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The Catnip Buzz



 
 
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Old November 17th 06, 02:57 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes,rec.pets.cats.community,rec.pets.cats.health+behav,rec.pets.cats.misc,rec.pets.cats.rescue
stanl3y
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Posts: 9
Default The Catnip Buzz

[You are free to publish this article on your website and in your
newsletter or ezine as long as it remains intact.]

The Catnip Buzz

Cats sleep a lot, have you noticed it? It's a natural part of being
a cat, I'm convinced, because it's a seemingly universal trait.
And really, cats kind of move at their own pace, don't they?
However, should you give your sedate kitty a deep whiff of catnip, the
party will come alive. Suddenly this sedate, dormant feline will
'wake up' and frolic and be as frisky as a kitten again.

Then...

Two to fifteen minutes pass by and your cat comes back down from the
moon and returns to the same sedate cat you've come to love - the
effects of the catnip totally gone.

So yes, the catnip can have an effect, but why do cats react to it that
way?

Did you know that not all cats react to catnip? It's true. About
one third to half of all domestic cats are totally unaffected. In
fact, the classic catnip 'fever' is inherited - a kitten with one
parent who reacts and one that doesn't has a 50 percent chance (one
out of two) of reacting themselves. Cats that have both parents that
react have a 75 percent chance (three out of four) to react to it
themselves. Also, kittens younger than four months usually do not
react to catnip - but do that really need it anyway And catnip has a
lessened effect on older cats.

So what is the magic ingredient of catnip that drives the kitties wild?
It's a oil called napetalactone. However, researchers still don't
know why it causes cats to go nuts.

Did you know that even big cats - lions, leopards, cheetahs, pumas can
also catch the catnip buzz. Interestingly enough, tigers seem to be
immuned.

The catnip buzz seems to come more from topical exposure rather than
from ingesting it. If you watch, most cats with catnip will sniff at
it, rub up against it. Those that eat it can experience the opposite
effect, which is act as a sedative instead as a stimulant.

So can this catnip high be dangerous for you feline friend? Catnip is
chemically related to cannibis and effects typically last no more than
15 minutes. In fact, after about 15 minutes, most cats loose interest
altogether. Interestingly, most cats will not react again for a
minimum of an hour. Also, studies have shown that cats do no become
dependant on the substance.

Not all cats react the same way to catnip. Typically, the response is
increase friskiness and playfulness, but there are some cats that
actually become more aggressive with its use.

So, in summary, catnip seems to be a safe, recreational drug for your
kitty-cat.

Regards,

Stan Beck

P.S.
You can get more quality information is this 5-part Minicourse called
Kitty Health Secrets Minicourse - http://kittychef.com/kittyhealth

 




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