A macskamenta (Nepeta cataria) hatása a macska viselkedésére, tápválogatására és a táplálóanyagok emészthetőségére

Abstract

SUMMARY Catnip (syn. catmint) is known to be irresistible for most cats. The effect of inhaled catnip smell was investigated on the general clinical state and behaviour, as well as on the feed preference and nutrients’ digestibility if added to the canned petfood. Nutrients’ digestibility of catmint meal was determined by an indirect digestibility trial using 10 castrated, adult cats. In the preference test the pure canned wet petfood was supplemented by 1% of catmint on dry matter basis. Punched plastic balls filled up with catmint were also tested for possible attractability of catmint for cats. Catmint meal is poor in protein (6.74%), but it is rich in fibre (41.05%) and in aromatic compounds. There were changes in the behaviour: catnip-filled plastic play balls only half of the cats showed different kind of interest. In the preference test cats ate less from the catmint-supplemented diet (78.4 g/animal/day) than from the control (278.6 g/animal/day). The digestibility of the dry matter (34.78%) and crude protein (42.39%) content of the catnip meal is low. If added to canned petfood, it really improved the consistency of the faeces. Taken together, the use of catnip can be proposed for environmental enrichment, both in case of laboratory and pet cats, but not added to the feed, but in form assuring the possibility of inhalation.