11/21/2023 0 Comments Cat mint for catsUsually, the behaviors associated with smelling catnip will last for around 10 minutes and then wear off gradually. How Long Does Catnip Last?Ĭatnip effects will vary in length, depending on the cat. There is also evidence that a cat’s response to catnip is a dominant trait that’s based on genetics. If your cat does not react to catnip, you can try silver vine. Veterinary studies suggest that about 60% of cats will have a behavioral reaction to catnip. Not all cats will respond to the active compound in catnip. Some veterinarians have recommended using catnip to help with separation anxiety if your cat will be home alone for an extended period of time. Other cats will display active behaviors, such as playfulness or sometimes even aggression.įor cats that have a positive experience with catnip, it can help reduce anxiety and even relieve pain. These behaviors can include overt signs of affection, relaxation, and happiness. F or a cat to be exposed to this substance, they have to smell the catnip.Ĭatnip mimics feline sex hormones, so cats enjoying this substance will often display behaviors similar to a female cat in heat (although both male and female cats can experience the effects). Nepetalactone is the oil that’s found within the catnip plant’s leaves that can cause behavioral changes in cats. ![]() This special pathway allows scents that are collected in the nose and mouth to be carried to the brain. It's unusual because it's hardy only in Zones 6 to 10.What Does Catnip Do to Cats? How Does Catnip Work?Ĭats have an extra scent organ called the vomeronasal gland in the roof of their mouth. The big, purple-blue flowers open from summer into fall. 'Purple Haze' ( Nepeta) - Maturing at just 4 inches tall with a 30-inch spread, this catmint forms a silvery mat that you can use as a groundcover, on banks, in rock gardens or in the fronts of borders. 'Whispurr Blue' ( Nepeta x faassenii 'Balpurrlu') - At 24 to 28 inches tall and up to 22 inches wide, this variety has lilac-purple catmint flowers that open in late spring. It matures at 14 to 16 inches tall and spreads 30 to 36 inches wide. ![]() It's a sterile, dwarf variety for Zones 5 to 9. 'Junior Walker' ( Nepeta x faassenii 'Novanepjun') - Finely textured, gray-green foliage and soft lavender blooms make this catmint a standout. Recommended for Zones 3 to 8, it grows 17 to 20 inches high and spreads 24 to 36 inches. It forms spreading mounds and works nicely in containers and mass plantings. 'Cat's Meow' ( Nepeta faassenii) - 'Cat's Meow' has deep lavender-blue catmint flowers and upright stems that resist flopping. Watch for the blooms to appear from summer to early fall the plants may rebloom if they're cut back. It matures 12 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 24 wide. 'Alba' ( Nepeta faassenii 'Alba') - Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, grow this variety for its white catmint flowers and heart-shaped leaves. ![]() It reaches about 24 inches tall with a 24- to 36-inch spread. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, it's a sterile variety. 'Walker's Low' ( Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low') - This variety has periwinkle blue flowers from late spring to late summer and forms compact mounds of gray-green, heart-shaped leaves. Shear it after the flowers finish for a repeat show. Its deep violet-blue blooms don't produce seeds and open from early to late summer. 'Six Hills Giant' ( Nepeta) - This is one of the tallest catmints, growing to 3 feet in Zones 3 to 8. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, it has big, green leaves and violet-blue blooms in the summertime. ![]() 'Neptune' ( Nepeta kubanica 'Bokratune') - Pollinators love this new dwarf catmint, which grows to 14 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Grow this catmint flower in Zones 4 to 9. The mounds stay compact, reaching just 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide, so you can use them in beds, borders or containers. 'Pink Cat' ( Nepeta nervosa 'Pink Cat') - Prefer a pink catmint flower? This plant produces lots of them on spikes that rise above mounds of dark green foliage. Its seeds are sterile, but you can propagate the plants, which are hardy in Zones 3 to 8, by division. 'Blue Wonder' ( Nepeta racemosa) - At 9 to 18 inches high and 12 to 18 inches wide, 'Blue Wonder' is a spreading, clumping variety with blue flowers and gray-green leaves.
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