Maggi Pier

How to Know if Cats Are Playing or Fighting

Do you have two cats that aren’t getting along? there could be a multitude of reasons why your cats are fighting, and you need to find out why it’s happening before you can solve the problem.

I will explain the various reasons why some cats don’t get along with each other and offer solutions to help you bring peace to your household. Note
all cat fights are not the same. Sometimes what looks like a cat fight may actually be normal playing. This is more common with younger cats, but it can happen at any age. Cats will chase each other around the house, tackle each other, and fight like little wrestlers on the floor. It can sometimes get pretty intense, but, as long as they’re not crying out in pain, there’s no need to break them up.

Aggression: some cats can be aggressive by nature. Male cats are especially aggressive and these cats keep fighting. Sometimes, they also dominate female cats. Your cat may need to act out their aggression by picking fights with their brothers and sisters or by causing a fight with a strange cat. Rough play: sometimes cats can be playing and it can get rough. Cats are rough when they play – this may look like aggression and fighting, but it is not. Still, such play could escalate into a fight or cause harm to both or one of the cats. In such cases, it is best to separate your cats if you can do so safely.

What does it mean if my cat is staying up late at night?
have you ever wondered if your cat was secretly fighting crime at night? most cats walk, play, and eat during the night. This is normal, as cats are inherently nocturnal. But if you’re a light sleeper, this can become a problem. To encourage your cat to sleep throughout the night, you can try to tire them out as much as possible during the day. Enrich your cat’s life by playing with them and keep them stimulated with scratching posts, cat trees, and food puzzles filled with low-calorie cat treats !.

How to Stop Cats Fighting

Sometimes, when your cat is wandering outside, they could be attacked by another cat. These attacks can be systematic: owners have stories of a single cat that keeps fighting their cat every time they go outside.

This is especially worrying if your cat is mild-mannered and gentle, and is unlikely to fight back. The injuries from these fights can require several trips to the vet and can be worrying. The best solution for how to stop cats from fighting in this situation is to keep your cat indoors. Letting them out after dark can be especially dangerous.

Cats screaming while playing
You need to show your feminine yet playful side.  A dream of cats is a link to your feminine side and is associated with females. 4 years ago. It’s something that benefits cats, starting in kittenhood and extending all the way through the geriatric years. 3. Heather started walking dogs in 2006 while completing her master’s degree in education. These are very audible indications that your cat may be unhappy. Newport your cat’s lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem that’s causing pain or discomfort. There are about 100 different cat noises, which our feline friends mix and match to talk to us.

Cats fight over territory more than anything else. Even if you moved into a new, bigger house, the pair would still fight; so what can you do?
as it turns out, you have a few options. One is to provide both cats with their own small space. That means giving each cat its own bed in its own part of the house. The more each cat sleeps in its own bed, the more its pheromonal scent congregates there, giving it its own distinct part of the home. This may not work since cats don’t always use the beds we buy for them, but if they do, then this may be enough to stop the pair fighting.

Why do cats fight?

Playing with your cat provides numerous benefits; it fights obesity , limits boredom , and solves cat behavior problems. Besides, many cat owners claim that playing with their cats is fun if the cat plays along, that is. Unfortunately, not all cats are equally enthusiastic about playing. Some cats love to follow toys with their gaze but never jump on them. Some do play, but only on tuesdays, while others do not really seem to care at all. In this article, you will learn how to get a lazy cat to play with toys.

Watching your cats fighting can be heart-breaking; here are two animals that you adore and they are hurting each other! while your first instinct might be to jump in and separate them, do be careful. Cats can be aggressive they are worked up like this, and you may get a lot of scratches for your efforts. We suggest trying to gently separate them, as long as you are sure you are not in harms way.

Cat vocalizations have been categorized according to a range of characteristics. Originally suggested by mildred moelk, cat sounds are often still divided into the three main classes
Sounds produced with the mouth closed, the murmurs (purring, trilling)
Sounds produced when the mouth is first opened and then gradually closed (meowing, howling, yowling)
Sounds produced with the mouth held tensely open in the same position (growls, snarls, hisses, spits, chattering, and chirping). In 1944, moelk published the first phonetic study of cat sounds. She listened very carefully to her own cats and organized their sounds into 16 phonetic patterns divided into three main categories. She also used a phonetic alphabet to transcribe or write down the different sounds. She claimed cats had six different forms of meows, to represent friendliness, confidence, dissatisfaction, anger, fear and pain.

What do you do if your cats are fighting?

If your cats are still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase (the first few months after a new cat has been brought into the home) and are doing the kind of play fighting described above, don’t worry. They’re probably battling for the alpha cat position in the household. This happened with my two cats after they met. The play fighting went on for about two or three months. They had a good fight almost every day. Gradually, that tapered off, and they began getting along much better.

There are also other ways as to how to stop cats from fighting:
if distraction doesn’t work, another gentle but effective way to stop a fight is to use a water spray bottle to emit a fine mist of water. This will help them to pause for thought without being too scary. The most important thing to remember when stepping in to halt the fighting is: don’t get hurt and don’t make you cat(s) more stressed/scared with the techniques used. So don’t be aggressive towards your cat, and don’t use heavy-handed techniques.

In 1944, moelk published the first phonetic study of cat sounds. She listened very carefully to her own cats and organized their sounds into 16 phonetic patterns divided into three main categories. She also used a phonetic alphabet to transcribe or write down the different sounds. She claimed cats had six different forms of meows, to represent friendliness, confidence, dissatisfaction, anger, fear and pain. Moelk classified eight other sounds involved in mating and fighting by listening to the animals in her yard and on the street.

What do you do if another cat is fighting yours?

Although cat biting will often just be a warning nip or over-excited play, it can sometimes become an expression of aggression. Biting during play is fairly easy to distinguish from aggressive behaviour these little nips won’t cause much damage, and are over quickly. Aggressive cat biting is accompanied by other signs that your cat is in a fighting mode, whether this is directed towards a person or another animal.

If your cat keeps fighting, whether with other cats in your house or with strange cats from the neighbourhood, you may need a more permanent solution. A cat that always gets into fights may be suffering from excess aggression or they may simply have poor socialisation skills. Here are some leads on how to help your cat for the long term.  Cats often fight because they have excess aggression. This aggression can be a symptom of an illness that you are not aware of. Take them to the vet and get them checked out. Your vet will be able to advise you on how to proceed.

Redirected aggression occurs when a human attempts to handle a cat that is aroused by something unrelated to the person, e. g. The dog has been chasing the cat or the cat is fighting with another cat. Typically, redirected aggression starts when a cat sees another cat outside or smells another cat and becomes aggressive (territorial aggression), but can’t directly interact with the outside cat. She will then redirect the aggression to another cat in the household or a person.

Fighting or Playing? How can you tell?

