CATNIP?
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My cat love's catnip. She gets all into it and rolls around and goes nuts. It's a lot of fun watching this. 
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Luxy doesn't seem to care too much abouy cat nip...I guess she's not a user of this kitty drug. Or maybe she used to have a MAJOR cat nip problem before I rescued her and she can never touch the stuff again with out having a relasp. Who knows.
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all my cats must be stoners cuz they LOVE teh catnip. :wink:
I only use the fresh stuff and keep it sealed air tight so it doesn't lose its potency. They seem indifferent to the dried stuff in toys. It's supposed to be very good for them, it's harmless, aids digestion and helps relieve stress. It's theraputic for me too cuz I like to kick back with a beer and watch them all get a buzz on and crash. 8)
I only use the fresh stuff and keep it sealed air tight so it doesn't lose its potency. They seem indifferent to the dried stuff in toys. It's supposed to be very good for them, it's harmless, aids digestion and helps relieve stress. It's theraputic for me too cuz I like to kick back with a beer and watch them all get a buzz on and crash. 8)
They like it, but I'm not sure I like what it does to them. Stormy gets overly protective of the catnip scratcher and somtimes won't let Justin use it. They will be active for a little bit and roll around on the board, but then just kind of lay around. It puts them in a funky mood. I don't leave the catnip scratcher out all the time, just bring it down now and then for them to enjoy.
Catnip mice and catnip laced scatch POSTS (not the cardboard) seem to be okay, less potent effect I guess.
Catnip mice and catnip laced scatch POSTS (not the cardboard) seem to be okay, less potent effect I guess.
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a study I read said that catnip affects roughly 70% of cats. And that's not to say it affects them positively, either. I can't really keep it around very often b/c it takes one of mine over the top in the aggression department. I think that would be true of cats that have a hard time controlling their teeth and claws in displays of affection normally-catnip will just loosen those inhibitions even more..
Where did you read this? All of the studies I have read on catnip have been inconclusive about this. Not that I have read a million studies -- I can't find a million as it seems not many have been done. But all the ones I read pretty much came up without a conclusion on *what* it does to a cat's brain. They know which chemical in it affects them, but not what exactly it does. They know it makes them act crazy and that they also respond to the aroma, but I have never been able to find a study that said what the function of catnip is.catnip said:
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My boys seem to be affected by the catnip the most, both of them roll around and act nutty. My girls don't really seem to care for it. Kayla will actually dash away sometimes, or if she's sniffing it, she has this look like she's smelling something nasty. :lol:
Here they are investigating the boogie mat (filled with catnip). Mozart rolled around in it, licking away - check out that tongue!
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Here they are investigating the boogie mat (filled with catnip). Mozart rolled around in it, licking away - check out that tongue!
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654 Posts
My cats go mad for the stuff, I have a spray which I use on their scatching posts in the hope they will stay of the furniture
CATNIP
This is terrific stuff - we love it! The cats whiskers!
The whole subject of cat nip and cats has been extensively studied by yours truly, 'normal' responses to the catnip chemicals released when bits of the plant are bruised or broken (not too difficult when I plonk myself on top!) are:
Lots of sniffing and purring
Followed by rubbing the head and cheeks in it
Followed by the whole body roll
Followed by lying there in pure ecstasy
Followed by the humans yelling at me to stop killing the plant!
Apparently about 10% of cats are not affected by catnip - but I am!
ALL ABOUT CATNIP
It is a perennial of the mint family. Catnip was cultivated for cats by the classical Greeks and Romans and reached English herb gardens in the 13th Century. Centuries ago the human used to eat catnip in salads and also used it as a seasoning - not available in Tesco these days though! The humans also make tea out of it (I'm just grateful they don't roll in it like me - think of the damage they could do). The picture shows me with some catmint (which is similar but different!) - it was the only picture I could find. It will give you an idea anyway ...
GROWING CATNIP
Catnip is easily grown in any garden soil and may be increased by dividing the plants in spring, or by sowing seeds. The plant has an aromatic, characteristic odour, which bears a certain resemblance to that of both Mint and Pennyroyal. There is an old saying about this plant:
'If you set it, the cats will eat it
If you sow it, the cats don't know it.'
