Cats like mint-scented products or mint plants because the mint smells similar to catnip . Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family Labiatae. The two herbs share many similar attributes that your cat recognizes and is drawn to. As you can see, it’s entirely normal for cats to be drawn to mint.
One of the next things we wanted the answer to was: why do Cats love Mint and catnip?
One frequent answer is, cats love the smell of both catnip and mint, and they often gravitate towards it if they smell it in your house . Cats have a powerful sense of smell, so it’s not hard for them to find it. A cat has 200 million odor sensors, while humans only have 5 million.
Some have found that your cat is obsessed with mint because they are likely getting it confused with another herb from the mint family : catnip! Cats love the smell of both catnip and mint, and they often gravitate towards it if they smell it in your house. Cats have a powerful sense of smell, so it’s not hard for them to find it.
One answer is that according to the ASPCA, mint is toxic to cats. So definitely don’t give your cat any mint. Don’t give your cat gum or candy or really anything not specifically made for cats .
Why do cats love the smell of mint?
Cats like mint plants because they smell like catnips. Catnips are one of the herbs in the Lamiaceae family, and felines love them. They love the smell produced by catnips because it makes them ecstatic . Research proves that catnips contain nepetalactone, an oil that releases happy receptors in cats.
You might be asking “Do cats dislike the smell of mint?”
I the mint family includes many common herbs, but as far as your kitty is concerned, it only needs one: catnip, also called cat mint. Peppermint is probably the minty fragrance you’re most familiar with. 3 spearmint and other mints, and 4 wintergreen could be interesting too.
What happens if a cat eats Peppermint?
Some kitties dislike the smell and with good reason: peppermint contains salicylate, a chemical also found in aspirin and poisonous to cats. Other cats are attracted to peppermint because it contains compounds similar to nepetalactone. If your kitty is attracted, keep in mind that eating it could be harmful to her .
One way to think about this is so it turns out that both catmint and garden mint is toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA. With that said, many cat owners have introduced catnip to their felines without any adverse effects.
What scents are bad for cats to smell?
Peppermint is probably the minty fragrance you’re most familiar with. Some kitties dislike the smell and with good reason: peppermint contains salicylate, a chemical also found in aspirin and poisonous to cats. Other cats are attracted to peppermint because it contains compounds similar to nepetalactone.