Make sure each cat has plenty of his or her own space. This means putting their food and water bowls, litter boxes, and beds in separate areas. Have plenty of their favorite cat toys around to distract them from fighting. Make the time they spend together as pleasant as possible. Encourage fun activities, such as playing or giving each one a treat.

The following post was originally written by fellow cat veterinarian dr. Colleen currigan of cat hospital of chicago. How about in your household? are your cats fighting or playing?
Even when it is not necessarily perceived as problematic, it is quite common to hear cat owners casually comment that my cats fight all the time. But are they really fighting or are they simply just playing?.

You need to show your feminine yet playful side.  A dream of cats is a link to your feminine side and is associated with females.  It’s something that benefits cats, starting in kittenhood and extending all the way through the geriatric years.  Heather started walking dogs in 2006 while completing her master’s degree in education. These are very audible indications that your cat may be unhappy. Newport your cat’s lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem that’s causing pain or discomfort. There are about 100 different cat noises, which our feline friends mix and match to talk to us. Just some random video that wasn’t on youtube during the time.

Signs That Show If My Cat Is Playing or Fighting

Watching a pair of cats playing with each other and wrestling can be truly adorable. However, if you’re not used to cat behavior, it’s possible to miss the signs that this play fighting may be less than friendly and you need to intervene.

One of the biggest mistakes a pet owner can make is to assume that when one animal is ready to play, the other is too. Playing is an important way for alliances and socialization to take place for cats and dogs, but both animals have to be willing to take part. For example, you might have a kitten who just wants to play with an older dog, a great sign from your cat, but if your dog shows any signs of frustration or tries to get away and cannot, this can lead to some problem confrontations. The reverse is equally as true.

The same types of behavior cues for two cats or kittens fighting or playing can also be used when it’s a human and a cat in the equation. If your cat has loose, relaxed body language with fur laying normally against his body and he is not hissing or growling, he is likely having a good time playing with you. On the other hand, if his body language is stiff, he is showing teeth and claws and growling and his fur is standing up along his back, this is a cat that is not happy with you and may become more aggressive if the situation is not addressed.

Signs Your Cats Are Playing or Fighting

Associated applied animal behaviorist katenna jones says that sound is a good way to tell if cats are playing or fighting. if it’s quiet, it’s most likely play. If there’s growling, it’s most likely not.  if there is nothing other than the occasional meow or chirp, this means your cats are probably having fun. If you hear more stressed or aggressive sounds like yowls, hissing or screaming, you definitely have a fight on your hands.

The tired old saying, fighting like cats and dogs tends to be rooted in fact. After all, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? yet, we have also seen examples of a dog cat kinship that is as tender and loving as any friendship. The most recent statistics from the american veterinary medical association report that 44 per cent of U.S. Pet owners have multiple-pet households, and the most common combinations include dogs and cats in the mix. Since this combination is the most likely, it’s important to know how to handle the situation if the family pets aren’t playing well together.

Another clear sign cats are playing is that they will take turns being the lead in wrestling or chasing games. They may also separate for a few seconds and then start up again. If you notice during play that one cat is always the chaser and wrestler, this may be a sign of concern, but if the other cat seems willing to engage then just keep an eye on them to make sure both cats are having fun. You know when cats are fighting because a cat that is involved in a fight will either continue fighting to defend itself or attempt to run away and hide to get free of the more aggressive cat.

Cats Playing or Fighting With Humans

Finally, it is very unlikely that two cats that do not know each other will play with each other. It’s normal for cats within the same social group to enjoy playing but a cat is more likely to treat a cat new to them as a threat and at the very least get away from it, if not engage in fighting. Even a cat brand new to the household will be treated this way.

Especially if you have just adopted your cat, they may need time to settle in before they start playing. If the cat has not socialized well as a kitten, they may be fearful of the home, other pets, or humans. If this is the case, your cat may need extra time to warm up to their new environment. Cats may stop playing if there is a change in their environment. This includes moving to a new home, new pet, new child, or even moving furniture around. Cats are very sensitive to their environment and will need to acclimate after any major changes.

The kids scream all day long while playing in their blow up pool and their cats are using my flower beds as their personal litter box. If your cat is accidentally locked in a closet or other area that he can’t find his way out of, he may scream.

Understanding Cat Play and Fighting Behavior

It’s perfectly normal to see cats tussling around your floor or chasing each other along the furniture and up a cat tree. Playtime is a healthy behavior for kittens and adult cats. Normal play behavior can include cats wrestling with each other, chasing each other and appearing to jump and attack each other, all of which are natural hunting behaviors expressed for sheer enjoyment. However sometimes play can escalate if one or both cats become over stimulated, or startled or you may see two cats fighting where it’s clear they were aggressive with each other from the start.

Now that you’ve gained a better understanding of what a fighting cat looks like, let’s look at what a playing cat looks like. As you’ll see, there are many overlaps between the two, but there are also distinct differences. As with a fighting cat, it’s a combination of these that indicate when a cat is playing.

Playful Biting and Scratching

The junior stage ranges from 6 months to 2 years. At this stage, behavior often shifts from playful exploration to aggressive boundary testing. This age is where your cat begins to reach sexual maturity. It is important to engage your cat in mental and physical enrichment and play. Invest in toys that stimulate and help their primal instincts of hunting and stalking. Although you will want to use your hands or feet as a ‘toy’ it is important not to encourage scratching and biting. As your cat grows, it will assume this is appropriate play behavior.

When kittens are still in their litter, they love a rough and tumble with their siblings it is their way of socialising, playing and testing boundaries, but it can involve playful biting and scratching, as they learn not to hurt each other. If they play with us this way though it can be painful on human hands and fingers!
for this reason, although this play behaviour is natural between kittens, it should be discouraged before your cute kitty gets older and their bite gets stronger and more painful!.

A biting and scratching bengal can seem quite aggressive at first, even if they’re playing. When a muscular, wild-looking cat comes running at you, it’s naturally very intimidating. However, bengal cats are not as aggressive as they may seem. They’re not any more aggressive than your average house cat. Bengals are known to be sweet, loving creatures. As a breed, bengal cats need vigorous exercise and frequent human interaction. As they are usually friendly, social, and playful, they will want to play with you how they play with other cats claws and all.

If you have been using your hands to play with your cat, you may want to switch to another style, as cats can become overstimulated by our actions. When cats become overstimulated, they typically act in a defensive manner by swatting or biting. Try a string teaser type of toy, instead of your hands. If you are playing with a string toy, try to mimic how the cat’s prey would move. Create scurrying and stop behaviors of a mouse or simulate flying and landing like a bird. Play around with the speed and how long the “hunt” is before they catch it.

If your cat is biting you during play, avoid punishing the cat as this will only make your cat fearful of you and possibly aggressive. Calmly move the cat off by distracting them with a toy or a treat. Wand toys that move the cat further away from your hands are perfect for this task. Reward the cat for moving away from your hands with whatever he enjoys most such as treats, play or a brushing. Never pull your hands away from a cat that is play biting as this may overstimulate him and cause him to either bite and scratch more or bite down harder. Remember that your cat hasn’t learned to play properly and it’s your job to teach him gently what will give him rewards and which behaviors will not.

