Catnip: Controlled Substance or Just Plain Fun?
Posted by jeanacorina on Oct 27, 2008 · Member since Aug 2007 · 694 posts
Today, as I sprinkled catnip on my beloved kitty's scratching post, my boyfriend got very concerned.
"Isn't it like, a drug?" He asked.
"What? No, it's completely harmless to him. It just makes him happy and want to play on his post instead of with the couch."
"Yeah, but... what is it?"
"It's a plant. Go look it up."
So, he did go look it up, and although every website explained that it is harmless to smell, touch, and even to eat, J still feels like we're drugging little Pouncival. I say, I don't care! It's not going to hurt him, and it makes him hilarious! Cats all over the world love to play with catnip. What do you guys say? I should have told him "No, really, it's fine. It's even vegan."
:-D
Normally I would agree with this line of thinking. Catnip = safe vegan cat fun
However, I never give it to my FeLV cat Baby. I'm too concerned that if he's acting "crazy" on the influence of catnip, I won't recognize symptoms from his illness. He lives a very happy life with over 30 toys that he regularly plays with and he has no problem sticking with his cat tower instead of my couch all without catnip.
From Animal Health Care (a Canadian website)
Besides household cats, catnip also affects lions, bobcats, lynx, leopards, jaguars, pumas, and ocelots. It is interesting to note that even though the response to catnip is widespread among felines, it does not occur in any other species of animal with the possible exception of man.
Since catnip is biochemically related to marijuana and other so-called psychedelic drugs, another theory suggests that the pleasure response in cats is actually similar to that experienced by humans taking similar drugs.
:w00t!: Catnip!!!
Kitties need some excitement too!
This seems too much like parents buying their kids pot.
Not to say that there's anything wrong with that.... :)
Catnip Addict
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii85/Stormflakes/arrow-down.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii85/Stormflakes/My%20Kitties/PICT0046.jpg
never done it. but it sounds funny.
I tried. Cat wasn't attracted to it.
Do you think it'll be possible for me someday to see a picture of one of your cats without telling them through the computer monitor how pretty they are?
Two of my cats go catnip crazy. The other one has no idea what the big deal is and looks at them like "WTF guys...you are freaks." ;D
Two of my cats go catnip crazy. The other one has no idea what the big deal is and looks at them like "WTF guys...you are freaks." ;D
:-D
That is most hilarious!
None of my cats ever liked it either. They wouldn't touch anything...toy, scratching post, etc if I put catnip on it.
I bought a little catnip plant the other day. I haven't given it to our cats yet... they'll probably shred it and eat it within hours, and I wanna watch the hilarity. So maybe this weekend. Then I'll answer the poll. ;D Mum told me that a piece of the plant broke off today while I was at work, and she put it in the bin (the plant is on top of the fridge). Moments later, from the living room she heard *rustle rustle... thump... rustle rustle rustle* :lol: So this oughta be good.
You can never get catnip in S. Spain, even if you ask for it by its Latin name (Nepeda cataria, if anyone's interested.) You get given Valerian, which is known as "hierba gatera" because it smells like cat pee. Not suprisingly, it never fazed my cat.
I haven't tried it on either of my cats. Partly because they're living with my parents, but hey. Next time I go home I may have to drug them.
Gary absolutely loves catnip. We bought her a catnip cigar (why would a cat want a toy shaped like a cigar, anyway!) and she went nuts for it, like really funny drooling all over it and throwing it up in the air and chasing it and stuff.
It was so funny and cute and she seemed to really enjoy it.
*mental note - must buy more catnip*
You can never get catnip in S. Spain, even if you ask for it by its Latin name (Nepeda cataria, if anyone's interested.) You get given Valerian, which is known as "hierba gatera" because it smells like cat pee. Not suprisingly, it never fazed my cat.
Our cats go bonkers over the smell of valerian. It doesn't smell like cat pee to me, or old socks, like it does to some people. Instead, the last time I smelled some (when Mum had bought a jar and put it in the car with us), I honestly thought I'd stepped in dog poop. :lol: I was actually checking my shoes when I realised what the smell was. It's one of those herbs which smells different every time, I've heard, due to the state of one's body at a given time... evidently, if/when you NEED some, it will smell good to you. Odd, but good.
Catnip is hilarious. One of my cats was never interested in it, but the others would go crazy rolling in it or rubbing their face in it, eating it, then usually some crazy running around and playing followed by a semi-crazed stare at the wall.
Yeah, probably a drug. But it's fun.
It's one of those herbs which smells different every time, I've heard, due to the state of one's body at a given time... evidently, if/when you NEED some, it will smell good to you. Odd, but good.
Oh, one of THOSE herbs...
;D