Cantip Vs. Valerian: Which one is purrfect for your cat?

Most of you would have heard of catnip but we find a lot of people definitely haven't heard of valerian. A lot of people also don't understand how beneficial utilising catnip or valerian can be for enriching your cats life. Because cats need enrichment just as much as our dogs do.

So what is catnip? Well it's scientific name is Nepeta cataria and it is a perennial herb that originates from southern and eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle east and also parts of China. Cats take a liking to this herb because of an oil that's found in the leaves called Nepetalactone, this is what can trigger the various behaviours in cats we see. Your cat could be relaxed, happy, affectionate, playful or even sometimes have a hint of aggression - this all depends on your cat and how they react to the catnip.

Not all cats actually react to catnip, in fact, approximately 60% of cats will display behavioural changes, whilst the other 40% remain unaffected. This is where valerian can come into play for your cat.

Valerian or Valeriana officinalis is another perennial plant native to Asia and Europe. The stimulating compound found in valerian is called actinidine and has similar effects as catnip. Valerian can act as a mental stimulant and can also actually increase exercise and induce calming effects on your cat.

So after all that are you still super confused? Well the best way to determine whether or not you use catnip or valerian is let your cat decide. They will let you know which one they enjoy most making the decision for you. We have 10g sachets of each for $5 that you can use to help determine which one your cat prefers. 

You could use regular toys without any stimulant to enrich your cats but if they aren't one to typically play then a stimulant can help engage your unplayful cat. Regardless of what you choose it's important we play with our cats to improve their physical and mental health. Regular playtime can in fact help with reducing behavioural issues like aggressiveness or destructive chewing.