One of the most common types of aggression is play aggression. Vigorous play in cats is part of normal cat behaviour. These cats are usually young, energetic cats living as single cats in a household and sometimes have a history of being taken early from their mother and siblings. Often, owners contribute to the problem by playing roughly with the cat when it is a little kitten, rewarding it for biting and clawing by continuing the play.

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Training Your Kitten to Use the Litter Box

In fact, this is not a step in litter training a feral kitten. It is more of an act on how to train a stray cat to be a house cat. In this step, what you need to do is to keep your home cosy for your cat to freely play around. You can spray cat pheromones or place toys to make him or her feel comfortable inside your house.

This page may contain affiliate links, for which we earn a commission for qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you, but it helps fund the free education that we have on our website. Read more here. If you’ve already read through 101 essential tips for kittens and new cats: health & safety, then you’ll know I’m not a fan of toilet training cats. Don’t confuse this with litter box (a. K. A. Potty) training, which is where I am a huge fan. What I’m saying is that training your cat to use an actual toilet is typically not a good idea.

How to Litter Train a Kitten

Just like their big cat cousins, your little kitten prefers to go to the toilet in privacy. That’s why it’s important to keep their litter tray in a quiet, safe, place where they can get to it easily and use it without anybody watching. Noticing when they want to go
you’ll need to train your kitten in how to use their tray. This is simple: just lift them into the tray as soon as you see that they want to go. You can also help by placing them in the tray early in the morning, the last thing at night and after every meal. Keep doing this until your kitten can find the litter tray for themselves by smell and location.

Cats are delicate creatures. Litter training is an important part of a cat’s life. Litter training is a straight forward process and most cats go through this easily. If you are a proud cat parent, then you should not worry about the litter training. Kittens are almost trained by their mothers on how to use a litter box. However, if you need any guidance this article can help you. How can you train a kitten to use the litter box?.

Before starting the litter training there is some equipment that you need. Litter boxes if you are thinking of buying a litter box then buy according to the size of your kitten. Your kitten will not use the litter box if it is too small. The best practice is to introduce a large litter box from a young age because kitten will get an adult and her size will increase also. Moreover, they will continue to use the same litter box as they grow old without any disruption.

Litter Training Older Cats

Sure, there are a few toilet training kits for cats out there, and no shortage of cute and/or funny videos of cats using a toilet. So it might be tempting, or seem “natural” to teach your cat how to “go” in the toilet. Especially if you don’t want to clean a litter box, you live in a tiny apartment, or just because the thought of a cat perched above the bowl seems oddly entertaining to you.

Equally important is the placement. Kittens tend to be drawn to corners or other areas away from their main home base, so start by placing the litter box in a corner that is clean from clutter. A puppy pad placed under the box will make clean-up easier, as they can be messy learners. When litter training kittens, you want to make it extremely easy for them to find a litter box at all times. Kittens have a natural drive to cover their waste and will look for the most convenient space to do so. This means you’ll want to keep them near a box throughout the duration of their transition and avoid providing any messy areas such as piles of laundry where the kitten might develop bad habits.

When litter training kittens, you want to make it extremely easy for them to find a litter box at all times. Kittens have a natural drive to cover their waste and will look for the most convenient space to do so. This means you’ll want to keep them near a box throughout the duration of their transition and avoid providing any messy areas such as piles of laundry where the kitten might develop bad habits. Ideally, a 3-8 week old kitten learning to use a box should be confined to one room so that they can easily find the litter box at all times. For older kittens acclimating to a larger space, it’s best to offer multiple options so that the kitten is always within 10 feet of a litter box.

Using Positive Reinforcement when Training Your Kitten

Kittens do well with positive reinforcement–not punishment. Provide praise when kittens use the box correctly!
if the kitten uses an area outside of the box, immediately clean and disinfect the area to avoid scent soaking or scent associations. If the kitten is using bedding or laundry, keep these items off the floor. If a kitten is frequently using the same location, place a litter box in the location. In some cases, switching to a new litter or using a product like a kitten attract can help kittens who are truly struggling to understand the box.

Once your cat actually goes in the litter box, you may want to consider rewarding with a feline-friendly treat. Positive reinforcement is always encouraging. Note that after you’ve coaxed her to potty in the litter, you want to make sure she’s burying it (you’ll appreciate it, and so will she). If she doesn’t do it automatically, you’ll need to show her how by burying it for her with a few fingers. Always remember to wash thoroughly after your training sessions.

After all your hard
work and efforts litter training your cat, it can be frustrating and disheartening if they have an accident. But remember, even fully-trained adult cats may have an accident from time to time. And punishing them will not stop it from happening again. In fact, they may not even understand what they are being punished for. Be sure to continue
rewarding your kitty for positive behaviour to keep their training consistent for an example of some catnip. There are a number of reasons that your kitten may start to have accidents.

Techniques for Obedience Training Your Kitten

Establishing good litter box behaviours early on in your cat’s life is essential to the long-term health and happiness of your home. Teaching kittens to use the litter box is one of the first training exercises for new kitten parents. Luckily, using the litter box comes naturally to most kittens, and with a few tips and techniques, your young feline will establish proper litter box behaviours in no time. “cats are typically happy to use a litter box because they like privacy for bathroom habits and are accustomed to a sandy surface (or similar) to go to the bathroom,” says Dr Stephanie Liff, veterinarian and owner of pure paws veterinary care in new york city.

Steps to Start Behavior Training Your Kitten

To learn how to litter train a kitten, follow these steps:
1. Pick the right litter box.
Choosing the best litter box for your cat is the first step to successful litter behaviours. Kittens are tiny, so pet parents can start with a small litter box that will accommodate their new feline companion and gradually work up to a larger box as their pet grows. Cats should be able to stand up, turn around and squat comfortably without touching the sides of the box. Look for a litter box that is easy for cats to enter so that there are no barriers to getting into the box.

Kittens are extremely intelligent animals so as long as you get them started with toilet training right away, you should have them fully trained in no time. Here are five important steps to follow if you want to make sure your kitten’s toilet training goes smoothly.

Steps for Command Training Your Kitten

If you’ve recently got a new kitten or are trying to teach an older cat how to use the tray, follow these 3 simple steps for litter training.

Litter training your kitten is great because it means you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any cat mess in your house. The other plus side is that you don’t come across it when weeding your beautiful flower beds. In this section we will go through the steps you can take if your kitten or cat isn’t using their litter tray properly. A lot of kittens will be litter trained when you get them because they have learnt how to use a litter tray by watching their mother and siblings. If you haven’t already read our page on litter, litter trays and litter tray positioning then find it here.

