Why do cats love valerian and can it be given?

Almost every experienced cat breeder knows that the feline family is not indifferent to preparations made on the basis of a plant called valerian. For this reason, the well-known medicinal perennial is called cat root, cat grass or mauna grass. Valerian is influenced by humans as a mild sedative and antispasmodic, but the essential components of the plant have a strong stimulating effect on domestic cats and cats.

The pharmaceutical industry produces valerian in tablets, drops, in the form of alcohol tinctures, as well as in soothing collections, where the raw materials are presented in crushed form for subsequent preparation of broth from it. Any of these dosage forms are of interest to the cat, therefore if you have a vial of valerian in your house, sooner or later your pet will get to it.

The following release forms are available.

• Tincture Valerian is available in the form of drops for oral administration, the medicine is packaged in dark glass bottles of 15, 25, 50 or 100 milliliters. At 80% of its volume, the drug consists of 70% ethyl alcohol, and the rest of it is dry powder of valerian root. In the composition of the drops, the role of the active drug substance is played by extracts of the ethereal mala plant, consisting of borneol and isovalerianic acid, and plant alkaloids: valerin, valepotriates and hotein have a spasmolytic and calming effect.

• Tablets Valerian is made for internal use, coated. In the package they are usually from 10 to 50 pieces. Each tablet contains 20 mg of valerian root extract. In addition to the active substance, tablets contain magnesium carbonate, croscarmellose, potato starch, gelatin and calcium stearate. For cats, tablets are no less dangerous than tincture.

• Dry Herb Medicines is a crushed raw material of valerian root and its aerial parts. Such a fee is packaged in cardboard boxes or mica bags, usually the packaging weight of such a fee is small - 200-250 grams. If your fluffy pet finds such a bag, then he is unlikely to chew dry grass, and will not eat much of it. However, there is no doubt that the contents of the entire package will be scattered, and the cat with great pleasure falls out in crushed Valerian.

Raw materials obtained from the root of medicinal valerian are used in the manufacture of sedatives that normalize the psychoemotional state of a person, help him fall asleep faster, reduce nervousness and irritability, relieve spasms, and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The valerian root affects the body of domestic representatives of the feline family in exactly the opposite way, causing excessive motor activity, euphoria and hallucinations in animals, accompanied by inappropriate behavioral reactions.

The state of intoxication in the animal lasts for a rather short period of time - from 5 to 15 minutes, and then the phase of deep and sound sleep begins. During sleep, cats relax all smooth muscles, including the respiratory system, so veterinarians are aware of the frequent cases when a fluffy pet, asleep, could no longer wake up.

The reason for inadequate behavioral changes after taking valerian for alcohol in domestic cats is that the smell of the plant is very similar to the smell of female urine in animals, which is ready for mating. The ethereal components act on the cerebral cortex of the animal, exciting unconditioned reflexes in it, and since the aroma of valerian is similar to cat pheromones, the reaction to cats is similar. The situation is aggravated by alcohol intoxication, if the cat has ingested a certain amount of alcohol tincture, therefore, the manifestations of the excitation phase are several times stronger.

Usually, the reaction to valerian in males is manifested. The females are more affected by the essential substance nepetalactone, which is found in valerian. A similar substance is found in catnip, which is also called catnip.Because of the odor of non-detalactone, cats and cats love both of these plants so much.

Nepetalactone causes euphoric hallucinations in cats, which are manifested by motor excitement, increased appetite, loud meow and inappropriate behavior. Nepalactone excitation also lasts no more than 15 minutes, and then the cat’s brain becomes immune to the substance, but after about an hour and a half, the reaction of brain neurons is restored and the effect of exposure to the substance’s brain is repeated.

Alcohol valerian is more dangerous for animals than a tablet form or dry herbal preparations. Dependence on alcohol in representatives of the cat family develops from the first dose, since in their body there is no enzyme capable of splitting alcohol components. Ethyl alcohol has a toxic effect on the cat's liver, and also irritates the mucous membrane of the walls of the stomach and intestines.

With regular use of this medication, a pet may develop peptic ulcer or cirrhosis. Fluffy pets very quickly become addicted to the drug, while their nature and behavior change significantly - the animal becomes nervous and aggressive.

If valerian tablets were available to the cat, then, most likely, everything he found would be eaten by him. Excessive dosage will cause drug poisoning of the cat's body. This is manifested by increased salivation, vomiting, foam can go from the animal's mouth, and in addition, a convulsive syndrome can begin. This condition is dangerous because in convulsions the animal’s tongue can sink into the larynx and block the access of oxygen to the lungs.

