Catnip attracts neighborhood cats.

This story was published at https://www.amomeupet.org/ by Beatriz Menezes.

I found it very interesting and decided to translate and adapt, see for yourself what an interesting story, I love cats and it fascinated me. I'm sure it will also fascinate you dear readers.

In 2021, a woman named Nikki Byrne had only one goal: to spruce up her garden.

But when she realized that her terracotta pots with herbs had died and only the catnip plant was growing well, she thought that she would not be able to reach the goal.

Until one day she was surprised by how many cats there were in her backyard.

At first, Nikki didn't quite understand everything that was going on, as she's not the 'cat cat' type and she didn't know the plant would attract so many cats.

“I didn't grow up with cats, and I don't think I've ever been around cats, so I really didn't understand that some of them find catnip irresistible. Shortly after planting it, I heard a little movement outside one morning. I looked out the window and there was a big tabby cat on top of the fence. He managed to knock over one of the catnip jars when he was going after him."

Nikki started seeing the kitten in her backyard almost daily and nicknamed him Mister. When she realized that the animal did not have a collar, she deduced that it was from the street, and began to make water and food available.

This affection for the feline attracted other cats, who began to make Nikki's backyard an amusement park, when the housewife realized that everyone likes to frequent the place, she was adding all kinds of toys, scratching posts, tunnels and a heated cat house.

While the young cats coexisted in harmony, the feline named Mister and the firstborn in the yard remained distant, Nikki's rapprochement with the tabby cat took a while to materialize.

“He didn't look like a cat that had been successfully approached by humans before. I let him have it, and now we can approach him and he will eat treats out of my hand – I can even pet him,” she added.

Despite all this 'intrusion', the woman managed to find a home for many of the stray kittens, with the help of a local NGO. And all this thanks to the Catnip herb, which the woman had not even imagined being an attractant for felines.

The herb can bring several benefits to animals, when inhaled, the smell of the herb makes them euphoric and playful. When ingested, the plant has the opposite effect, working as a tranquilizer, relaxing cats.

Summary:

Also known as catnip or catnip, Catnip originated in Europe and Asia, and today it brings several benefits to our kitties.

You must have already found a toy that had this herb, or you must have heard about it.

To clarify all your doubts on this subject, we are going to tell you a little more about catnip.

The smell of this special herb makes the kittens extremely happy. Have you ever thought about offering it to your little friend? Nepeta cataria, known as Catnip, releases an aroma that makes cats more cheerful, happy, or relaxed. However, many taboos arise regarding the offer of this herb to our little friends.

Although many think that Catnip is bad, it only brings benefits to the animal being used in the correct form and amount.

The euphoric and agitated effects are caused by a substance called Nepetalactone, which does not harm the kitty. When inhaled, it stimulates the pet's olfactory bulb and activates the amygdala and hypothalamus, organs responsible for the body's emotions and reactions.

For this reason, your pet's predatory instinct is stimulated, making it run much more and releasing all its tension. Contrary to what many think, this herb is not addictive, it only loses its effect when used for a long time or in large amounts.

Have you ever tried giving this herb to your kitten? Tell us in the comments!

Thanks for reading and until the next story