Rabbits are such adorable animals that surely bring joy to you. They hop around your place cutely and play. They are into leafy vegetables like coriander, Brussels sprouts, carrot tops, etc. They even eat some herbs too.
Rabbits might not like the smell of some of these herbs, and they sometimes tend to avoid herbs like these. Aromatic herbs have a strong smell. Thumpers are very sensitive to such odors, so they avoid these herbs, but they can consume them. They are safe to consume if you offer them a limited or small amount. In this article, we will see if rabbits can eat catnip and study the effects and benefits.
What Is Catnip?
First, we will learn what catnip actually is. Catnip, catswort, catwort, or catmint is a kind of perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. Cats are attracted to catnip and respond to it in many ways because of the content of this herb. It has sedative and relaxant properties. They produce such chemical that coats their leaves, seedpods, and stems.
Cats respond to catnip in a similar way to a narcotic drug. They become playful, excited, get agitated and then go to sleep. It doesn’t have any harmful effects on the cat. Similarly, catnip will not have any adverse effects on rabbits, but rabbits, in general, are not fans of its strong scent.
Catnip is of greyish green color and has jagged heart-shaped leaves. It has thick stems that are covered with little fuzzy hair. They can grow to about one to three feet tall. Catnip’s flowers are white with a little mixture of purple, and they grow on top of plants in clusters.
Is Catnip Safe for Rabbits?
Yes, catnip is absolutely safe for your rabbits to eat. The leaves, flowers, and branches of catnip are safe for rabbits. However, like most aromatic herbs, rabbits don’t like its mild scent and will avoid it. It is one of the rabbit-resistant plants that even wild rabbits hardly touch.
If your rabbit wants some catnip, you can give a small amount to them. You can chop some catnip and garnish it on their vegetable mix. Catnip will boost mood while bringing down restlessness, nervousness, and anxiety. Also, it contains some nutrients.
But make sure that you only feed the catnip leaves to your rabbit and don’t include the seeds. They can upset their stomach, so always remember to keep the seeds away from rabbits. Some catnip available in the market does not contain seeds, so it’s easier if you buy the catnip from the market and not the type that is still growing.
Benefits of Catnip for Rabbits
The human body and immune system of humans and animals like rabbits are very different from each other. If some food, vegetable, or fruit is healthy for humans, it doesn’t mean it will be healthy for rabbits too. While catnip is healthy and beneficial for cats for various reasons, it might not be very beneficial for rabbits. It still has several benefits for rabbits which are as follows:
- The seductive and relaxing properties of catnip work the best on cats. They become excited, playful, and relaxed after smelling or eating it. These herbs are safe for rabbits, but they may not have the same effect on rabbits as they have on cats. The only and most important benefit they have for rabbits is that catnip makes them relax and calm. Even a Thumper, which avoids the smell of such an herb, relaxes after eating some catnip. So, if you feel like your rabbit is anxious or feeling down, put some catnip in its meal, and your rabbit will be relaxed.
- Another benefit that catnip has is that it is also called catmints. Rabbits love to chew on mints, so you can easily make catnip a part of their diet or meal. They usually don’t like the smell of such aromatic herbs, but they will surely like it once they get a taste of it. So catnip is really good for rabbits as it relaxes them and can be a good part of their diet.
Risks of Catnip for Rabbits
As we mentioned earlier, catnip will not have the same effect on rabbits as it has on cats. But still, they have some effects on rabbits. If your rabbit is eating something, that doesn’t mean everything about that food is good for the rabbit. So while feeding catnip to your rabbit, keep some risks of it in mind:
- Dried herbs may have terrible effects on the rabbit as they become concentrated and with intense flavors. They may cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. So if you are planning on feeding catnip to your rabbit, start with small amounts and absolutely avoid dried herbs, so they experience excessive stress and nervousness.
- Avoid giving them a large amount at once and separately. Always start with a small amount mixed in their regular healthy diet and check for any negative reactions. This way, you will get the idea of your rabbit’s taste, behavior, likes/dislikes, and how they react to such aromatic herbs.
Conclusion
Fresh catnips are safe for rabbits as they are not concentrated, toxic, or poisonous for the rabbits. You can give a small amount of this herb to your rabbit in their meals so they can enjoy it with a proper healthy diet. If you notice some harmful effects on their health, stop giving them catnip and seek the vet immediately.
If you notice that the small amount of catnip does not have any adverse reactions on the rabbits, you can gradually increase the quantity. Just make sure that the herb is not dried, and the rabbit is not consuming a large amount at once. Don’t expect reactions and changes of catnip like a cat; rabbits will act differently, but this herb will surely relax them a lot.