|
Catnip can usually turn a quiet kitty into a playful, drooling furball after just a few sniffs. It's mostly the scent of the catnip that sends kittys into a frenzy, not the taste.
The chemical Nepetalactone, found in catnip seems to have a mildly hallucinogenic effect on cats. It is similar to a chemical found in the urine of female cats. This may be why unneutered males have stronger reactions to catnip than females and neutered males. Its been heard that even lions, pumas, and leopards are said to enjoy catnip. Not all cats react to catnip though. We have one cat that just likes to eat it and doesnt seem to have any effect while others become so drooly you have to take cover from the flying spit! Kittens don't react to catnip until they are six to nine months old. If you want the real "good stuff", grow your own. Don't bother with the dried out stuff you find at stores. Catnip comes back every year and self seeds itself so you should have an abundent supply over the years. It can grow up to 3 ft or more with bluish flowers in the mid-summer. The leaves are light green with a nice scalloped edge. Catnip is a member of the mint family. When buying seeds or potted plants, which you can obtain from most local garden centers or even online nurseries, make sure you get the common catnip, Nepenta Cataria. There are ornamental catnips out there now that will not do anything for your kitty. To start catnip from seed, you'll need a light soil mixture with good drainage. Make sure there are holes at the bottom. Fill the bottom portion with soil, water down, sprinkle on some seeds, and cover lightly with about 1/8th in of soil. A small teranium type planter is good. This way the seeds will stay moist, not dry out and air can still get in if theres a breather hole at the top. Do not let them dry out and be careful they are not too damp or they will just rot. You can transplant them when there are at least 3-4 leaves on them. Once they get 4 - 5 sets of leaves, pinch off the top two. When the sides get 4-5 leaves, pinch them back too and your plant will start to get bushy. You must have patience growing the first year. Catnip will grow happily in patio pots or as a part of the vegetable or flower garden. Once the catnip is well established and growing well, they can survive long periods of drought. Catnip can be harvested when the stems get to be about one foot tall. If you have mild winters you can continue picking throughout the winter. Cut the stems when the leaves are dry of morning dew and hang upside down in an airy, shaded place to cure. When completely dried and crumbly, crunch the leaves into a paper bag and throw away the stems. Put the catnip in a seal type baggy and most importantly put the baggy where your furball can not get at it. They have good sniffers and will find it. If they do, you will have a huge mess to clean up! OTHER USES: If you are handy when it comes to sewing, you can make your own catnip filled toys insteading of paying alot of your local store. You can even take some of their toys and store them in the catnip bag and bring out a different toy when your kitty seems bored with what they've got. You can also use it for Catnip tea but read the following before you use it for human consumption CATNIP & HUMANS |
If You Came Through A Search Engine