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On This Page

1. Why Cats Love Catnip?
2. Fertilizing The Catnip Plant
3. Pests and Plant Diseases
4. Uses For The Catnip Herb
5. How can I grow catnip at home?
6. Buying catnip for cats
7. Growing catnip from seed
8. What are catnip’s growing needs?
9. Harvesting and storing catnip
10. Plants like catnip and cat mint should be the first choice for gardeners with cats – and you can grow catnip yourself at home!
11. Catnip Plant, Nepeta cataria – How to Grow and Care
12. Aster Plant Care – How to Grow and Care for this Flower

Why Cats Love Catnip?

Cats love catnip. This fact is well-known across the globe and throughout time, suspected of even reaching as far back as ancient Egyptian culture.

While cats and catnip have a long history together, how much do cat lovers really know about this perennial plant?
we know cats go crazy for the fragrant herb and the resulting euphoria provides hilarious entertainment but did you know not all cats react to catnip? or the reactions can vary from cat to cat?.

Plant catnip in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. You’ll want to plant it in an area where your cats can roll in it without damaging neighbouring plants. Space catnip plants 18 to 24 inches apart in a very sunny area with fertile, well-drained soil. Give your native soil some nutrient love by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Check the soil often and water when the top inch of soil becomes dry.

Catnip can enhance a cat’s hunger. As an appetite stimulant that also encourages cats to get frisky and exercise, catnip will probably send your cat in search of snacks after the high wears off. After curing his case of the munchies, your kitty man will most likely crash for a nap too.

Fertilizing The Catnip Plant

Feed catnip with a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks. Begin fertilizing the soil two weeks after planting and continue until the first week of the summer season. Suspend fertilizing during fall and winter as the plants will not use the nutrients.

Follow instructions on the label for proper application.

Heaping mulch around plants too early in the winter or not removing the extra layers at the end of winter can do more harm than good. A heavy layer of mulch keeps the sun from warming the soil during the periods when the ground isn’t frozen. On the other end of the spectrum, putting glass or plastic over the crown can cause heat stress in warm weather. Finally, avoid fertilizing catnip in late fall or in winter. Feeding plants — especially with nitrogen-rich fertilizer — encourages new stem growth, which makes the entire plant more vulnerable to winterkill.

Pests and Plant Diseases

Catnip has a tendency to be susceptible to
whiteflies and spider mites, but cases of infestation are rare, and there are
no other common pest issues or diseases involving catnip. The main bugs that catnip is known to attract to your garden area are insects that benefit your garden, such as bees and butterflies, which will help to pollinate your plants, as well as predatory insects that will make a meal of any other pests in the vicinity.

Pests: catnip rarely suffers from insect pests, but cats may nibble its leaves and can crush young plants. A spray of catnip and water will deter Colorado potato beetles. Diseases: catnip can be attacked by fungal diseases including anthracnose and rust. Avoid overhead watering; space plants so that there is plenty of air circulation. Catnip can suffer root rot in wet soil; let the soil dry out between waterings.

Uses For The Catnip Herb

Catnip is a herb native to Eurasia. It’s a member of the mint family, closely related to spearmint and peppermint, and it has a long medicinal history for humans. It’s also known as catnip, catmint, catrup and catswort. All felines, including mountain lions, are attracted to catnip. They’ll roll around in catnip plants, rub against them and sometimes chew on them. Cats are more likely to eat fresh catnip leaves, although dried catnip consumption is also common.

Catnip propagates easily from both leaf-tip cuttings and seeds. To take a cutting, simply remove a small piece of new growth early in the growing season and pot it up a new pot of sterile potting soil. give it plenty of moisture and filtered light until new growth emerges. Catnip is also a common herb sold in garden centres, so you can always buy new seedlings and put them in larger pots until it’s time to discard the plant.

A fluffy green plant with heart-shaped leaves and scalloped edges native to the Eurasian continents but now grown worldwide, catnip (nepeta cataria) is in great demand for cat parents who want to please their kitties. As the plant is part of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, its related to other savoury herbs such as rosemary, sage, oregano, and basil. Catnip leaves and stems contain a fragrant oil responsible for getting cats ‘high’.

How can I grow catnip at home?

Catnip is well known for the euphoric effect that it can have on cats. You’ve probably bought dried catnip from the store to amuse your cat, but did you know that it’s easy to grow organic catnip at home?
catnip is a hardy herb that can withstand dry spells and varied temperatures. Catnip can grow in full sun or partial shade. Growing it at home adds beauty to your yard and provides a constant source of fun for your cat.

Check out this video for a tutorial on how to grow catnip in your home garden, both for the benefit of your own health and the wellbeing of your cats:
watch this video to learn how to plant and germinate catnip by seed:
this video dives into the science behind catnip, a favourite herb of many cats, and it also answers the question, “what does catnip do to cats?”.

Let’s learn more about why growing your own catnip is a great option and how you can get started growing catnip at home. Quick navigation
disclaimer: some of the products recommended in this post have affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we’ll receive a small commission, but it won’t cost you any extra. Thank you!.

Buying catnip for cats

Wondering how to grow catnip? for the past several years, we’ve grown catnip for our cats, drying the leaves for use in toys. It’s easy and fun; the plant takes very little work. I always grow our catnip from seeds but you can also buy small catnip plants. I like buying the seeds since I know the plant hasn’t been treated with any kind of chemicals.

Cats seem to love catnip. Why? catnip produces nepetalactone oil which is like an aphrodisiac for cats. Catnip is a tall herb, resembling mint, with greyish-green leaves and white flowers. Catnip can grow to be 50-100 centimetres tall which makes it the perfect feline companion. Cats love fresh catnip is most loved by cats and it is so easy to grow
first, take a trip to your local pet or garden store. You can either buy catnip seeds or buy baby plants. Buying a plant makes life easier because it is already strong.

Growing catnip from seed

Growing a meadow of catnip for your kitty is pretty simple!
when choosing what to plant for your cat, be sure you select seeds or plants of the right nepeta. Garden & happy explains, “catnip (nepeta cataria) usually refers to the herb, whereas catmint (nepeta mussinii) is more ornamental and less attractive to cats. ”@toomanyfuzzylumpkins/Instagram
in the springtime, plant seeds or plant starts in a sunny location after all danger of frost has passed. And be warned, catnip plants can spread easily. Standing up to 3 or 4 feet tall, the plant takes up some room, so be sure you place seeds and starts around two feet apart when planting.

Catnip is a perennial that generally grows to 2 to 3 feet when planted outdoors. Indoors, providing you give it enough light and water, it’s conceivable you’ll get a 2-foot plant, but in reality, indoor catnip doesn’t have the potency of outdoor catnip and it seems more reasonable to grow plants for a single growing season, then replace them either through sowing new seeds or cuttings. If you do want to re-pot a smaller catnip, go up one pot size and use fresh soil, being careful not to damage the roots.

