Lemon balm, mint, and catnip are the members of the mint or Lamiaceae family that has 236 genera with over 7,000 species. Thus, being members of the same family, they share a lot of resemblance and family characteristics.
What herbs are related to catnip?
Catnip and its Alternatives
- Silver Vine (Actinidia polygama)
- Tatarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
- Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Is Lemon catnip the same as catnip?
Catnip is a large family of perennial plants from the mint family, growing in a range from 90cm – 1.4 meters. Lemon Catnip is very similar to the more common Catnip plant and is considered to be a sister plant.
What does lemon balm do for cats?
Lemon balm (Melissa officianlis)
This herb offers similar activities in the gut, and will induce a subtle calming effect. Science suggests lemon balm may also help slow an overactive thyroid — a problem suffered by many cats. In theory, the herb inhibits thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) uptake at TSH receptors.
What plant has the same effect as catnip?
There are some alternatives–plants such as silver vine, honeysuckle, and valerian have all been used to satisfy the feline sense of smell. Surprisingly, silver vine is the most effective of these plants, as more cats respond to its smell than even catnip.
What herbs make cats go crazy?
Catnip comes from the plant Nepeta cataria, a herbaceous member of the mint family native to Europe and Asia. When cats get a whiff of it, they seem compelled to sniff, lick and chew its flowers and leaves, rub their faces and bodies on the plant, roll around, shake their heads and drool.
What drug is catnip most like?
A human analog that causes similar effects [as catnip on cats], as in a comparable high, would be LSD or marijuana.
Is lemon balm toxic to cats?
Lemon balm, known scientifically as Melissa officinalis, is a non-toxic herb that can be used on dogs, cats, and even horses. As a supplement for your dog, lemon balm has many benefits that may help with several different conditions.
Are cats attracted to lemon balm?
Curry Herb and Lemon Balm Plants
Helichrysum Italicum (aka the Curry herb plant) and Lemon Balm plant are strongly disliked by most cats and are often purchased together by gardeners in the know to be planted in their borders.
Does lemon balm deter cats?
More plants that repel cats
Other plants that can protect your garden from cats are lemon balm, peppermint, mint, lemongrass, citronella, curry herb, and penny royal.
What herbs make cats sleepy?
Catnip. The key to using this herb to calm kitty is to administer it about 15 minutes before the stressful occurrence, just like valerian. Soon after, she’s done with running around the room at high speed, she will be worn out and settle down in a calm demeanor.
Is there a difference between catmint and catnip?
Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) is similar to catnip, but does not stimulate cats. It is a low-growing mounded plant with attractive, gray-green foliage.
What does lavender do to cats?
The lavender plant itself contains linalyl acetate and linalool. These substances can cause gastrointestinal upset in your cat. Even a diluted massage oil can lead to a mildly upset stomach, so try to avoid letting your cat get into lavender plants or anything that has been made from lavender.
What is the plant that cats love?
Catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is the most popular cat-pleasing plant, because about 80 percent of cats react with glee to contact with nepetalactone, found in catnip leaves and stems.
Is Lavender related to catnip?
We are growing more than lavender around here. Over the last couple of days we’ve harvested a lot of one of lavender’s cousins, catnip. Both these plants are in the lamiaceae family (mints are in that family, the members of this family have square stems).
What is related to catnip?
Other plants that have a catnip-like effect on cats include valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root and leaves; silver vine (Actinidia polygama), or matatabi, popular in Asia; and Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) wood.
What herbs attract cats to litter box?
The Top 6 Homemade Litter Attractants
- Catnip.
- Lemongrass.
- Cat Thyme.
- Valerian.
- Chamomile.
- Skullcap.
What drives cats crazy about catnip?
The main ingredient in catnip is called nepetalactone, that stimulates certain brain chemicals related to mood and happiness. This sense of euphoria has been compared to that of a hallucinogenic drug on humans.
Is celery like catnip?
Celery is very aromatic and the leaves can have the same effect as catnip. Though celery doesn’t have nepetalactone (the exciting chemical in catnip that makes cats drunk) but it has lactone sedanolid that is similar.
What plant makes cats hallucinate?
Catnip is a plant
Specifically, that plant is Nepeta cataria, a shrub in the mint family. It’s native to Europe and Asia but now grows wildly across the Americas as well, along roads and highways. The plant produces a chemical called nepetalactone in microscopic bulbs that coat its leaves, stems, and seedpods.
Can cats OD on catnip?
Be mindful of overindulgence though—cats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, but they can get sick if they eat too much. Trust your kitty to know when they’ve had enough.