Mary Allen
Valerian, along with catnip, is one of the plants that our velvet paws are literally addicted to. Valerian has a calming effect on us humans, while the herb can cause the strangest behavior in cats. You can find out why this is so here.
What is Valerian?
Valerian, also called Valeriana, is an herbaceous plant that is widespread. This is because the plant exists in very many different species. These grow naturally in temperate zones in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. Valerian is known by different names such as cat’s weed, stinker, or witch’s herb. Numerous effects have always been ascribed to the unpleasant-smelling plant – from protection against the plague to driving away evil demons. Today valerian is processed as a calming tea or offered as a tincture with a sleep-promoting effect. The essential oils it contains are responsible for the calming effect of the plant.
What Effects Does Valerian Have on Cats?
Valerian has exactly the opposite effect on cats as it does on humans. If you’ve ever given your furry friend a valerian pillow to play with, you’ve probably seen her go crazy for it. The cats rub their heads on the valerian toy or wallow in it. For a while, they don’t seem to be able to stop. Some cats then get their wild five minutes and run around like crazy through the apartment. Others even stumble like they’re really intoxicated.
But why do cats love valerian so much? The reason your cat behaves like it is drugged is due to the ingredients that produce the smell that we humans perceive as a smell. Valeric acid is primarily responsible for this. A comparable iridoid alkaloid is found in catnip. It is thought to be similar to the pheromones secreted by cats during the mating season. Therefore, many cats get into a state of intoxication when they come into contact with the dried herb. It has not yet been found out why some cats and tomcats do not react to the substance at all.
Is Valerian Dangerous for Cats?
Valerian obviously works like a drug for cats, but it is not known that the plant is addictive or even causes withdrawal symptoms. Most cats lose interest in valerian toys on their own after a while. However, so that they are not constantly exposed to the stimulus of the fragrance and also have longer fun with the toy, we recommend that you do not constantly offer your velvet paws valerian.
The plant itself is considered non-toxic, even if your cat should ingest some of it. However, larger amounts of the herb could still have a negative effect on the body and lead to vomiting. As with any cat toy, it should be of high quality and made of natural materials so that your cat is not harmed, for example by swallowing some of the cotton wool from the pillow.
Some cat owners report that their cats display aggressive behavior when they smell valerian. This can happen with hangovers, as the ingredients of valerian are reminiscent of the sexual attractants of cats. If there are fights among cats in a multi-cat household, make sure that each animal has its own valerian toy. If your cats are still reacting aggressively, it would be better not to give them valerian.
Toys With Valerian
A popular valerian toy is cuddly pillows with valerian. Cats love to cuddle, lick, or wallow in the pillows. Valerian pillows come in every imaginable shape and color. When buying, make sure that the toy is safely processed and does not contain any toxic materials.
Another popular variant is valerian spray. You can use it to spray any cat toy, such as a fishing rod or ball. Or you can use the valerian scent to get your cat used to unpleasant places such as the transport basket or a new place to sleep. Valerian spray is also ideal for making cat toys yourself. Sew a pillow yourself and spray it with the scent or fill an old sock with scraps of fabric that you have previously sprayed with valerian extract.
To prevent your cat from getting bored of the toy too quickly, you should only offer it about twice a week. For the rest of the time, it is best to store it in an airtight and odor-tight container so that the smell stays longer and does not rub off too much. However, if the pillow is wet from your cat’s saliva, you will need to dry it first.