Catnip Effects Your Kitty in Interesting Ways
Posted on July 26, 2010
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Catnip effects on your cat can be fun and amusing. He will sniff it, rub his face against it, and probably eat it. The sniffing or inhaling the aroma is what actually produces the euphoria that he experiences. Cats probably chew the catnip to bruise it and release more of the active ingredient called nepetalactone. This “high” lasts about five to ten minutes. It is worthy of note that sniffing the catnip will stimulate your kitty while eating it acts as a sedative.
Scientists studying the catnip effect on cats believe that it induces a psychosexual response in both males and females. The effect is therefore much like an aphrodisiac on your cat. Kitty will probably roll around in it, salivate, run around, and purr for a few minutes. These are all signs that your cat is enjoying the herb. Catnip can be considered one of the healthy treats. As the effect wears off your cat will probably feel like having a little nap.
The quality and potency of the herb will determine how much the effects of catnip will have on your cat. This will be determined by the growing conditions of the plant.
Catnip effects are seen in about 50% to 70% of all cats. The cat’s genetic history will determine whether he will experience the ecstasy associated with catnip. If you have two cats one may love it and the other may show no interest. Cats who have a genetic background and are descended from cats that lived in an area where catnip did not grow generally do not respond to catnip.
Most all very young kittens are not affected. If you kitten is gong to enjoy the catnip effects on cats he will probably start reacting to catnip at the age of about two months. It can take as long as six months, however. If there is no reaction by the age of six months your cat will probably not enjoy the effects of catnip or catnip cat toys.
If your cat is not responding to this catnip treat for your cat you may want to try organic catnip before giving up. Also, the organic varieties are said to be more potent having more nepetalactone. Catnip grows wild in much of the continental United States so growing catnip is relatively easy. It prefers dry growing conditions and can be found along fence lines. Catnip can also be found along railway lines and dump sites. This leads to a precaution: “Do not buy wild grown catnip unless you buy from a trusted source”. Cats should not be eating product that could have been harvested from an area where toxins could be present.
An interesting fact is that most any healthy cat such as cougars, bobcats, lynx, and even lions respond to catnip in the same way as the effects of catnip on cats.
There are desirable catnip effects on humans. The active ingredient is very similar to valerian a common herbal sedative that many folks take to sleep better. Some say catnip also lessens the pain of a migraine headache. Catnip effects have been used by humans to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion and colic.
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