| Your cat, your loving and lovable family pet | | | | When a cat finds catnip it will usually sniff |
| is not usually what you would call a bundle | | | | at it, rub up against it, lick it and nibble |
| of energy. In fact she spends a good deal of | | | | at it. It is the sniffing at it that gets the |
| the day taking a siesta. When she moves she | | | | reaction, it is thought that cats nibble and |
| does so at her own pace and in her own time. | | | | rub against the catnip to bruise it and |
| | | | thereby cause more of the nepetalactone oil |
| But should your sedate kitty have a whiff of | | | | to be released. Strangely, if a cat actually |
| catnip . . . well, wop bop a lula blim bam | | | | eats the catnip it will likely act as a |
| boom! The party is on baby. Suddenly your cat | | | | sedative as opposed to giving the kitty a |
| is rollicking and rolling around, frisky, | | | | high. |
| excited and running about as if the clock had | | | | |
| been turned back and she is a kitten once | | | | So, is catnip dangerous for your kitty? After |
| again. | | | | all, the response that some felines have to |
| | | | catnip is not unlike the response that some |
| Then as little as two, but up to fifteen | | | | humans have to stuff that they shouldn't |
| minutes later your cat is back to her | | | | smoke. |
| slothful, normal self, the catnip effect | | | | |
| completely worn off. | | | | Although it said that catnip is |
| | | | bio-chemically related to cannabis cats will |
| What causes the catnip effect, why do cats | | | | come to no harm by enjoying it and will not |
| react in to it in that way? | | | | become dependent. The catnip effect very |
| | | | seldom lasts longer than 15 minutes maximum |
| First, not all cats do react to catnip. It is | | | | until the cat loses interest. After this a |
| estimated that one third to half of the | | | | cat will not react again for a minimum of one |
| domestic cat population is unaffected by the | | | | hour. |
| herb. The reaction to catnip is inherited. | | | | |
| Kittens that have only one parent that reacts | | | | Not all cats react to the herb in exactly the |
| have a one in two chance of reacting | | | | same way though. The typical response is an |
| themselves, and kittens that have parents | | | | uninhibited friskiness and silliness, but a |
| that both react have a three in four chance. | | | | few cats, usually male, become aggressive |
| Kittens under three to four months old do not | | | | rather than frisky. |
| react to catnip and with older cats the | | | | |
| effect is considerably lessened. | | | | Catnip has long been thought safe for humans. |
| | | | It has been prescribed by herbalists to treat |
| Also, if a cat that would normally have a | | | | nervousness, stomach complaints, flatulence, |
| reaction to catnip is in a threatening | | | | and even smallpox! Its leaves have been |
| situation, or is outside of its usual | | | | chewed to relieve toothache and it has been |
| surroundings, it may not respond to the | | | | drunk as a tea as a cough remedy. |
| catnip. | | | | |
| | | | Catnip is not dangerous for cats rather it is |
| Anyway, as to what causes the catnip effect, | | | | a very effective kitty treat for some cats, |
| the experts do know that nepetalactone, an | | | | those that are susceptible to it, to enjoy. |
| oil found in catnip causes cats that are | | | | |
| sensitive to it to go ga-ga. What they don't | | | | ************ |
| know is why certain cats react that way. | | | | |
| | | | You are welcome to use this article on your |
| It's not just the domestic cat that can | | | | cat or pet related web site or in your pet |
| experience the catnip effect. Big cats too | | | | ezine. You may make minor formatting changes |
| can react to it; lions, leopards, cheetahs | | | | but the article must be kept intact including |
| and pumas can get catnip high but | | | | this resource box, and keep all links as |
| interestingly not tigers. | | | | hyperlinks. Thank you. |
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