Do you worry a lot about where your cat’s food came from? if sourcing is important to you, then growing your own catnip is an obvious choice. A lot of commercially available catnip is grown organically, meaning it was grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Sometimes that isn’t enough—you’d rather know exactly how your catnip was grown from seed to plant. If you grow your own catnip, you’ll know exactly how it was grown and won’t have to worry.

What are catnip’s growing needs?

Select a container that is a minimum of 8 inches deep and wide. This will provide enough room for the plant to grow and thrive. Once the plant outgrows the current pot, repot it to one or two sizes bigger pot (10 to 12 inches). During repotting, divide its rootball into two sections and plant them into separate pots to have more catnips. Quick tips
if you’re growing this herb for your furry friend, select a wider pot, and grow several plants together.

Introduction to growing catnip in pots
the catnip plant is grown for its leaves that are used for making medicinal preparations like herbal tea. The catnip plant is also called the nepeta plant. The catnip plant is a hardy, low-maintenance plant. It grows up to 4-feet tall. Catnips are used for creating contrasting landscaping due to their compact, perennial green foliage. The seasonal bloom consists of bright and purple flowers. Growing catnips indoors is very easy. It can be grown in containers and requires little maintenance. In this article, we also discuss below topics.

Harvesting and storing catnip

Growing: catnip does very well in containers, raised beds, or borders in full sun to partial shade. Cutting just above a joint, or where a leaf or leaves spring from the stalk, will promote more rapid new growth. Growing catnip plants: catnip can be grown in garden beds or pots. Any average, well-drained soil. When you’re ready to harvest, choose a dry day and remove only flowering catnip. Known for its ability to trigger a “high” in cats, catnip has been attracting cats for more than two documented centuries. Dry catnip by trimming the leaves off of stems and laying them on a paper towel beneath a sunlit window for 2-3 days. Your email address will not be published.

Plants like catnip and catmint should be the first choice for gardeners with cats – and you can grow catnip yourself at home!

It grew, it flowered. It thrives on sunny ledges, with ample and regular water, and good drainage. Proper transplanting keeps your catnip from becoming root-bound. Once while many people report that they like the fragrant, herbal smell of catnip, some people find that it has a vaguely skunky odour to it that is off-putting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Lux for plants: everything you need to know! place young plants away from kitty until they are large enough to withstand some serious loving. Catnip is a plant—known scientifically as nepeta cataria—that is a member of the mint family. Catnip seeds are very small and so are difficult to handle.

Catnip Plant, Nepeta cataria – How to Grow and Care

Posted in cook, garden, herbs
I have a good-sized patch of catnip growing in my garden that’s threatening to overtake one of my pepper plants. So I decided that it was time to dry some catnip for tea. Catnip (nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family and is apparently quite entrancing to cats. I don’t have cats so I can’t speak to that. Catnip acts as a sedative in human and is thought to calm the stomach and the nerves ( source ). I drink it in the afternoon or evening, as a caffeine-free alternative to green tea. It does have it’s own flavour and is similar to mint. When I make my tea I like to mix catnip with a little bit of dried stevia for sweetness.

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catnip is a common herb that thrives in much of North America and is very easy to grow. While you’ve probably heard that catnip makes cats tipsy, you might not know that this effect is an inherited trait and it does not affect all cats. Catnip grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and has featherlike, light green foliage and small clusters of lavender flowers that grow on spikes. A member of the mint family, catnip is also used in the food and herbal remedies. For example, tea made from the leaves and flowers of nepeta cataria is said to relieve coughs. The oil extracted from catnip plants is even used in natural mosquito repellents.

Also called catmint, catnip (nepeta cataria) is a hardy perennial herb that is a member of the mint family. It is native to the area known as Eurasia: southern and eastern Europe, the middle east, central Asia, and parts of China. Fairly easy to grow, it is now widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. Catnip grows outdoors in USDA growing hardiness zones 3 to 9 and makes great container plants for growing indoors, allowing you to extend its growing season to year-round.

Aster Plant Care – How to Grow and Care for this Flower

Catnip is not an especially difficult plant to grow indoors. It thrives on sunny ledges, with ample and regular water, and good drainage. If your plant goes into flower, snip off the flower buds to encourage stronger and better leaf growth. Indoor catnip will not have the same potency as outdoor catnip, but your cats will still like it plenty. Be careful not to mist your plant too much to discourage mould growth. Catnip is vulnerable to pests including aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whitefly. If possible, identify the infestation as early as possible and treat it with the least toxic option.

With proper growing and catnip plant care, you will easily grow catnip and help it produce more flowers. While planting catnip, till the soil to a depth of 3″ to 4″ inches, and add 1″ inch of compost. Work the compost into the topsoil. Catnip does well in many soils but prefer a moderately rich loam and good drainage soil. Plant catnip seedlings 15″ to 18″ inches apart with the seeds slightly covered. Water the seeds lightly after planting, try to keep the soil moist during the growing season.

The post Why Cats love Catnip appeared first on Catnip Utopia.

Caring for house cats

Keeping cats indoors. Pets can be a wonderful addition to anyone’s life and are particularly nice for those who live alone.

However, some people selfishly keep large pets in small apartments for their own reasons without considering how such a life affects the pet. In many cases, smaller pets are better suited to apartment living. Caring for pets can be one of life’s greatest joys, particularly for those who live alone or don’t have children. It is commonly thought that having a pet such as a cat around the house can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. According to some sources, keeping pets can even reduce serious health risks, like the risk of heart attack or stroke, by helping to keep stress levels low.

Tango’s place
tango’s place is the RSPCA act’s five-star cat boarding facility. Located at the RSPCA in Weston creek, tango’s place provides a safe, temperature-controlled, welcoming environment for your feline friend. We provide very large rooms which are able to house up to three of your cats and there is plenty of space to play, relax, and exercise with high perching shelves and steps for less able cats. Best of all your cats have company for all working hours with our caring, cat-loving staff who will socialise, play, and give cuddles.

Indoor cats are actually busier than we may think. They’ll typically cover the entire area of a house or apartment each day (or often at night). You can make this daily routine even more fun by hiding food and treats around the house. You can also use a variety of toys to help your cat practice hunting and get the exercise they need. Providing enrichment is an important part of caring for most pets. Experiment with different types of cat toys like wands, balls, and scratching posts to give your pet variety in their day. Playtime is quality time, and it can go a long way in the health of your cat!.

Choose a specially-formulated indoor cat food

If you are buying a pedigree cat then there will be associated costs and these may be quite large. Pedigree kittens usually come vaccinated and in some cases already neutered. If you are getting a cat from a rescue organisation then they may ask for a donation or a fee and again it will probably come already neutered and vaccinated. Kittens or cats from friends or neighbours don’t usually come neutered or vaccinated, wormed, treated for fleas or anything else and it will be up to you to register with a vet and get these things done.

