Today, Cats Rule and Dogs Drool as we take a peek at the remarkable effect of Catnip has on cats. Perhaps you readers would like to share some of their experiences and thoughts on this amazing phenomenon? I certainly would love to have your stories and input no matter how trivial they may seem to you.

Question

Last week while in a local pet shop, I noticed sachets of catnip for sale. I wondered what this brown, bland-smelling herb could possibly possess and decided to buy some. The effect was amazing. My cats sniffed and clawed at my bag, grabbed the sachets,  ripped them open in a matter of seconds, fell on the contents and rolled around in ecstasy while my dogs looked on in disdain.
Had my cats been transported into another world where all cats are equal, from tiger to genet or were they perhaps communicating with relatives in ancient Egyptian times when cats were revered and sat proudly at the feet of pharaohs?  Or maybe the plant has aphrodisiac qualities?
I subsequently bought a catnip bush to plant in my garden but in less than an hour only the roots remained!
I wonder if Glynne can throw some light on this strange herb which affects cats and whether it is beneficial in any way?

What a great subject and I will certainly try to answer your questions, although at the end of the day, what exactly goes on in your individual kitty’s head during a catnip-trip is strictly personal and only your cat will know for sure.

Catnip or Catmint (Nepeta Cataria) is a member of the Mint family, grows wild in Europe and North America and is obtainable in South Africa where it does very well, providing there are no Catnip addicts in the neighbourhood!

The attraction for cats has been traced to a chemical in the plant called nepeta-lactone which when, smelt, tasted, chewed, rubbed against or licked appears to send a wide variety of felines off to the magic realm of La-la-land. So yes, the effect on your cat could be tripping the light fantastic with lions and tigers or swopping notes with ancient ancestors and yes, Catnip may even light their fire and give them X-rated thoughts!
Reactions in both sexes show comparative heat signs of the female which is kneading movements, rolling around and pulling faces as if to have a bad smell under their noses.  Sometimes our little darlings even stare at ghostycats or hunt imaginary mice or buffalos but whatever it is that blows their fur back, they certainly seem to have a jolly, fine time doing it.
In spite of the high jinx performed by cats when under the influence, Catnip is not a drug nor is it addictive or harmful in any way. In fact it is the perfect, Pussy-pick-me-up with no side effects. No wonder it is bottled or sold in sachets.
 Here are some interesting facts:

• Not all cats respond to the allures of Catnip
• Sensitivity to Catnip appears to be genetic as two reactive parents will produce kittens with a 3-in-4 chance of becoming responsive.
• The intensity of the reactions differ from cat to cat - some may be mildly reactive for a few minutes while others may go totally overboard  for as long as 15 minutes.
• More than 50% of cats go into a deep trance.
• There seems to be no correlation between coat colour, breed or sex.
• Toms appear to show a stronger response than queens.
• Kittens under the age of three months do not react in any way which proves Catnip is strictly for adults only!

Question

I feed my cats very expensive pellets which they really love but only when I first buy them.     I have noticed they go mad to get at the packet when it’s first opened but a few days later they seem to lose interest and prefer other food.
Any ideas why this could be?

I have heard this remark from many cat owners in the past who claim the very same thing. I can only think maybe one of the ingredients in the food is Catnip which actually has a short shelf-life and should be kept in the freezer for optimum freshness. Perhaps you could experiment with your brand of cat food by also keeping it in the freezer, thawing it out before serving and monitoring your cats’ reaction.  Please let me know the results as I’m sure many others will also be interested.