Posts tagged "catnip"

Am I the only one who had no idea that catnip works on dogs?! This video is life changing. Look at that poodle go bananas on that 'nip! She barely gets a taste of the stuff and completely blisses out. Even the cat is like, "Whoa, girl! Handle your sh**!" We even get to see the dog satisfy her munchies. Not depicted: the five-hour nap she took immediately after stuffing her face.

I have no doubt that catnip prompted the Cheshire Cat's grin. My cat Seren wears the same expression when she indulges. But why do cats find this nondescript herb so attractive? Is it a kitty aphrodisiac, a harmless pleasure or something more sinister?

Nepeta cataria, or catnip, is a strong-scented mint that contains a volatile oil that's easily released into the air. Biting or rolling on the plant crushes the leaves and releases the oil so cats can get a good sniff. It doesn't take much. Cats can detect catnip oil in the air at saturations as low as one part per billion.

How Catnip Works
Rather than a simple smell, the chemical in catnip resembles sedative components also found in the valerian plant, which may be used in natural therapies to calm pets and people. Catnip also may be similar to one of the substances found in tomcat urine-yucky to you, but a lovely smell to the cat! In fact, this pheromone in urine often triggers the same sort of behavioral reaction in cats as exposure to catnip.

These types of chemicals, once inhaled, enter the cat's highly specialized scenting organ through the roof of the mouth. The vomeronasal or Jacobson's organs sit between the hard palate of the mouth and the septum of the nose, and connect to the mouth via tiny conduits directly behind the cat's upper incisor teeth. You may see your cat perform an odd facial grimace (flehmen) with lips curled back and mouth open when employing this organ.

The Jacobson's organs are linked to the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that acts like a switchboard to direct information to higher centers. This part of the brain integrates taste and smell, motivates appetite, and triggers a variety of behaviors.

Catnip in cats affects the same biochemical pathways that are affected by marijuana and LSD in people. In its simplest terms, catnip is a feline hallucinogen. The "high" lasts from five to 15 minutes, and causes a loss of inhibition. Catnip-intoxicated cats act like furry fools who roll and flop about on the floor, drool, and have a wonderful relaxing time.

Which Cats Are Affected
Cats rarely respond to catnip until they are about six months old, and some cats never do. The trait is an inherited one, with only two out of three domestic cats being affected. Boy cats seem to respond more strongly than females.

Since catnip belongs in the mint family, cats often react in a similar way to other types of mint. I've even seen some cats react to a type of honeysuckle-or even olives.

Most scientists agree that catnip provides a harmless recreation for cats. For cats who respond, catnip can be a wonderful training tool. Catnip builds the confidence of some shy cats, and it can be used to "spike" the legal scratch objects to help lure cats to do the right thing. Catnip can help take the cat's mind off of the scary car ride-or at least induce a catnip snooze so she doesn't care anymore.

You'll find catnip toys, herbs, even growing kits advertised in all the finest cat magazines, "special" brands touted in pet stores, and feline fanciers comparing quality like true gourmands. The fresher the herb, the more likely your cat is to react. And no, catnip doesn't affect people the same way, although it has in the past been used as a soothing tea for upset tummies.

Be aware, though, overindulgence may "wear out" your cat's response to the plant. An occasional treat, perhaps once every two or three weeks, is plenty.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including Complete Kitten Care and Complete Care for Your Aging Cat. Amy also appears on Animal Planet's CATS-101 and DOGS-101, writes for puppies.About.com and cats.About.com, and lives in North Texas with a senior citizen Siamese and smart-aleck German shepherd. Read her blog on Red Room.

Cute Pet Name: Jiji

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Age: 8 years

Cat Breed: Mixed

Favorite Treat: Catnip.

Likes: To eat.

Dislikes: The vacuum cleaner.

Weird Quirk: Eats fast and then spits. Every time.


Congratulations to our submitter, candyz0416. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool.

More Cute Pets

Those glazed eyes. That feisty demeanor. And oh, the twitchy bliss. Clearly, someones been dipping into the herb again. Not that herb, but the kitty herb of choice: Catnip!

Growing your own kitty psychedelic is not only less expensive then the pre-packaged variety; it's a connoisseurs delight (at least as far as kitty is concerned). Many local pet stores now stock the live plants for your growing convenience. Harvesting and drying catnip is something any pet owner can easily do.

Harvesting Catnip
Nepeta Cataria, or Catnip, is a herbaceous, perennial herb that can be found growing in the wilds of North America. This hearty relative of the mint family is incredibly easy to grow. About the only problem you'll have is finding a place to plant it that is inaccessible to your cats! The chemical nepetalactone is what triggers the familiar and predictable response in our four-footed friends, but lesser known is the calming effect that some believe it has on humans as well. For this reason, many alternative practitioners regularly recommend catnip as a beneficial tea to soothe the nerves. Though, according to the website Drug.com, there hasn't been scientific research to support this claim.

Catnip typically grows to a height of about three feet and is ready to harvest when it's reached about a foot tall. Don't feel you must wait until any official harvest, however; pinching small quantities from it throughout the growing season will not only help the plant fill out, but is a great way to give kitty a sample of what's to come. Extra pinches can be thrown into a wide-mouthed jar and left to dry on their own.

We all know how much fun a little catnip can be, but what happens when you give your cat "the most potent form of dried catnip available"?

Pet Greens Catnip Buds are the closest thing to growing your own catmint without having to remember to water. Entire stems of the herb are handpicked and dried, which you then crumble up and stuff in catnip toys, rub on cat beds, or simply sprinkle on the floor.

My cat, Gizmo, is a catnip connoisseur. It's one of the few things other than food that pulls him out of his shell, so I had high expectations. After eating some of the dried stuff I had sprinkled on the floor, he rolled around a bit and then found the toy I had stuffed with the potent herb. With his paws, he vigorously rubbed the toy into his face as he lay on his back, legs splayed out. When I grabbed the toy and threw it towards him, to my surprise he caught it with one paw and again fell backwards to continue rubbing the toy on his face.

He instigated play with my other cats, rather than just sitting back and watching as he normally does. My other cats loved the stuff as well, rolling around in it, though not as actively as Gizmo. They became standard stoners, laying around and staring at the wall.

If your cats are already into standard-fare catnip, I highly recommend throwing down $5 for this potent stuff.

With so many cat products hitting shelves every week, we asked our favorite kitty-centric blog, Moderncat, to roundup their faves in a bi-monthly column we're calling Moderncat's Modern Finds.

Your kitty can never have too many toys! She needs them to act out her natural instincts -- chasing, stalking, and wrestling. Toys will keep your cat entertained and distracted from destroying things like carpets, sofas, and fresh cut flowers. Keep an eye out for well-made toys -- no loose parts that your cat can choke on! -- and safe, cat-friendly materials.

Since you have to look at the toys when they're scattered around the floor, why not choose something with a little style? We've rounded-up our top ten recommendations for the best cat toys for you and your cat.

So you've caught Whiskers eating straight out of the Cheetos bag recently. Suddenly, he's staying up all night and sleeping all day. He's really into wearing headbands, is unusually mute, and has stopped chasing that rodent tunneled behind the couch. Instead, he's giving the mouse high-fives and sharing its cheese, claiming the critter is just "another little dude looking for a good time."

And, for the love of God, Whiskers will not stop quoting The Big Lebowski.

So just what happened to your furry feline? Whiskers and you may have to sit down and watch the following video. After all, if you don't talk to your cat about catnip, who will?

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