Have you noticed how valerian drops work on cats? Some fluffy pet owners even amuse themselves by watching how they react to the action of this herbal medicine. Let's find out whether the valerian is harmful to cats.
The tincture of this plant for many decades, people use as a sedative. People valerian calms, but for cats it has the opposite effect, stimulating the receptors of the nervous system. The animal becomes inadequate.
Zoologists have studied such effects of tincture on cats and concluded that the valerian scent is surprisingly identical to the pheromones found in the urine of an adult animal. Therefore, its smell affects the emotional and hormonal background of the pet.
Drops valerian instantly turn a calm cat into a creature that can:
- roll on the floor
- mess up wallpaper
- experience hallucinations. Under their influence, he becomes uncontrollable, trying to overcome an imaginary enemy.
Valerian in tablets
Some owners are wondering whether it is less harmful if you give the cat a pill of valerian. The very theme of giving or not giving a cat valerian should be understood how sensible it is. Of course, the pills are less harmful due to the fact that there plants contain less than in drops. But excipients that are synthetic, can cause allergic reactions in a cat.
Drops of valerian can make a dependent cat, even an alcoholic. The plant insists on alcohol, and it can cause irreparable harm to the cat's body.
After a temporary excitation, the animal may have a stage of inhibition. If after taking the medication, especially valerian tablets, your cat is fast and fast asleep, immediately show it to the vet.
Is the smell of valerian bad?
Even the smell of this plant can turn the cat's head. Therefore, some have found a way to accustom him to the scraper precisely valerian, dropping a few drops on it.
Tincture and its smell affects the nervous system of the animal, exciting it, causing the cat to become inadequate. Definitely, veterinarians cannot say about the harm of valerian to cats when inhaled, but here everything depends on the individual tolerance of the animal. In some cases, marked swelling of the mucous membranes.
Overdose
The most dangerous for a cat is an overdose of valerian. This can happen when he discovered the drug in the absence of the owners and took a few pills or drops. In this case, an urgent need to deliver the cat to the clinic. The dose at which death can occur, depends only on the individual tolerance of the drug, so its reaction to a pet can be unpredictable, even coma and death.
Drug or harm
In some cases, valerian is used to treat cats. For diseases such as:
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract,
- endocrine disorders
- deviations in the nervous system.
In this case, the dosage is prescribed only by a veterinarian and must be strictly followed. Then the benefits outweigh the harm.
Note that the reception of valerian and even its smell are addictive in a cat. Therefore, it is impossible to give it too often, not only licking, but also sniffing. The essential oils contained in the tincture may harm the animal.
It is difficult to answer unequivocally whether cat valerian is harmful or helpful, but veterinarians tend to report more harm than good. They do not recommend owners to "entertain" their pet in this way. This is a drug that must be given only with the permission of the doctor and with strict adherence to dosage.
Why the smell of valerian so attracts cats and cats
Zoologists have long tried to unravel the mystery of a similar reaction of animals to ordinary grass. Currently, there are three main options:
- Plant fragrance. It is believed that it reminds our favorite fluffies the smell of genital pheromones of cats, which are released into their urine during estrus. For adult unsterilized cats, this smell is an aphrodisiac. However, kittens that have not reached puberty and neutered animals do not show much zeal when they smell valerian. However, whether this is an indisputable fact has not been definitely proven.
- A special substance with the name of actinidin. This kind of essential compound is also found in mint. Her cats also adore. Actinidine is a kind of drug for cats and other members of this family that they quickly get used to. It is safe to say that in a few weeks your furry friend will not be able to live without this grass.
- Therapeutic agent that helps with stomach pain. Cats that have the opportunity to walk freely on the street are looking for this grass in order to restore the normal functioning of the gastric tract.
What is the reason for this reaction
Considering how valerian acts on cats, one should pay attention to how these animals behave if they smell it. You yourself could often see how suddenly your calm and gentle cat begins to frantically rush around the room, looking for the cause of the smell. Having found a valerian vial, it begins to rub against it and purr with pleasure in a fit of pleasure.
If you let the cat lick the drug, then it literally transforms, becoming aggressive. For no reason, he can attack his beloved master, tear the tablecloth or curtain and comes in great excitement: worn in the apartment, while yelling without ceasing. But after a rather short time, the animal calms down and falls asleep. And the sleep is very strong, sometimes it is compared with narcotic oblivion.
Pros and cons
If the medicinal use of valerian is indisputable for a person, its effect on cats and cats is not fully understood.
First of all, you need to figure out what kind of this substance has the most effect on fluffy fidget. Currently, valerian can be found in three forms:
- Dried This is the most harmless composition of this herb, which is sold in paper packaging.
- Tincture on alcohol. Such a composition is very dangerous for cats and cats. After several doses of this substance, they lose their resistance to alcohol. Your pet becomes aggressive, constantly goes for the owner, nasty yells, demanding a new dose. His behavior becomes simply inadequate. Moreover, animals that have been taught to tincture subsequently receive health problems. They may develop kidney failure, stomach and liver problems,
- Tablets. Despite the fact that they do not have alcohol, they are no less dangerous for your pets. When creating these drugs are often used chemicals that can cause a negative reaction in the cat.
If the pet finds a hidden tin with a tincture or a standard with pills, then it will not stop until it destroys it completely. The result of such a feast will be terrible. First of all, the cat will lose coordination and will not be able to stand up.