Neutering is obviously a one-off cost, but several vaccinations will be required to make sure that a kitten is protected from infectious diseases; thereafter a regular booster vaccination will help to protect it during its life (requirements depend on the cat’s lifestyle and risks associated with that – your vet can advise you).

Most cats love to spend time outdoors. They experience a great deal of mental and physical stimulation. Cats in the wild experience weather changes, move around to find food and water, interact with other animals, and mark their territory. Their lives are enriched by complexity, unpredictability, and choice; and they exert a degree of control over their lives. However, the big wide world is a dangerous place for domestic cats. Here at Gungahlin veterinary hospital, we see numerous cases of cats who have been in fights and suffered injuries and infections, who get hit by cars or get bitten by snakes. Cats outdoors also hunt and may annoy other people, for example by stalking aviary birds or toileting in their yard.

How do Cats catch Ticks and Fleas?

Very similar to the ragdoll cat is the ragamuffin; a large, long-haired cat. Their hair doesn’t tangle, which makes it easy to check if they have fleas or ticks. However, this very sweet cat does not like to venture outside, so it is unlikely to catch diseases this way.

Michelle* in Adelaide says her family give their two cats supervised outdoor time in their yard. “we let them outside several times a day,” she says. “we will stay out for about 20 minutes and then we just shake the bowl of cat biscuits and they come running back. “dr malik says it’s important if you’re letting the cat have access to outdoors to think about what dangers are out there — could a dog get in? will they be exposed to fleas and paralysis ticks? do other cats go through your yard, potentially exposing them to diseases?.

Lower chance of catching diseases from other cats such as the untreatable and fatal feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) – the cat equivalent of aids. Lower chance of catching fleas or worms from vermin. They will be less anxious because they will be confident in their surroundings without fear of being attacked by another cat. No chance of being killed by a car. No chance of any unplanned pregnancy in cats that aren’t neutered. No chance of being attacked/killed by another animal.

Exercise for your cats

If your cat lives indoors, they are likely to get less exercise than their outdoor counterparts. This is because outdoor cats will spend much of the day climbing and hunting, whereas indoors cats have less opportunity to do so. If your cat doesn’t get an adequate amount of exercise, they are more at risk of putting on unwanted weight. An overweight cat is more likely to have weight-related health conditions. To help your house cat stay active, make sure you play with them regularly, and encourage games that involve running, pouncing and chasing. Additionally, ensure that their food portions are suitable for their activity levels.

Cats usually keep their claws in good shape by scratching tree trunks or fence posts. As well as ensuring their claws are trim, cats naturally scratch to exercise the muscles in their paws and to leave their scent, so it’s a basic and natural need. The indoor cat will scratch your furniture and carpets if a scratching post or area is not provided. Most cat trees have numerous scratch posts within their design and there are trees of every shape and size that can fit discretely into any décor.

Please don’t fall for the “fresh air and sunshine” fallacy. Hundreds of thousands of cats live out long and perfectly happy lives as indoors-only cats, as long as they get the exercise they need through interactive play with a human parent. There are safe alternatives, depending on your apartment arrangement. You can screen off a balcony (with the landlord’s permission), or you can train your cat to walk on a leash for outdoor excursions.

10 tips to keep your cat happy indoors

More cat parents are choosing to keep their feline friends indoors, so how can you ensure they are getting the physical and mental stimulation they need to be happy and healthy? our resident cat behaviourist Anita Kelsey explains. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden for their cat to play in, or easy access to the great outdoors from a window or ledge, especially in large cities. It’s also a well-known fact that most people with pedigree cats keep them exclusively indoors, which many cats can find frustrating.

The bottom line is most cats can be totally happy living indoors – but owners need to put in the effort to provide for their environmental and behavioural needs. But a 2019 survey with more than 12,000 respondents found many Australian cat owners are not adequately providing for their indoor cats, especially when it comes to toileting and feeding. This may lead to a range of health and welfare issues, such as obesity and related diseases, behavioural problems and urinary tract disorders.

My first cat was a housecat in a flat for the first 18 months of her life. I moved house successive times and she became a happy indoor/outdoor cat, then turned herself back into an indoor cat as an old lady. She was perfectly happy. I say it depends on the cat itself. The indoor/outdoor debate is rather contentious. But if you want to adopt a rescue, you could explain your circumstances – many rescue cats are rehomed on an indoor-only basis. A lot of cats are quite happy to potter about indoors – we have three indoor/outdoor cats at the moment, and one of them is a real wuss about going outside! if you do have indoor cats, you do need to play with them to keep them exercised, and a cat tree is brilliant: great deals on cat trees and scratching posts at zooplus: cat tree Athena.

How to keep your indoor cat happy and healthy

These are the indoor cat litter products we swear by to keep our cat happy, our home clean and our workload minimal.

Having access to the outside world is the best way to allow a cat to do all of these things, but when it’s not possible for cats to exercise these natural behaviours outside, they will need an alternative way of doing so inside. Cats who aren’t given the opportunity to act in their natural way will not only become unhappy, but it is likely they will develop behavioural problems too. For these reasons, the blue cross does not recommend keeping cats as indoor-only house pets, unless there is a really good reason why the particular cat should be confined inside.

When your cat is at home snoozing on the sofa, eating contentedly or cosying up for a snuggle, it’s hard to imagine they are anything but blissfully happy. All of their animal welfare needs are being covered, as far as you are aware. You also love them dearly and would be very upset if you thought there was anything causing upset in their lives. On the other hand, you may see your cat seeming agitated. Even if they do show you affection, there may be other times where they hide in a dark place or run from your attention without any discernible reason why they should do so. The reasons for this are myriad, but one which can be tricky is that they are a cat with a personality not well suited to indoor living.

Could you let your cat outside?

The Siamese cat is a sophisticated breed that originated in Thailand, hence the name (siam being the old name for Thailand). They are perhaps one of the most recognisable breeds thanks to their colouring which is typically a light coloured coat with dark ‘points’, points being ears, feet, tails and faces. They’re also known for their love of talking. They are incredibly vocal and will talk to you throughout the day whether you want to listen or not.

Many cats live outside as well as inside, but in some circumstances, an owner may need to keep their cat inside. This could be due to illness, individual differences, or even lifestyle constraints – such as living on the third floor, without any outside access. Cats can live indoors very happily, particularly if they’ve been inside since they were kittens, but they do have some particular requirements. As they don’t have access to the outdoors, owners should ensure their indoor cats are stimulated and still lead an active lifestyle.

On the other hand, you may see your cat seeming agitated. Even if they do show you affection, there may be other times where they hide in a dark place or run from your attention without any discernible reason why they should do so. The reasons for this are myriad, but one which can be tricky is that they are a cat with a personality not well suited to indoor living. Cats have a range of personalities which are generally put into five categories, according to cat behaviour researcher Lauren finka.

