Those people who have a cat or a cat at home have repeatedly observed that their pets react sharply to the smell of valerian tincture. This plant is also called cat root. Valerian, in most cases, causes a surge of tenderness in cats, they become affectionate, rub against their legs, beg for a treat, etc. Why do pets love valerian so much?
Tincture of valerian has a similar effect to a narcotic effect on felines, causing over time an addiction similar to alcohol, nicotine or narcotic. The valerian root contains a substance called actinidin, which is addictive. If you suddenly stop giving the cat a tincture of valerian, then the animal can become aggressive, behave inappropriately, and may even pounce on the owners. The consequences of excessive exposure to valerian on the animal's body will ultimately affect its health: diseases of the stomach, kidneys and liver of the purr may develop. In order not to bring it to completely extreme measures, it is better to keep the bottle of tincture away from your pet.
Speaking specifically about cats, the smell of valerian reminds them of the pheromones found in the urine of walking cats. Feeling the smell of valerian root, the sexual instinct awakens in cats. This version is confirmed by the following: kittens up to 3 months do not react to the smell of valerian, it is also indifferent to castrated cats. In cats, the reaction to valerian is similar, the smell reminds them of males, while stimulating the production of hormones that push them to mate.
The reaction to an alcoholic tincture of valerian is individual for each animal, but several basic patterns of behavior can be distinguished:
- immediately after consuming valerian, the cat may behave inappropriately, jump on furniture, tear the wallpaper, meow loudly, roll on the floor. Valerian is considered a hard drug for cats; there is a version that its use for medicinal purposes can lead to hallucinations in animals. After an attack of aggression, apathy usually sets in and cats become indifferent, in some cases the animal can fall asleep for 3 - 4 hours.
This medication is exclusively prescribed by a veterinarian for heart and gastrointestinal problems. It is necessary to give the animal the medicine exactly in the dosage prescribed by the doctor, otherwise there is a chance only to harm the pet. An overdose of valerian tincture puts cats to sleep for a long time, and in some cases the animals die.