In especially severe cases, the animal's eyes begin to roll, and convulsions and foam appear from the mouth. To save the cat, it is urgent to take measures, that is, to lead him to the vet. Experts do not know exactly what the limiting dose of valerian, after taking, which may be fatal. Probably for each animal it has its own. Therefore, the reaction of cats to the drug may be different.
Veterinary care
Thus, considering whether it is possible to give a cat valerian, we can conclude that this can lead to many problems for the animal.
But nevertheless, veterinarians sometimes use valerian to treat certain diseases, which include:
- Nervous disorders.
- Problems with heart.
- Malfunctions of the thyroid gland.
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Only the doctor selects the regimen and dosage of the substance.
Therefore, if you have found a prescription in the literature or have been advised by his acquaintances, you cannot use it without consulting with your doctor. After all, you do not know how he will act in your case.
Thus, despite the fact that domestic and wild cats adore valerian, it is impossible to accustom them to this substance. Its composition can be detrimental to your pet. Also, check out all your fluffy friend's toys. Manufacturers often treat them with compounds containing valerian perfumes. Constant contact with them will not bring your pet anything but problems.
Impact of Valerian
What happens if you give the cat valerian? It is impossible to give an unequivocal answer to this question, since in each individual case the effect may be the exact opposite.
However, in most cases, cats reach for a fragrant tincture, therefore, having tried it once, they will tirelessly ask it from a good host, all over and over again.
So, what can be observed after giving the cat valerian?
Consider a few possible options for the action of valerian on cats:
- In most cases, the cat is experiencing euphoria - a completely inadequate state, during which it is scary to look at the first-time favorite pet. It is as if under hypnosis, it can continually gnaw a bottle of “playful” tincture and roll on the floor.
- Younger animals more often fall into a dream in which they can stay for several hours.
- Some cats start to run around the house without stopping, raising dust in the air, and with it the covers, tablecloths, and carpets.
- Other pets may purr loudly and meow, playfully looking into the owner's eyes, as if asking for something.
Already in the first minutes after the pet receives the desired infusion, you can clearly see how valerian acts on cats. Always a decent and obedient pet with lightning speed can become an avid brawler.
Therefore, be prepared for the fact that your favorite cat will howl loudly, tear curtains and wallpaper, roll on the floor, write in the corners. Indeed, valerian is not a comic drug for quadrupeds, which can even cause hallucinations in an unfortunate animal: the cat either attacks a non-existent opponent, or runs away from it in horror.
Usually, the duration of such oddities does not exceed half an hour, and then, when the action of the tincture is over, a tired animal can fall asleep or go outside.
Special features
Specialists for a long time could not figure out why Valerian cats are so attractive.
Currently, zoologists put forward the following assumptions:
- The aroma of the plant reminds a fluffy pet of the smell of sex pheromones, which are contained in the urine of adults ready for mating. Therefore, for cats, valerian is a kind of aphrodisiac. This hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that kittens that have not reached puberty (approximately up to 5 months) and neutered cats do not react at all to cat's grass.
- Valerian cats are used as a drug for stomach pain. That is why the four-legged friends who live outside the city, in this case, they try to find a mew-grass.
- Actinidine is a substance contained in the root of valerian, which resembles the smell of nepetalone essential oil contained in yet another favorite herb - catnip (catnip). Actinidine acts on cats as a real drug, causing addiction.
Interesting: cats are less susceptible to intoxicating odor. A third of the adult male and female felines are completely indifferent to cat grass.
Harm for cats
Is it possible to give a valerian cat? Veterinarians claim that giving four-legged friends for fun for such a drug is prohibited. Recall that since the extract is similar to the effect of a hard drug, in some cases it can even cause hallucinations.
For some pets, the fright may be so strong that the poor cat will panic for several days, shaking at the slightest sound of fear.
It is noteworthy that dry natural Valerian grass will not cause any harm to the cat, but other forms of this preparation can even kill!
So, the most terrible damage to the mental and physical health of the cat can cause alcohol tincture. The fact is that the animals' organism is not adapted for resilience to alcohol, therefore, after a single sample of a given fluid, the caudate pet becomes addicted as an alcoholic.
He can persistently go after the owner, demanding a new portion of the potion, in case of refusal the cat does not hesitate to express its protest with aggressive behavior. As a result, the nature of the pet is not changing for the better: it becomes nervous and fearful.
But this does not end there. Those animals who were "caring" by the owners from time to time pleased with alcoholic valerian infusion, subsequently suffered from liver diseases, renal failure, a stomach ulcer. Hardly anyone would wish this for their pet?
Valerian benefits
Undoubtedly, the harm that brings Valerian favorite pet, considerable. However, there are also cases when veterinarians prescribe it to animals as medicine.
Valerian extract treats:
- Diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Heart Disease.
- Diseases of the nervous system.
- Diseases of the stomach and intestines.
In this case, the doctor should select the dose.
Important: on the Internet you can find dubious recipes for infusions and decoctions from the root of cat's grass, which they offer to water a sick animal. In no case do not do this without first consulting a veterinarian.
Overdose symptoms
There are cases when the cat independently reached the valerian by eating a whole pack of pills or drinking a bottle of alcohol tincture. As a result, an overdose of the drug occurs, which requires the immediate intervention of a veterinarian.
In this case, the life of the animal is at risk.
Signs of overdose:
- white foam comes from the mouth,
- convulsions in a cat,
- the cat fell on its side
- eyes roll.
Therefore, the use of valerian is justified only by purpose and under the supervision of a veterinarian, since each animal tolerates such a medicine differently. So, protect the health of your furry pet from stupid experiments. After all, short-term fun can end in a very tragic way - even to death.