Common problems of indoor cats

Cystitis is another painful cause of cats urinating outside the box. It is caused by crystals forming in the bladder, which make urinating extremely painful. Immediate treatment is necessary for cats that get cystitis. It isn’t surprising that urinary tract problems are a very common cause of cats being taken to the veterinarian. Cats need acidic urine for urinary tract health. The ph of cat food has a direct relationship here. Although the higher range may vary under certain circumstances, the expert consensus seems to be from 6. 0 to 6. 5. (the lower the ph, the more acidic the urine. ) a ph above this range can lead to the growth of struvites (magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals). A ph is lower than 6.

Munchkin cats are by far the UK’s most expensive breed, with average costs of just over £900. Because this type of cat can develop health problems if bred incorrectly, there are a wide variety of expenses throughout the breeding process, which increases the amount that you can expect to pay. According to stickee data, correct as of March 2020
shorthair white is the UK’s most affordable cat. Since they’re mixed breeds, they’re much more common and therefore far less expensive than pedigree breeds.

Adding another indoor cat to a household where you already have one or more indoor cats is likely to cause problems. Cats like to have their own territory in which to live their daily lives of both exploring and relaxing, and they tend to want to do these activities on their own. Where multiple cats live in the small area of a house or flat, the space available to each cat is limited, and that’s when conflict can occur. Cats become easily stressed when they don’t have their own space, and you are likely to see problem behaviour such as spraying and scratching, and aggression towards each other becomes more likely.

Stop your cat spraying and soiling in the house

A beautiful and playful cat, the Maine coon is the official cat of Maine, where they are well-loved for their mousing abilities. In your home, they will prove to be energetic and engaging each and every day. Before breed recognition, the Maine coon cat resulted from nature’s own selection methods. It was “survival of the fittest,” and that’s what built this lovable breed. Similar to Persians, the Maine coon breed may also have health issues. “certain Maine coon cats experience a predisposition to heart problems,” says shojai. That’s why it’s important to work with a reputable breeder who checks pedigrees and runs tests to ensure that every litter is as healthy as possible.

If your feline is healthy and you can ensure a safe environment, leaving a cat alone overnight should not cause big problems. Food, freshwater, and at least a couple of litter boxes are a must. But, if your cat has health issues or separation anxiety, try to find other options. Petcube play 2 will give you an opportunity to watch your cat and see how they are faring while you are away.

Cats who are always kept indoors rarely, if ever, suffer physical injuries/wounds, get fleas or develop associated flea-bite allergies. These health issues can be costly in terms of a cat’s quality of life and the cat owner’s time and money. Insurance claims for medical treatment for wounds have been identified as the most common type of illness in ….

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1) Who you are and what you do
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That’s it! 3 simple topics and you could be on your way to $50 towards your next purchase!

You can send your videos to: [email protected]

Want to earn a $50 store credit?

In order to receive a $50 store credit, the only thing we need from you is a short video (at least 30 seconds) explaining:

1) Who you are and what you do
2) What you bought and why you bought it
3) How the product worked for you and the pros of it!

That’s it! 3 simple topics and you could be on your way to $50 towards your next purchase!

You can send your videos to: [email protected]

Catnip Plant Care Indoors

Catnip seeds should be sown during the spring after any threat of frost has passed. Consult a hardiness zone map to figure out when it’s safe to plant in your area. If you have a short growing season, catnip can also be started indoors 4-8 weeks before the last frost and transferred outside after the soil is warm enough.

Catnip seeds are tough and should be stratified, or slightly damaged, before planting to ensure the seeds sprout. An easy way to do this is by freezing the seeds overnight and then soaking them for 24 hours.

Your biggest hurdle to growing catnip indoors might not be low light levels, cold air, or lack of consistent watering. It might be your cat. Catnip , a perennial favorite of all things feline, is a relative of the mint and lemon balm, which means it’s not a hard plant to grow indoors.
outdoors, it’s known to spread easily, growing into jumbled patches that attract cats from miles around. Indoors, it can be successfully grown on a sunny windowsill, providing you give it enough water and remember to pinch out the flowers to encourage leaf growth. You can start pinching off leaves as soon as the plant hits about 6 to 8 inches in height; your cat will appreciate it.

Once you’ve chosen a place to grow your catnip and stratified the seeds, sow the little seeds in rows and cover them lightly with approximately 1/4 inch of soil. Keep the seeds moist and the soil temperature at around 70 degrees. When the plants are five inches tall, thin them out so that they’re all about 12-18 inches apart. If you’re growing the catnip indoors in small cells, transfer them into 3-4 inch pots at this time so that they have enough room to develop a strong root system before transplanting into a large pot or into the garden.

What is Catnip Used for?

Cats are infamously attracted to catnip. It’s not addictive and it doesn’t cause short- or long-term health problems. Some cats might eat too much catnip and throw up, so you may want to limit your cat’s exposure to minimize this potential albeit rather innocuous issue.

Catnip is an herb native to eurasia. It’s a member of the mint family, closely related to spearmint and peppermint, and it has a long medicinal history for humans. It’s also known as catnep, catmint, catrup and catswort. All felines, including mountain lions, are attracted to catnip. They’ll roll around in catnip plants, rub against them and sometimes chew on them. Cats are more likely to eat fresh catnip leaves, although dried catnip consumption is also common.

What’s with the Cats?

Cats are attracted to a component of catnip’s volatile oil called nepetalactone. Although it’s present in only small amounts, nepetalactone from bruised or damaged plants can attract cats from a great distance. Most cats react to catnip. But some cats — up to 30 percent, by some estimates — do not. Catnip sensitivity is a genetic trait. The plant (and its oil) are neither addictive nor harmful, so there’s no need to worry about your cat eating it.

Catnip stimulates your cat’s olfactory system. Many cats jump and roll around in it. Others salivate, meow, nibble on it and even eat it. Still others become aggressive, although the classic response is uninhibited play. Some scientists believe that nepetalactone mimics the effects of pheromones. Conclusive proof as to the exact mechanism remains elusive. Whether stimulating or pacifying, catnip’s effects generally last about 15 minutes. Use just enough to get the desired response from your cat. After the effects wear off, it will probably take an hour of zero catnip exposure before the animal reacts as strongly as she did in the previous catnip session.

3. Lemon Catnip (Nepeta citriodora)

Flavor and aroma: catnip smells of camphor, thyme, and pennyroyal. Leaves taste mildly minty. Leaves: add fresh catnip leaves to salads. Mince leaves to add a mint undertone to sauces and hearty stews. Lemon catnip can be used as a substitute for basil in pesto. Rub meat with catnip leaves before roasting or grilling. Teas: make a tea from fresh or dried catnip leaves. Catnip has a flavor that is more mellow than peppermint and less sweet than spearmint. Its fragrance is spicy-mint. The catnip cultivar ‘citriodora’ is lemon-scented for flavorful teas. Tea made from catnip leaves is said to relieve indigestion, colds, and fevers.

