Valerian and cats

[dandysmom]

I was intrigued by MadCatLady's comments on valerian, and wanted more info....here's an interesting link, IMO. And yes, have ordered some valerian infused yarn balls for the Princess, who doesn't react to catnip.

http://www.catniptoys.com/valerian_faq.htm

[MadCatLady]

HaHa!!!
Be prepared she may go mental!!!!!

[jan]

I must have missed the original post but I had some valerian tea bags a few years ago and left the mug brewing on the side (it was foul by the way lol) and then I heard a crash and the mug was on the floor, valerian tea everywhere and Max looking very guilty on the work surface. Never thought anything of it til the next nyt and I again left a mug brewing, turned round to find Max rubbing up in exctasy against the mug (hence it having fallen the nyt before) and then I wafted a tea bag in front of all my four cats - they all went mental,rubbing up, delirious even. The empty box was put on the floor and at least two cats at a time were rubbing themselves all over the floor smelling the box! Never did buy any more tea bags, but catnip does nothing for them, let me know how you get on with your toys! Jx

[dandysmom]

That's very interesting, Jan, thanks for posting. I'm really curious to see how Leia will react; will definitely post!

Here's the link to MCL's post:

http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php?t=11944&page=7

[angieh]

That's very interesting Eileen - and thanks for posting the original link as I had missed that too.

Look forward to hearing what Leia thinks about Valerian.

[dandysmom]

Angie, have you plucked any catnip from the hanging basket yet for Kizzy?

[pookyandjo]

Originally Posted by dandysmom

I was intrigued by MadCatLady's comments on valerian, and wanted more info....here's an interesting link, IMO. And yes, have ordered some valerian infused yarn balls for the Princess, who doesn't react to catnip.

http://www.catniptoys.com/valerian_faq.htm

this is an interesting link..... what i find amazing is the analogy between the smell of valerian as percieved by humans... "it smells a bit like smelly socks"

George isn't the slightest bit interested in catnip.... but give him some smelly shoes... and he'goes off the planet!!

no one in our family suffers with smelly feet but that doesn't stop george rubbing his face against our bare feet when ever he has the chance...more so after our feet have been in shoes... but then again i suppose their sense of smell is so much more acute than ours is...i will have to see what i can find out about valerian here.. but i have to say that ive not seen it anything purporting to be a substitute for catnip... and i have looked due to George and Tinky not taking an interest..i haven't tried Harri as ive read that kittens often dont react anyway

[dinahsmum]

I'd vever heard of valerian having a 'catnip effect' on cats either.
I'm not sure what kind of valerian it is - not the one which I have growing in my hanging basket anyway. That is a trailing plant, which grey-green vaguely nettle like small leaves and which comes in various colours and white.

Scullcap and valerian tablets proved quite calming for Ches a while back, after his first brief fright/disappearance.

[dandysmom]

DM, I too wondered if the garden valerian was different from the medicinal one; did a search and it seems they are one and the same. I found this link interesting...

http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbValerian.htm

[pinklizzy]

I got a valerian cat toy for Imogen at the cat show last year, it really does smell bad! She was fairly interested in it but nowhere near as much as she loves her catnip mice.