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10 Facts About Catnip And Cats

June 1st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

1. Catnip is the popular name for a plant of Asiatic origin called Nepeta Cataria.The stem and leaves have a volatile oil containing a chemical called Nepetalacone which is responsible for creating that ‘catnip effect’

2. Catnip” and “catmint” are two different varieties of nepeta, a perennial ground cover and member of the mint family, growing 2- to 3-feet high. Catmint is Nepeta Faassenii which forms soft mounds about 2-feet high. Both varieties grow throughout North America.

3. Catnip is native to Europe and Asia. Over 2000 years ago Romans used it for cooking and healing. During the Middle Ages, catnip was used for the treatment of nervousness, colds, and gastrointestinal complaints. It was introduced to the New World by early settlers who cultivated the herb for medicinal purposes and food.

4. Not all cats have the same response to catnip. Only about 2/3 of the cat population will feel the effects of catnip. The other 1/3 will not feel anything because they do not possess the inherited gene that is needed to respond to to catnip.

5  Young kittens don’t show the typical reactions to catnip until they are over 3 months old, and are often repulsed by it.

6. A cat can eventually become immune to catnip if continually exposed to it. Care should be taken not to overexpose a cat to catnip if it is being used to modify behaviour.

7. Sniffing catnip is harmless and non-addictive to the cat

8. Catnip is easy to grow, and the fresher the product, the more the reaction a cat will show. Many toys for cats are sold as “with catnip”. These are supposed to encourage the cat to play,but if they have been on the shelf for any length of time I find that they lose some of their effectiveness. Toys which are made with fresh catnip are better.

9. Catnip has a completely different effect if taken internally  - instead of making the cat frisky it actually sedates the cat.

10.There are other plants which have the same effects as catnip on felines. Valerian is one example,as are plants which contain Actinidine.

Using Catnip To Improve Your Cat’s Behaviour

May 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Catnip is an hallucinogen that minimizes a cat’s inhibition. Its safe effects can be used to successfully improve a cat’s behaviour. Catnip creates a feeling of euphoria that can last about fifteen minutes but is very safe for cats and is not addictive at all.

On coming into contact with catnip, cats will roll in it, lick it, or even devour the herb.They will rub up against it repeatedly with head and chin, then purr loudly, growl, meow, roll over and even leap about. Many of these movements are similar to a cat in heat, leading to the theory that catnip is a female feline aphrodisiac. However this is debatable as it affects both male and female alike.

Catnip is so powerful that it can make even the laziest of cats become playful. It is an amazing reliever of tension, so it’s great to be used after your cats have experienced a tense or stressful situation. An example would be after your cats were car traveling with you, or if you have had company in the house that caused them to become uneasy.

Catnip is also a great tool to use when helping a very timid or frightened cat become more confident. Whether you have purchased a new cat that is timid or have rescued a scared one from the shelter, catnip will almost always do the trick to get them to react in a more vibrant and friendly manner and this is a great time to start a play session for these timid felines.

If you own more than one cat and are introducing one of them to catnip, it would be best to keep it away from the other cats until you can assess the effect of the catnip. Some males may have a tendency to cross the line from friendly play to dominant aggression while they are under the influence of catnip. By separating the first-time catnip user from the rest of the group, you can easily see what his attitude will be in response to the herb. If your cat turns out to react in a friendly manner, then it is safe to allow him to have catnip with the rest.

Catnip Balls - 3-PackGet your cat out of the rut with these fun balls - all filled with Canadian catnip. After all, your furry friend needs to stay fit! And what’s more fun than hunting down these soft fluffy balls all over the flat?Diameter approx. 5 cm, color may differ from photo.

Premium Catnip Pillows - 1 pillowA pretty toy specially designed for cats. Interior only uses high-quality colorfast materials. The pillows are filled with high-grade catnip, made using only the flowers and leaves of the Canadian catnip plant (guaranteed free from pesticides and chemicals). Each pillow contains c. 3 tsp catnip.

Do You Need Cat Health Insurance ?

May 2nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Many pet owners tend to take the the health of their cats for granted, especially if they are young and predominantly indoor cats. If any accidents or unexpected illnesses do occur, the financial costs of health care and veterinary bills for your cat can spiral into thousands of dollars. Some loving cat owners simply can’t afford to have their pet treated and have to make heartbreaking decisions.

Statistics show that one in three pets will need emergency veterinary treatment every year. Two out of every three pets will experience a significant health problem during their lifetime. These figures are for all pets and I suspect that cats being quite hardy creatures compared to some other pets, the ratios would be lower for felines. Even so the recent crisis in the pet food industry (see my last post What Are you Feeding Your Cat - Is it Safe?) has emphasised how important Cat health insurance can be. For example, PetCare Pet Insurance company states that

“all PetCare Pet Insurance policies will cover any kidney damage (including both the diagnosis and treatment) for any cat or dog which was exposed to any of the tainted pet food (now recalled) as long as the animal was enrolled in a PetCare Insurance Policy prior to the onset of symptoms. Coverage will be provided up to the coverage limit under the category of Poison Ingestion (Accident coverage).”

