Catmint?

[Cottie]

I'm 98% sure it's catmint not catnip.

We just had to pull 4 HUGE bushes out of my designated pea and lettuce bed. Can I throw it to my bunns, or leave it strictly to my flock? The chickens gobble it up in nothing flat.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Well, you went and made me do a search to find out if I had catnip like I thought- I was excited by the prospect of feeding it to the chickens if it wasn't.

I don't know if catmint is edible for rabbits, but it is closely related to catnip so I imagine it likely is but if no-one has a definitive answer, try it out on a "test bunny" that you wont mind losing. Catnip should not be fed to pregnant or nursing does.

I do have catnip, and the only time I have gotten a rabbit to eat it was when I had one with the beginning stages of mastitis, and she ate it for medicinal purposes (it inhibits lactation).

Here are the images I looked at:

Catmint image:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... Q&dur=3099

Catnip images:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... DA&dur=154

 

[ladysown]

i have to say, those plants look identical to me.

so me being me... I googled, what's the difference.

and found this article. http://voices.yahoo.com/catmint-catnip- ... 98276.html

 

[MaggieJ]

Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) and catnip (Nepeta cataria) are quite closely related. I doubt that catmint would harm rabbits, but as MSD points out it is not a good choice for pregnant or nursing does. Personally, I'd give it to the chickens.

 

[Bad Habit]

I hate nepeta... so much. Omg it smells AWFUL.

 

[MaggieJ]

It's great for repelling mosquitoes and flies, Bad Habit. I grab a handful of catnip whenever they start bugging me and rub it on. It's strong smelling, but I don't find it unpleasant.