Many owners talking about cats and valerian, usually tell funny and hilarious cases that happened to their cats after they “sniffed” valerian. Fans “google” often come across such interesting videos on the Internet. Cheerful and funny behavior in kitties is really caused by this herbal elixir, and for the owners it is a good reason to laugh. Not all owners know whether it is possible or not to give valerian to cats and kitties, whether it will bring harm or benefit. Therefore, let us discuss this issue with you in detail in the article.
What is the herbal “elixir of joy” valerian
In nature, valerian is considered a perennial herbaceous plant. Valerian grows mainly in swampy and wet areas and in lowland areas. The color of the plant is a pink shade, and the stem is strong and tall. The height of the stem reaches up to 2 meters tall. This plant is used for medicinal purposes and in medicine. People mainly use the roots and the entire rhizome to make medicinal elixir, so do the pharmaceutical factories. If we talk about the medical purpose of valerian, its purpose is as follows: to eliminate nervous tension, improve sleep, as well as remove headaches and vascular spasms. The drug valerian is not aggressive and does not cause allergies, so in an ordinary pharmacy you can buy it without a prescription. However, this elixir is considered safe only for people, but not for animals. Veterinarians caution and warn owners that this sedative plunges Tails into a state of euphoria and is quite excitable.
Why do cats react to valerian?
Veterinarians and medical professionals have conducted numerous studies to find out the reason for cats’ keen interest in this elixir. Having conducted a number of experiments it turned out that the smell of the plant reminds cats of the smell of feramones, excreted with the urine of adult cats and cats. That is why this odor affects the hormonal background and mood of cats. At first valerian affects the nervous system, and later it creates for your kitty the effect of “reality” and so the animal begins to behave interestingly – purr, dance around in circles, roll on its back, look interestingly, as if the eyes are “in a fog”, play and just behave out of the ordinary.
Action of valerian on cats
Valerian works as an aphrodisiac and makes cats feel aroused, it works the same way on cats as on cats. In this case, Pets start to feel sexual desire and crawl, tumble, play. It also happens that cats suddenly become jealous and indignant, behavior suddenly changes and becomes aggressive. Valerian affects people positively, as a sedative and calms, but in cats on the contrary – excites the nervous system and leads the mind as in an intoxicated state. Only a few drops will accidentally spill out of the bottle on the floor and your cat will feel like a drunk. This strong intoxication effect is also caused by the alcohol that is part of the medication. Being in such a state cats can start racing around the apartment, jumping like real bunnies and playing interestingly, more actively than they played before. Valerian affects some cats differently, they may become lethargic, fall asleep and do not want you to disturb and stroke them. The third category of cats, it is exactly those cats on which this sedative does not affect at all. Cat or cat can walk near the place where accidentally spilled “elixir”, but do not pay attention at all and do not even approach. The owners will ask themselves the question – Why? How can this be, but no one will give you an answer to this. People and animals are unique organisms, with features of their own temperament and character. These living organisms have different tastes and perceive everything differently as well.
Is it possible to give valerian to cats?
Some people are of the opinion that valerian for a cat is less harmful in the form of a tablet, because there is no alcohol in the composition of the tablet. Unfortunately, this is not true at all, because in the tincture of valerian there are only herbs and alcohol, but in the tablet only a fourth of the extract from the plant, and the rest is synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers are added to medications precisely so that they will dissolve inside the body and the pill will be absorbed more quickly. For cats, synthetic fibers are a threat and a great danger, in some cases they cause allergies and in some cases they cause death. If, however, your Pet suddenly starts to fall asleep soundly after trying a valerian tablet and does not wake up for a long time, in this case it is better to take the animal to a veterinary clinic.
Inquisitive owners will ask how much to give valerian to a cat to play? However, it is better to warn the animal from this odor, and in return, buy a stick – a toy or a ball for the cat. Valerian is harmful in any case, even in a very small dose. Different cats have different thresholds of sensitivity to drugs and therefore, some too get used to this smell, later the behavior changes and the cat will often demand more from you, the behavior will constantly worsen. In no case leave the cat alone with the elixir, because an overdose will affect not only drowsiness and lethargy, but also provoke a painful condition, such as weakness, vomiting and vomiting. There are also cases of death. Ethanol, which is in the composition of the tincture, unfortunately, destroys the cat’s body from the inside and gives rise to many diseases.
Therefore, owners must decide for themselves whether to give valerian to cats or not. Veterinarians will only allow you to give the animal a sniff for a minute and some playtime, but they caution against giving it for longer than a minute. Sedative medication is for humans, not animals, and has nothing at all to do with them or their lives. Whether it is a pill or an alcohol elixir, valerian will have a detrimental effect on an animal’s body. Infusion will cause strange emotions and states, aggressive behavior and provoke the development of internal diseases, due to the accumulation of ethanol. Therefore, be attentive to your cats and cats and take care of them!