PetCare has started paying out on the first claims. Without this affordable pet insurance, many of the affected cats’ owners would have had difficulty affording to pay for treatment. If you are able to pay out quite large sums of money unexpectedly, then you can manage quite easily without any Cat health insurance. For those of who can’t, but want to be able to give our precious cats the best possible treatment when they need it, then Cat health insurance is worth looking into.
Choosing a simple, affordable monthly payment plan will give you the peace of mind that you will be able to cope with any future cat health care problems.
Visit cat insurance reviews for more information and reviews on Cat health insurance.

What Are you Feeding Your Pet - is it safe?

April 19th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are a cat owner, you are probably already aware of the recent pet food recall particularly hitting America. It appears to involve wet and dry pet foods contaminated with a chemical found in plastics and pesticides. Federal testing of some recalled pet foods and the wheat gluten used in their production turned up the chemical melamine. Experts suspect that a greater sensitivity of cats to the chemical could explain why they’ve died in larger numbers than dogs after eating contaminated pet food.

To find out more, visit this news link

This recall reinforces some of the worries that many pet owners have about what exactly is in the food they are feeding to their treasured pets.”Food Pets Die For” is a well- written 176 pages book by Ann N. Martin in which she calls attention to the dubious ingredients and methods employed by many pet manufacturing firms.

She puts pressure on the big companies to find alternatives and suggests that if acceptable commercially prepared food is not available, food can be made at home using safe and human-quality ingredients. Recipes and suggestions for supplements are provided in the latter half of the book.

This book is currently discounted from $13.95 to $10.46 . For information on shipping (it is a “real” book, not an e-book) and to buy, please click on Food Pets Die For

7 Tips For Bathing And Grooming your Cat

March 25th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

1. It is best to introduce a cat to being bathed at a young age - the earlier the better. If your cat shows a distinct dislike to being bathed you can use a powder shampoo or wipe him down with a damp washcloth or wipe, so he can become gradually used to being washed.

2. When you are giving a cat a bath, it is better to use a cup or bowl to pour water onto the cat. They tend to freak out when a sprayer is used.

3. Make sure your cat will feel safe during bathing. Never fill the bathwater past his knees. If the water is deeper, the cat will probably panic and feel like he must start “swimming” or he will drown. Make bathing as stress-free as possible for kitty.

4. Cats usually do not have an odour. If yours does, check his body and mouth for a sore or abscess. Infection can cause the smell and antibiotics may be needed. If you can’t locate the source of the smell, take your cat to be checked by a vet.

5. Introduce your cat to grooming with a grooming mitt or glove. They love being petted and rubbed with the gloves. Then gradually introduce a cat brush or comb, like the Safari Flea Comb for Cats .

6. Sprinkle your cat with unscented talcum powder or baby powder before brushing, rubbing the powder into his fur. This will help the brush separate the cat’s hair and it helps to loosen any tangles.

7. Cats continually groom and lick themselves by instinct. Licking any scent they may have off of their bodies helps them to stalk prey without being detected by smell. Even if they aren’t aggressive hunters, they will still lick and groom as part of their feline make-up. However, watch out for excessive licking to such an extent that his fur starts falling out.This is not normal and may indicate a serious neurological problem. A visit to the vet is needed!

How To Prevent Cat Fights

March 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Understanding the reasons why a cat fight can start can help you to reduce any outbreaks. So what are the most common reasons?

• Cats may be fighting over their territory or for the rights to mate with a female.
• Feline maternal instincts are also another common cause - for example, if a mother cat feels the need to defend her kittens.
• Bringing a new cat into your home with an older cat can cause resentment.

To keep hostilities to a low level, there are some precautionary steps you can take. Sprinkle both cats with powder and rub it into their coats so that they smell similar and will not irritate each other as much. Or, rubbing the cats down with one towel can help to transfer their scents to each other. 
It is only natural that when a new cat is introduced into the home of an older cat they will need time to get to know each other. This may involve some major hissing and growling. Introducing a new cat into the home slowly will help the older cat adjust to the new arrival and will help reduce the chance of a face-to-face cat fight. Many cat owners suggest keeping a new cat in a bathroom or bedroom for a few days away from the older cat. Feed the older cat by the door where the new cat is living so the two cats can smell each other and virtually eat side by side – even though a door is separating them!
Let the new cat roam in the home for a while and put the older cat in the new cat’s room.This gives the new cat the chance to explore the home, find a hiding place if she wants and learn the smell of the older cat. The older cat will spend her time in the new cat’s room smelling and becoming accustomed to the new cat’s smell, too. Then return the animals to their original places and leave the door slightly open for a few hours. This will enable the cats to see each other. Repeating this process for a couple of days will slowly introduce the cats to each other without an all out war occurring in your home.
Once the new cat emerges and she and the older cat are living together in the home there may be romps and occasional acts of aggression.Your new cat and your older cat may never be bosom buddies, but they can learn to co-habitat together peacefully. Introducing them to each other slowly can go far in helping even the most aloof housemates tolerate each other.

Cat owners who have more than one cat may have difficulty deciding whether their cats are playing or having a real cat fight. A cat fight usually consists of hissing, screaming, wrestling, biting and slaps, but if the cats are taking turns being the dominant cat or the aggressor, it is probably a play fight. If they are actually hurting each other, then it is a real cat fight! Be careful! Don’t try to break up a cat fight physically. The best method to stop a cat fight is to do something which distracts or scares the cats such as making loud noises or soaking them with a bucket of water. 

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Credits:| Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund