Catnip Benefits: Catnip vs Silvervine, How to Use It

Ever caught me rolling on the floor, drooling with bliss and purring like a tractor engine in front of a simple tuft of grass? Welcome to the wonderful world of cat grass. But heads up: hiding behind that name are TWO very different things, and mixing them up is the number one drama for well-meaning humans. Let me set the record straight.

Cat grass ≠ cat grass: the big mix-up

There are two “cat grasses” that have nothing to do with each other:

• 🌿 Catnip (Nepeta cataria): the euphoric plant. This is the one that sends me into a trance. We sniff it, we roll in it, we float for 10 minutes.
• 🌱 The “edible” cat grass (young shoots of barley, wheat, oat): the kind we graze on for digestion. We eat it, and it helps clear out the hair.

Catnip: why it drives me wild

Catnip contains a molecule, nepetalactone, which binds to my scent receptors and triggers a harmless burst of euphoria: I roll around, rub my head, swat at thin air and purr. The effect lasts 5 to 15 minutes, followed by a window where I stop reacting to it (the time my receptors need to “recharge”).

• About 30% of cats don’t react to it at all, it’s genetic, nothing to worry about
• Kittens under 3 to 6 months are usually unaffected
• No risk of dependency, no toxicity

How to use it

Some organic dried catnip – Amazon sprinkled on my scratching post makes it irresistible (great for steering my claws away from your sofa). Tucked into a matatabi chew sticks – Amazon, it revives my interest in games I’d been snubbing. All my favourite toys are in my selection of natural toys.

Alternatives to catnip

If I’m one of the 30% who don’t respond, all is not lost:

• Silvervine (matatabi): often more powerful than catnip, it works on some of the cats that catnip leaves cold. Worth a try with silvervine sticks – Amazon.
• Valerian and Tatarian honeysuckle: two other natural triggers. I cover all of this in my anti-stress guide.

Cereal grass: grazing for better digestion

This grass, I eat on purpose. It gives me fibre that helps things move along and helps me bring up the hair I swallow while grooming, a real plus against hairballs.

A grow-your-own cat grass kit – Amazon costs next to nothing and gives me a little patch of green all to myself. Bonus: it keeps me away from your houseplants, some of which are dangerous for me.

In short

Catnip to let off steam and redirect my claws, silvervine if I’m immune to catnip, cereal grass for my digestion: three natural plants, zero danger, plenty of feline happiness. Always keep some within paw’s reach, it’s the cheapest enrichment in the world.

Purrs, Sachat 🐾