When cats are kept inside, they can have a happy life if they receive a range of positive experiences. Some examples include performing their natural behaviors, feeling secure at home, and using all of their sensory abilities, including their smell.
Catnip, catnip thyme, and silver vine can be powerful stimulants for cats.
Have you ever wondered if these mind-altering substances are safe to give our feline companions? Is it okay to give these to cats, or is this like giving alcohol to children?
Our cats’ sense of smell plays a key role in how they experience the world. keldridge/Shutterstock
Read more: Won’t my cat get bored if I keep it inside? Here’s how to ensure it’s happy.
Catnip, cat thyme, and silver vine, oh my!
If you are worried that your cat is feeling frustrated and bored, then consider offering them catnip or silver vine (Actinidia Polygama) or other plants such as Tatarian honeysuckle or valerian. If your cat does not respond to catnip, these may offer an alternative.
Toys containing the leaves of these plants or their extracts can produce a euphoric response in domestic cats, as well as in big cats such as leopards and jaguars. Believes that not all cats react in the same way to these scents.
Cats may act playful when they encounter a smelly treat. They might rub or roll around. Anne Quain
These treats are safe for cats.
Cats are highly sensitive to smell. Some plants release chemicals to repel insects or attract predators that would otherwise destroy them. This ingredient includes nepetalactone, which is isolated from silver vine and catnip.
It has been suggested that nepetalactone exposure leads to increased feel-good hormones among cats. It can also be used as a mosquito repellent. (Note that it is not effective against all mosquitoes and does not control fleas or ticks). Licking, shaking their head while carrying plant material in their mouth, drooling, kicking the plant material with their hind feet, and forming ‘wavelike’ movements of their skin as muscles contract and relax. Other observed behaviors include:
- Licking.
- Shaking their head while carrying the plant material in their teeth.
- Drooling and kicking the material with their rear feet.
The responses usually last only a few seconds or minutes before the cats relax and resume their normal behavior.
These plants have no adverse effects on cats when they are sniffed. These plants do not appear to have any negative effects when sniffed by cats.
The cat (and the dog!) The active compound found in catnip, silver vine, and nepetalactone is what causes the cats (and a dog!) to react.
Read more: What actually is catnip, and is it safe for my cat?
Is it ethical to alter the minds of our cats?
We tend to consider the benefits of improving the lives and welfare of the animals that we care for before weighing the harms.
There is no evidence that these substances alter cats’ minds in the same manner as alcohol and other drugs do.
Some people may be discouraged from giving their cats such olfactory stimulation by the marketing of these cat treats.
The evidence shows that our cats will be fine if they are allowed to have these treats. These treats won’t cause psychosis, addiction, or withdrawal symptoms. We don’t have to worry about our felines operating heavy machinery or making important decisions under the influence!
As long as they have the option to leave at any time, it’s reasonable to allow them to join in on a fun activity.
Synthetic feline pheromones are a great way to harness the sense of smell of cats. This can reduce anxiety, fear, and distress in cats. These substances are useful for situations such as multiple-cat households or moving houses.