With increased nervous excitability, the brain and the entire central nervous system of the animal’s body suffer very much. At that time, foci of excitation and inhibition occur in the cerebral cortex in a chaotic manner, which can lead to prolonged loss of consciousness or stroke.

It often happens that in an animal reflex respiratory arrest. After such an excessive test, the nervous system slows down and the cat falls into a prolonged sleep. In a dream, the state of functioning of the central nervous system stabilizes, the foci of excitation fade, and the neurotransmitter receptors in the brain come into a balanced state.

As for the benefit, then valerian can still be used for good purposes, but it is not at all necessary to give it to a cat or cat for internal use. For example, with the help of this tool, you can train an animal to sleep in a place designated for it. To do this, a few drops of valerian need to be dripped on the cat’s bed, and he will be happy to sleep there. If you have a problem how to teach a pet to the tray, then in this case, you can use a few drops of the drug.

In the same way, you can train your cat to sharpen its claws not on furniture, but use a scratching point for this.

The effect of valerian on cats from the use of tinctures is more pronounced. If the drug was accidentally spilled or the cat himself could reach it, then a puddle with alcohol drops will cause the animal's strongest interest.

Most likely, the cat or cat will begin to lick the tincture and wallow in it, and you will notice that the pet really likes it. After using the drug, the reaction in the animal will become very inadequate - the cat will be excited, he will have motor activity, the cat will run or bounce, in addition, the pet can meow loudly or make heart-rending sounds.

This disinhibiting effect on the cat’s brain is affected not only by valerian extract, but also alcohol, which is part of the drug. The animal inadequately perceives reality for 5-15 minutes and is in an altered mental and emotional state. Cats react in such a way that begin to intensely mark the territory, and females can ride on the floor in a state of euphoria.

Adult sexually mature cats love the smell of valerian, and if at this moment you try to take a bottle of medicine from your pet or try to drive the animal away from the puddle with the drug, then from the side of your furry friend you will unexpectedly encounter very violent and aggressive resistance. There is nothing surprising in this, because the influence of valerian essential oils is such that animals literally go crazy.

Under the influence of intoxicating components, your domestic cat can cause you very serious injury with its claws or teeth, not realizing what is happening.

Some owners of cats and cats believe that there will be nothing wrong if you give your pet a drink of valerian to calm it down. But do not underestimate the power of these drugs. The most dangerous of them is tincture - addiction to it begins after a single application. Your pet will walk around the house, meow heart-rendingly and look for this remedy, especially if somewhere nearby he can smell it.

The tablet form of the drug is less dangerous, but here it all depends on the dosage that the animal eats. However, even in small doses in cats, an inadequate dependence is established, and soon you will not recognize your beloved pet. All his attention will be given only to finding Valerian, and nothing else will be of no interest to him.

Sometimes, in very rare cases, the veterinarian may prescribe valerian to your pet, but only in the form of a decoction of a small concentration. Such a decoction can be prescribed for spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, for skin problems in the form of eczema, and also as a sedative. In this case, the dosage of the drug can only be correctly calculated by a specialist;

Nevertheless, most veterinarians believe that drugs with valerian do not bring any benefit to cats and cats, and in order not to cause irreparable harm to their furry friend, these medicines should always be kept out of the reach of the pet and, of course, you should not give these funds to your pet purposefully.

If you misuse the valerian medication, your pet may experience a loss of coordination in movement, impaired working functions of the front or hind limbs, and impaired vision or hearing. All these manifestations are consequences of hemorrhages in the animal’s brain, which often occur under the influence of valerian.

If the animal was able to survive a stroke, then the recovery period for it can take many months or even years, and a positive result may not come. After such difficult tests, the cat's nervous system can cause frequent malfunctions, and in addition, against this background, the beginning of the imbalance of the endocrine system is possible.

In addition to a stroke, under the influence of the stimulating action of essential oils in an animal, a malfunction of the heart can occur, and in the worst case scenario, a cat can develop a heart attack. With severe nervous excitement from large doses of the drug in adult cats, acute heart failure often occurs, which in a fairly short period of time can be fatal.

Often after drug poisoning with valerian, malfunctioning of important organs such as the liver and kidneys begins. And all these changes can occur after a single dose of valerian. It should be understood how catastrophic can be the consequences for your pet's body if such situations are repeated more than once.

About why cats and cats love valerian, see the next video.