnip is used.
— Is coaxing your frightened cat to get into a carrier for a vet visit a herculean task for you? In this case, feed your furkid some catnip. When kitties eat catnip, they tend to mellow out. You can provide catnip to cats during other stressful situations (e.g. moving to a new home, new family members (human or animal) & exposure to loud noises) as well.
— Do you have fat Garfield-like kitties who don't have the motivation to exercise? Let them sniff some catnip to stimulate them to play.
— Have your kitties been knocking things off the table because of their sheer boredom? Help them to bust their boredom by providing them with olfactory entertainment. Giving them catnip toys or sprinkling parts of the leaves on the floor are great options.
2. Improves skin health
— Oh no! Your kitty is injured. What else can you do to speed up its recovery besides visiting the vet? Another unexpected use of catnip is that the herb promotes wound healing. You can make a paste out of dried catnip to apply to your cats' wounds by crushing it up and adding a bit of water.
— Swat. Swat. Swat! There are other ways to kill blood-thirsty, pestilent monsters like fleas and ticks aside from brute physical force… Harnessing the power of plants is a smarter strategy. This natural remedy can help to repel pests, keeping them away from your furkids. Best of all, catnip is safer than the many brands of synthetic pet insect repellents that have a lot of potentially harmful chemicals.
— Catnip doesn't just entice water-hating cats to get into the bathtub. By adding half a spoon of fresh catnip leaves into a bowl of hot water and then pouring it into the bathwater, you've created a healing medicinal bath that alleviates cat skin irritations.
3. Supports digestive health
Catnip will be right up your alley if your kitties suffer from digestive problems. Catnip's inflammatory properties improve digestion and reduce constipation.
But moderation is key. Avoid letting your cat overeat catnip because too much of a good thing can be harmful (e.g. may lead to an upset stomach). It's simple; follow the feeding instructions in the catnip's packaging to stay safe.
4. Fights against insomnia
Chances are you've probably experienced the agony of tossing and turning over and over again in your bed because of insomnia. From personal experience, you know that insomnia is tortuous. Cats struggling to fall asleep will benefit from the sedative effects of the nepetalactone found in catnip. So, get this herb for your sleep-deprived furbabies to help them sleep restfully at night.
5. Assists in controlling fever
Catnip also boosts your kitty’s immunity, helps maintain body temperature and cures throat irritation.
Pawsome catnip products
Catnip is a versatile herb that can be used in a wide variety of wonderful ways.
1. Catnip sprays
Catnip sprays are a convenient way to give catnip to your kitty without making a mess by spreading leaves around.
Bio PetActive Catnip Spray
Make your cat happy and calm with this masterful pairing of catnip and valerian root. When cats inhale the aromatic oils of catnip and valerian root from the spray, they gain a burst of playful energy, usually followed by a mellow period.
— Catnip spray can be applied to items like cat bedding, toys, or scratching posts to attract cats to visit these areas
— Gets cats into a state of "blissful high", which is useful for stressful situations (e.g. vet appointments, change in living environment, the arrival of a new animal & bathtime)
2. Catnip treats
Did you know that some treats are made with small quantities of enticing catnip? Because catnip is added, your cats are even more likely to adore snacktimes if you offer them catnip treats
GimCat Kitty Biscuit With Fish & Catnips
Not only are these catnip-flavoured biscuits shaped like fishes, but they also contain fish and fish derivatives. These treats are fantastic daily rewards for adult cats.
— Oven-baked until they are scrumptiously crispy to delight your kitty.
— Comes with attractive catnip to make cats happy, alleviating stress
3. Catnip toys
Toys stuffed with catnip are a mess-free and fun way to administer catnip.
In addition, do you have old toys that your furbaby doesn’t play with anymore? Rub catnip onto old toys to get cats interested in them again.
Zolux Pirate Bird Toy With Catnip
This Jouet Chat plush bird toy, which has a stylish grey hat, is absolutely adorable!
Simply transfer the herbs from the tube into the plush toy’s belly. Then, your cat can start experiencing the magic of catnip!
— Soft material that is pleasant to touch
— Comes with an auto-gripper, so catnip can be stored easily within the toy
Dooee Catnip Globe Windmill
With this pawsome wall toy, your kitty can have plenty of fun rotating and interacting with it. It comes with 3 of cats’ favourite plants— catnip, silvervine & gallnut —in ball forms.
— Can be rotated freely to catch cats’ attention
— Promotes better digestion, cleaner teeth, fresher breath and stimulates appetite
4. Catnip leaves
The most natural form of catnip, catnip leaves are the most suitable if your cat likes to not only smell but also eat them. Feed just a little at a time. For the precise amount that’s great for your cat, you can consult your vet.
Meowijuana Catnip Jar Of Pawty Mix 20g
The blend of catnip, silvervine and peppermint will give your kitty plenty of merriment. The jar contains approx. 68 servings of catnip.
— Relieves stress and anxiety and freshens breath
— Medicinal benefit of supporting wound healing in cats when applied to the injured area