Originally from Europe and Asia, Nepeta cataria has long been associated with cats. Even its Latin-derived cataria means “of a cat.” And research shows that cats of all parts of the cat family love this member of the mint family. The lively and friendly nature of the Bombay cat makes it especially appealing to Bombay cats. The leaves and stems of the catnip plant contain an oil called “nepetalactone.” When cats smell nepetalactone, it stimulates special receptors called “pheromones” which are chemicals that cause all kinds of “feel good” reactions that last roughly 10 minutes. The result is a kind of chemical reaction that gives the cat a sense of euphoria or overwhelming happiness. Even though your cat may look like a love-sick feline, catnip is not an aphrodisiac and won’t affect fertility!
Various forms of catnip exist, including sprays, dried leaves, and the entire plant. Although each varies in its concentration of nepetalactone, there is minimal difference in how profoundly these different forms affect cats. Since catnip is not a drug, its effects don’t depend on the amount given or the concentration.
Most cats react to catnip by rolling, flipping, rubbing, and eventually zoning out. They may meow or growl at the same time. Other cats become hyperactive or downright aggressive, especially if you approach them. Usually these sessions last about 10 minutes, after which your cat loses interest.
Catnip is a healthy and fun treat for your cat. It’s a simple way to add some excitement to your Bombay cat’s day. Sprinkle the dried leaves in areas you want your cat to be interested in, like a new cat bed, or spray liquid catnip on a favourite toy.
Catnip can help cats relax and engage in play, both of which can help reduce stress. You can get catnip in its dry form for sprinkling on scratching pads or your cat’s bed. It’s also available as a catnip oil spray, which can be great for spraying your cat’s toys or in their carrier.
When sniffed, it acts as a stimulant, often causing cats to become very playful, rolling over on the ground and generally being hyperactive. But when eaten, catnip acts as a sedative, sometimes causing cats to drool, purr, or fall asleep.
Some cats inherit a sensitivity to the herb. But you won’t know if your kitten is one of them until sometime between ages 3 and 6 months. Though intense, that bliss is usually short-lived, lasting about 10 minutes for most cats. For some, the euphoria translates into aggressive playfulness. At the same time, it makes others mellow and calm. But no matter what reaction your cat has, once the pleasure passes it’ll be about two hours before kitty responds to catnip again.
If you have multiple cats, you may have noticed that they’re not all equally affected by catnip. It turns out that both heredity and age matter:
“The catnip response is hereditary. It is estimated that about 1/3 of the cats lack this gene. Additionally, kittens less than three months old don’t respond to catnip and often even show an aversion. With many kittens, the response doesn’t even occur until they’re almost six months old. Kittens don’t really need catnip exposure though anyway – they’re already and ready to play at a moment’s notice. Many elderly cats may not show much of a response as well.“
Because cats do respond to catnip again and again, the herb can be a powerful training aid. First, if exposed to catnip too often, there is a risk of your cat losing his ability to respond to it. That would be an unfortunate consequence, so it’s recommended that you provide catnip no more than once a week. Don’t leave catnip toys hanging around the house all the time.
Want to keep your Bombay from clawing furniture? Rub a scratching post with catnip to make it more appealing. Bought a new cat bed? Sprinkle a little of the herb on your Bombay cat’s cushion to make it more attractive to your feline friend.
You can also provide enrichment for an indoor kitty by creating catnip toys. Sprinkle a bit of the herb into an old sock, then knot the top. Or put a big pinch of catnip in a small paper bag and crush the bag into a tight ball. But remember to put these items away after your Bombay has had exposure, so that next time the effect is just as powerful.
The intensity of your Bombay cat’s response to toys and training will be affected by the type of catnip you use. While most cats enjoy the herb dried or fresh, they’re usually less interested in catnip sprays, which generally don’t contain enough nepetalactone to appeal to most felines.
Fortunately for your Bombay cat, catnip – which is non-addictive and safe to eat – is easy to grow in a sunny window. If you plant catnip directly in the garden, remember that, like most mints, it’s a vigorous, sometimes invasive, grower.
Catnip’s potency doesn’t last forever; the essential oils quickly dissipate. So if you buy dried catnip for your feline friend, store what you don’t use in the freezer.
Your Bombay cat will most likely LOVE a regular session with catnip, so make it part of your cat’s play routine.