Catnip frenzy
Catnip - A Herbal Experience
Catnip is hugely fascinating to
cats and cat lovers alike. There are about 250 different
species of Nepeta cataria and it is variously referred to as
catnip or catmint. Catnip can be found stuffed in cat toys,
bought loose or grown in the garden. There are even varieties
that release lemon scents. Some people use catnip to encourage
their cat to use certain toys, particularly scratching
posts.
Trigger a Reaction
Not every cat will respond to
catnip - the reaction is thought to be 'hard-wired' according
to an individual cat's genetic make-up. Around 80% of cats in
the UK respond to catnip, yet in Australia most cats don't
respond at all as they descended from a small genetic pool of
non-responders. It's also been observed that kittens don't tend
to show a response to catnip until they are 6-8 weeks old and
that it can take until 12 weeks of age before the behaviour is
fully developed.
Feline Frenzy!
The cats that respond to catnip
tend to show euphoric behaviour, rolling around, purring,
yowling, licking, leaping and even salivating. This intense
reaction lasts just a few minutes and the behaviour doesn't
tend to be repeated again for 1-2 hours. Repeated exposure
tends to make a cat less likely to react to catnip so there is
no risk of addictive behaviours developing. Some experts have
recommended that cat owners only offer catnip twice a week if
they want their cat to continue to enjoy the catnip
experience.
Works Wonders?
Cats don't tend to eat catnip
but it is not uncommon to see them chewing at the leaves or
pressing them up against the roof of the mouth. This action
releases the oils containing the active ingredient which is
called nepetalactone. It is thought that smell is the main
route by which nepetalactone exerts its effects and the active
ingredient tends to degrade over time. For this reason catnip
should be kept in the freezer until it is time to use it.
Growing Greens
It is not uncommon to see cats
chewing grass outdoors; an experience that indoor cats are
often deprived off. Although cat grass is not thought to offer
any nutritional value or to be an essential requirement, it is
widely believed that cats derive some enjoyment from the
experience. Offering grass can also prevent your cat from
chewing houseplants, many of which are toxic. Useful grass
species can be bought in seed form and grown indoors. Softer
varieties such as wheat or oat grass are most commonly
recommended as they are less likely to stick to, or damage the
tongue. Repeated sowings of seeds every few weeks are best, as
cats appear to most enjoy young, rapidly growing shoots. When
the grass is 8-10cm tall place it next to food and water bowls,
allowing your cat free access. Some cats may bring up hairballs
containing grass but there is no need to worry about this - in
fact some people believe that grass can be useful in preventing
hairballs from causing obstructions and blockages.