Silver vine contains actinidine, which is not only a powerful cat attractant, but also acts as a pheromone for insects. Silver vine is more potent than catnip and may cause a different response in your cat. But don't worry - it's perfectly safe!
Silver vine contains many active substances, but the main ones that cats react to are nepetalactol, actinidine, and dihydroactinidiolide. These are typically more potent than the nepetalactol, which is in catnip. This means that silver vine generates a more intense response from cats – think catnip but much stronger.
– Honeysuckle, Silver Vine, and Valerian are incredible catnip alternatives for cats who (like my cat Bear) just don't like catnip. – These plant blends are perfect to refill Space Kitty Express mice or Jackson's refillable kicker!
The popular one: Catnip
Catnip is a green herb that can often be found in its dried form inside plush cat toys. When the stems, leaves, or flowers of this plant are crushed, they release a scent that can cause cats to become euphoric.
Superficially, a cat's response to catnip looks similar to a narcotic drug response in people. "They become playful and get agitated, they get excited, and then they go to sleep. But there's no information to show that catnip is operating the same way that medical cannabis, marijuana or cocaine does," Simon said.
Your cat cannot become addicted to catnip and will not experience an opioid withdrawal no matter how much catnip your pet is exposed to. Frequent exposure to catnip, however, can cause your cat to develop a tolerance to the plant, according to PetMD.
Be mindful of overindulgence though—cats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, but they can get sick if they eat too much. Trust your kitty to know when they've had enough.
Some cats don't react to catnip at all. The estimates change frequently, but the most recent statistics guess that about 64% of kitties are susceptible to catnip. Hold on, though – that statistic may not hold true in Australia. Surprisingly, a higher number of our kitties seem to be immune to catnip.
Scientists don't know why catnip, scientifically named Nepeta Cataria, produces euphoria in felines. Nepetalactone is the substance in the plant that gives puss pleasure, but oddly enough it doesn't affect all cats.
Those of us who have had more than a few cats in their lifetime know not all cats react to the herb Nepeta cataria, colloquially known as catnip. Passion for catnip depends on a cat's age and genes.
The catnip in no way enters the cat's blood stream, unlike human street drugs. A human analog that causes similar effects [as catnip on cats], as in a comparable high, would be LSD or marijuana.
So if your kitty doesn't respond to catnip, no worries: there's nothing wrong with your cat. They simply lack the “catnip gene.” Also, be aware that while catnip is usually thought of as something that will “stir up” your cat, it can have the opposite effect, too. Catnip can calm and soothe some cats.
The main catnip alternatives are Silvervine and Valerian Root. Both can be even more exciting than catnip itself and come in many fun forms so be sure to check out more info about both of them at the below articles!
The longer you let the catnip sit in the tea, the stronger it will get, so don't forget to remove it! After, let the tea cool to room temperature. If you used a tea ball or infuser, you can just pull it out of the water.
Catnip and catmint can appeal equally to some felines, while others seem to prefer catnip and will pass by catmint without a second glance. From a landscape standpoint, catmint is considered the more ornamental choice of the two plants. Catmint's purple flowers and tidy shape make it a more showy garden plant.
Catnip is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in small amounts. Cupful amounts of catnip tea have been consumed without serious side effects. However, catnip is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when smoked or taken by mouth in high doses (many cups of catnip tea, for example).
Valerian. For best results, administer the herb fifteen minutes before the expected stressful event. Soon after the initial shock, the cat will calm down. Don't get surprised if she falls asleep soon afterward.
Catnip is a hardy herbaceous perennial from the wider mint family of herbs. It's native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, but is now naturalised worldwide.
The catnip response is inherited, and some 30 to 50 percent of cats lack the gene that lets them turn on and tune out. Other times, a cat may simply be too young. The proclivity doesn't become apparent until a kitten is three to six months old. Be aware, too, that the “high” usually wears off after about 10 minutes.
They also mean nothing to humans. While cats have the receptors that allow pheromones to hook inside their nose and set off that feel-good reaction inside their brains, humans are just wired differently. With that said, there are some purported effects of catnip on us.
While catnip is non-addictive, its effect can dull due to overexposure. So, while the occasional catnip “high” might be fun, it's best to avoid a daily catnip routine with your cat. The effects also start to decline as your cat ages. You won't see the overly exaggerated response you're used to with older cats.
There isn't any risk of toxicity. Cats can't really overdose on silvervine because they'll stop once they've had enough.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and silver vine (Actinidia polygama) both contain chemical compounds called iridoids that protect the plants against aphids and are known to be the key to the euphoria produced in cats.