And it seems to be a fact that plants transplanted are always destroyed by cats unless protected, but they never meddle with the plants raised from seed, being only attracted to it when it is in a withering state, or when the peculiar scent of the plant is excited by being bruised in gathering or transplanting. Hmmm
CATNIP TEA
The principal culinary and medicinal use of catnip is as a tea, which is reputedly calming and sleep-inducing. Sounds like my humans need a few pots a day of the stuff! The English are famous for their tea drinking and in pre-Elizabethan times (the first one not the current one!), the beverage of choice was a relaxing cup of catnip tea. Today catnip remains one of the favourite herb teas for sending both adults and children off to sleep. Studies conducted in the late 1970s confirmed that catnip is indeed a potent sleep-inducer for humans.
For assisting in the relief of stress, headaches, tummy upsets and insomnia, a cup of catnip tea can help. It's relaxing properties can help soothe pain, nervousness, tension and headaches. Good stuff he?
HOW TO MAKE CATNIP TEA
To make a cup of catnip tea use 1 teaspoon of loose dried catnip with 1 cup of boiling water. Make sure the mixture is steeped only and not allowed to boil - this will spoil it. Strain and serve. Try it with lemon or sweetened with honey. Some enjoy this herbal tea with lemon and it can be sweetened to taste with honey. Catnip tea can be consumed up to three times daily.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY .... GROW IT FOR YOUR CAT!! IF YOU CANNOT GROW IT BUY LOTS OF CATNIP TOYS INSTEAD!!
This is terrific stuff - we love it! The cats whiskers!
The whole subject of cat nip and cats has been extensively studied by yours truly, 'normal' responses to the catnip chemicals released when bits of the plant are bruised or broken (not too difficult when I plonk myself on top!) are:
Lots of sniffing and purring
Followed by rubbing the head and cheeks in it
Followed by the whole body roll
Followed by lying there in pure ecstasy
Followed by the humans yelling at me to stop killing the plant!
Apparently about 10% of cats are not affected by catnip - but I am!
ALL ABOUT CATNIP
It is a perennial of the mint family. Catnip was cultivated for cats by the classical Greeks and Romans and reached English herb gardens in the 13th Century. Centuries ago the human used to eat catnip in salads and also used it as a seasoning - not available in Tesco these days though! The humans also make tea out of it (I'm just grateful they don't roll in it like me - think of the damage they could do). The picture shows me with some catmint (which is similar but different!) - it was the only picture I could find. It will give you an idea anyway ...
GROWING CATNIP
Catnip is easily grown in any garden soil and may be increased by dividing the plants in spring, or by sowing seeds. The plant has an aromatic, characteristic odour, which bears a certain resemblance to that of both Mint and Pennyroyal. There is an old saying about this plant:
'If you set it, the cats will eat it
If you sow it, the cats don't know it.'
And it seems to be a fact that plants transplanted are always destroyed by cats unless protected, but they never meddle with the plants raised from seed, being only attracted to it when it is in a withering state, or when the peculiar scent of the plant is excited by being bruised in gathering or transplanting. Hmmm
CATNIP TEA
The principal culinary and medicinal use of catnip is as a tea, which is reputedly calming and sleep-inducing. Sounds like my humans need a few pots a day of the stuff! The English are famous for their tea drinking and in pre-Elizabethan times (the first one not the current one!), the beverage of choice was a relaxing cup of catnip tea. Today catnip remains one of the favourite herb teas for sending both adults and children off to sleep. Studies conducted in the late 1970s confirmed that catnip is indeed a potent sleep-inducer for humans.
For assisting in the relief of stress, headaches, tummy upsets and insomnia, a cup of catnip tea can help. It's relaxing properties can help soothe pain, nervousness, tension and headaches. Good stuff he?
HOW TO MAKE CATNIP TEA
To make a cup of catnip tea use 1 teaspoon of loose dried catnip with 1 cup of boiling water. Make sure the mixture is steeped only and not allowed to boil - this will spoil it. Strain and serve. Try it with lemon or sweetened with honey. Some enjoy this herbal tea with lemon and it can be sweetened to taste with honey. Catnip tea can be consumed up to three times daily.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY .... GROW IT FOR YOUR CAT!! IF YOU CANNOT GROW IT BUY LOTS OF CATNIP TOYS INSTEAD!!
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I read somewhere that if your cat doesn't have the gene for catnip, they won't react to it. I have no clue, I just read. My guy doesn't react to it. Anybody ever eat it for themselves?! lol
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My kitties all love their "Kitty Crack"!
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