Mary Allen
Valerian is also known as cat herb and this name is no coincidence. Many cats become very infatuated with the plant and will exhibit unusual behavior when exposed to it. You can find out why in this article.
What is Valerian?
Valerian is a herbaceous plant of the honeysuckle family that grows almost everywhere in the world; this in climatically temperate zones in Europe as well as in America, Asia and Africa. The scientific name of valerian is valeriana, but most people are probably more familiar with it by its nicknames, witch’s weed, stinkroot, or catweed. Let’s take a look at each herb’s nickname and where it came from.
Valerian was demonized as a “witch herb” because it has always been used as a homeopathic medicine due to its calming and sleep-inducing effect. Valerian also deserves to be called “stinkroot”. The plant smells unpleasant to most people, kind of “stale”. We would like to explain in more detail here why it is referred to as “cat weed”.
Why “cat weed” – what does valerian do to cats?
Maybe you’ve seen your velvet paw’s reaction when she gets a valerian toy or something else smells like it? While we humans tend to wrinkle our noses and generally tend to be disgusted by the smell, our four-legged treasures prove that tastes really do differ. Most cats will roll, purr, spin all over the wheel in response to valerian. It depends on the cat how they react to this, some will freak out and seem to have immeasurable energy for a few minutes and not know where to put it.
The others roll around on the floor, do somersaults, stretch and stretch, and then fall into a relaxed, deep sleep. Cats that react particularly strongly to valerian sometimes look to us as if they are high on drugs and living out their trip. It can sometimes even seem a bit spooky when the cat seems so intoxicated. Where does this extreme reaction come from?
The main culprit is the valeric acid in this herb, which is similar to the pheromones that cats secrete during mating season. But this phenomenon has not yet been fully scientifically explained, because some cats get a real “valerian attack”, while others do not react at all. How this can be has not yet been clarified.
The only way to explain it is that our furry friends, with their different characters, don’t all find the same thing attractive. Of course with less violent reactions, but at least in terms of the different tastes you can compare it with perfume for us humans. Some things that might sting your nose and don’t meet your taste at all are in turn the absolute dream scent for the next person.
The effect of valerian on cats
What does valerian do to cats, how do they react to it?
With this question we can come back to the drug comparison. Valerian for cats is often jokingly called “cat drug”. Cats who are attracted to the scent will display all sorts of feel-good reactions at once, most going berserk. After extensive sniffing, the first thing that usually comes up is a feel-good reaction such as purring or the well-known rubbing of the head, flattery or relaxed kicking with the front paws. Some kittens will nibble and lick the valerian product, while others will get cranked up and play with it like there’s no tomorrow.
Is valerian toxic to cats? What happens when cats eat valerian?
A toy with a good dose of valerian scent is harmless, but your four-legged friend should never eat too large a quantity of the dried herb itself. Now the “cat drug” comparison is even more apt, because valerian can damage the liver over time. The cat should only take valerian olfactory, not orally. The motto also applies to valerian for cats: not too much of a good thing! If the cat is given valerian too often, this drives up their stress level too much.
A change in character can also occur in the worst case, some cat owners report aggressive behavior of the cat with regular consumption of valerian. It should not become a permanent condition that the cat gets valerian.
If you’re using valerian drops, dried herb, or a spray, keep the product airtight and out of reach of the pet tiger so it doesn’t secretly overdose on itself.
Valerian dosage and uses
As already mentioned: You should be careful with the dosage and frequency, you are welcome to spoil your kitten with valerian toys and more and make him happy, but not daily and too intensively. In fact, addiction-like symptoms can also occur if the cat experiences its valerian intoxication too often. Twice a week should be the maximum when using valerian.
The areas of application of valerian are diverse: Whether purely as a fun factor as a toy for your house cat or for sensible purposes, you can use the cat weed again and again. For example, is your cat afraid of the transport box and the vaccination appointment at the vet is coming up again? Then you can put a few drops of valerian on a cushion placed in the corner of the transport box and your cat will follow the irresistible scent and go into the basket all by itself and without pressure or panic. Even if you have bought your cat new toys, a new scratching post or new climbing equipment and it is still a little strange to you, you can make the new things attractive to your cat with the scent of valerian.
In what forms is valerian available?
As a fresh herb, valerian can be obtained from nurseries, but the scent is the least intense for cats in the fresh form. Nevertheless, most cats also react to it as “fresh weed”, which can be observed particularly in free-ranging kittens when they rub against a plant for reasons that are inexplicable at first glance.
The dried herb is the most common form in which valerian is available. Of course you can buy and use it in this form, but mostly the dried valerian herb is prefabricated in toys. The famous valerian pillow, for example, is filled with the herb.
There are also valerian drops available as a serum or oil, a few of which can be dribbled onto a traditional pillow, cat bed or toy for flexible use of your velvet paw’s favorite scent. There is also valerian spray for cats. The same principle applies here as with the drops: Flexible application on a wide variety of surfaces and objects.
But with the spray, it should of course be noted that a larger area is misted with the fragrance than with the drops, which is why pillows, for example, are sometimes literally taken apart.
Cat herb valerian: what is the difference to catnip?
Perhaps you have already asked yourself during our guide what is the difference to the popular catnip? Many people get confused because many of the properties of valerian also apply to catnip. Both should only be consumed in exceptional cases, both cause intoxication-like states in your cat. But the first difference is already in the smell, because valerian smells less wonderful for our human noses. Catnip, on the other hand, also smells pleasant to us humans, slightly citrusy and pleasantly tart.
Both are commercially available primarily as cat cushions, but also in pharmacies or pet shops in the form of sprays and drops, as well as fresh herbs. There really aren’t many differences, but valerian is supposed to have a calming effect and primarily put cats in a cuddling and snuggling mood, which is why they usually roll on the floor so stretching and blissfully. Catnip, on the other hand, tends to have more of a euphoric effect, causing even otherwise shy or anxious kittens to jump around, play motivated, or meow at the top of their lungs.
Valerian for cats – yes or no? The conclusion!
The cats will definitely be happy: our conclusion is yes! In moderation, valerian is great fun for cats and can also solve problems. For example, you can take away the fear of visiting the vet, let them accept new toys, or ensure that cats dare to climb the new climbing towers. It really shouldn’t be done too often, certainly not on a regular basis. You should see it as a pure stimulant and handle it in the same way as you do with alcohol as a human being.