Got my cats some catnip for Christmas and they predictably went nuts, wanting to rub their faces in it, etc. Are there plants that provoke the same reaction in other animals? I understand that not all cats react to catnip; it’s an inherited trait. But I’m still curious if there is (or could be) “giraffenip” or “goosenip” and so on.
Horse have locoweed (Astragalus asymmetricus or Oxytropis sericea), which causes aimless drunken wandering, excitability, irritability, and disturbed vision.
But this is not preferred grazing forage for horses – it’s slightly bitter; they’ll eat it if it’s there in the pasture, but they do not seek it out. Unlike catnip, which cats will eagerly seek out in a garden. Horses will seek out any good feed, but I can’t think of any item that has a sort-of ‘intoxicating’ effect on horses like catnip does on most cats.
Reindeer have a very strong attraction to human urine. It does not intoxicate them, but they love the stuff. go figure.