Catnip, also known as catmint (nepeta cataria), is a member of the mint family. Aside from causing euphoria in cats, it is also beloved by bees and is a prolific bloomer, with pretty white or near white flowers with purple spots, and leaves covered with soft hairs that contain the volatile oils that give catnip it’s distinctive scent. Other benefits of catnip in your garden include:
catnip makes a yummy tea – this herb is delicious in tea when dried in a warm spot or after being placed in a dehydrator. It combines well with lemon balm, chamomile or other mints. It is said that these combinations help to reduce stress and promote relaxation and sleep.

Growing Catnip with Other Plants

Growing a meowdow of catnip for your kitty is pretty simple!
when choosing what to plant for your cat, be sure you select seeds or plants of the right nepeta. Garden & happy explains , “catnip (nepeta cataria) usually refers to the herb, whereas catmint (nepeta mussinii) is more ornamental and less attractive to cats. ”@toomanyfuzzylumpkins/instagram
in the springtime, plant seeds or plant starts in a sunny location after all danger of frost has passed. And be warned, catnip plants can spread easily. Standing up to 3 or 4 feet tall, the plant takes up some room, so be sure you place seeds and starts around two feet apart when planting.

I have a good sized patch of catnip growing in my garden that’s threatening to overtake one of my pepper plants. So i decided that it was time to dry some catnip for tea. Catnip (nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family and is apparently quite entrancing to cats. I don’t have cats so i can’t speak to that. Catnip acts as a sedative in human, and is thought to calm the stomach and the nerves ( source ). I drink it in the afternoon or evening, as a caffeine free alternative to green tea. It does have it’s own flavor, and is similar to mint. When i make my tea i like to mix catnip with a little bit of dried stevia for sweetness.

Keep Growing New Catnip Plants

If you ever feel like your pockets are being drained to fund your cat’s ‘nip addiction, think about growing your own catnip. Catnip plants grow quickly and you’ll soon have enough catnip to dry out and refresh all of your cat’s favorite toys. Instead of spending money on organic catnip from the store, you can have a plentiful supply growing in your yard—and it’s essentially free.

You can grow catnip from seed or transplant a baby plant. Both catnip seeds and plants are available at a local home and garden center, online
, or even at a pet store. If you have any catnip-growing friends, ask if you can snag some seeds or seedlings from them! catnip buds contain a lot of extra seeds, so most catnip gardeners have extra. We love the catnip-growing community and have started a great catnip garden from the generosity of another gardener.

Herbs You Can Grow for Cough and Cold

When you are growing catnip indoors, you don’t have to worry much about catnip plant care in cold weather. Keep it in a warm spot in the night. During the day, move it back on a window that receives some direct sunlight. Always make sure that the plant is not touching the windowpane to avoid cold injury. Also, reduce watering and don’t fertilize in winter. Additionally, you can mulch the topsoil with straws or shredded cardboard. If you’re exposing it to outdoor conditions, cover the pot by bubble wrap or plastic sheet for extra protection. Making a mini indoor greenhouse for catnip and other herbs is also a great way to keep these plants growing. We’ve some diys here !.

It grew, it flowered. It thrives on sunny ledges, with ample and regular water, and good drainage. Proper transplanting keeps your catnip from becoming root-bound. Once while many people report that they like the fragrant, herbal smell of catnip, some people find that it has a vaguely skunky odor to it that is off-putting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Lux for plants: everything you need to know! place young plants away from kitty until they are large enough to withstand some serious loving. Catnip is a plant—known scientifically as nepeta cataria—that is a member of the mint family. Catnip seeds are very small and so are difficult to handle.

Herbs You Can Grow In Water Indoors All Year Round

Water your catnip plants regularly, but there’s no cause for alarm if you miss watering them here and there. Catnip is a very resilient ground cover herb, and it won’t be slowing down its growth due to a simple hiccup in maintenance like just one or two missed watering sessions.

Just make sure that, for the most part, your plants get the water they need on a regular schedule. Pruning and shaping your catnip plants and other herbs is very important to keep them growing healthy and strong. Cut out last year’s spent stems in the early spring, and cut the plant down completely after the completion of the first blooming cycle. Don’t feel bad for taking this opportunity to trim your catnip plant down to size.

An ounce of catnip seeds contains approximately 3,400 seeds. Catnip seeds are viable for 5 years. Catnip seeds are considered easy to germinate and easy to grow. When growing catnip from seed, sow seeds in autumn or spring in their intended place or catnip seedlings can be started indoors or in a nursery bed. Once in place, catnip can grow for several years with only minimal weeding required. However, like most herbs in the mint family, catnip can spread and take over a garden if permitted to do so.

Things You Should Know to Grow Spinach Indoors Year Round

If you choose to grow it outside, you may want to cover the base of the plant with something to keep your cat from rolling on the plant and killing it. Bonnie plants suggests , “to keep plants from being loved to death, cover each with an arch of chicken wire. The stems can grow up through the holes, yet the plant’s base and roots are protected.  as a perennial, the plant can continue to grow outside in warm temps. Freezing weather will kill the plant. If planting indoors, plants can be grown year-round in tip-proof containers, removing the worry of a wintry death for your plant.

Also called catmint, catnip (nepeta cataria) is a hardy perennial herb that is a member of the mint family. It is native to the area known as eurasia: southern and eastern europe, the middle east, central asia, and parts of china. Fairly easy to grow, it is now widely naturalized in northern europe, new zealand, and north america. Catnip grows outdoors in usda growing hardiness zones 3 to 9 and makes great container plants for growing indoors, allowing you to extend its growing season to year-round.

Sow your catnip seeds in rows in the late fall or early spring, and lightly cover them with soil. When sown in the fall, the rows will produce a dense population. If you plant catnip from seeds, you can expect the seedlings to reach germination in seven to 10 days. When the shoots of the seedlings have grown to reach five inches in height, you should thin out the rows so that each plant stands about 12 to 18 inches apart. You can propagate new catnip plants from stem cuttings, with root division, or by seed. Catnip can be started indoors and seedlings transplanted to more permanent places outside after the last chance of frost has passed for the year.

Growing Catnip: Learn How To Care For Catnip Plants

Catnip is a perennial that generally grows to 2 to 3 feet when planted outdoors. Indoors, providing you give it enough light and water, it’s conceivable you’ll get a 2-foot plant, but in reality, indoor catnip doesn’t have the potency of outdoor catnip and it seems more reasonable to grow plants for a single growing season, then replace them either through sowing new seeds or cuttings. If you do want to re-pot a smaller catnip, go up one pot size and use fresh soil, being careful not to damage the roots.

Catnip herb grows best in well draining soil in the full sun, but it will tolerate part sun and a wide variety of soil types. Once catnip plants are established, they need very little in the way of care. They don’t need to be fertilized, as fertilizer can decrease the potency of their smell and flavor. They only need to be provided with water beyond rainfall if you are growing catnip in pots or if you are having drought conditions.

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