Catnip (Nepeta Cataria) is an herb belonging to the mint family which has been used da man since the days of Ancient Egypt and da Gatti for even longer. It has a remarkable effect on many cats, stimulating them and relaxing them at the same time. The plant is a perennial, common throughout Europa and Asia, as well as in North America where it was introduced many years ago. Its feline appeal lies in a chemical called nepetalactone which is present in its stem and leaves. Although the plant exudes its characteristic odor all the time, it is much più attractive to Gatti when the shoots are damaged o withered.
Nepetalactone is an unsaturated lactone that does for some Gatti what marijuana does for some people. Gatti take off on a ten minuto "trip" during which they appear to be in a state of ecstasy, rubbing and rolling on the plant. All species of Gatti react in this way, even lions, but not every individual reacts to it. The deciding factor is genetic. Fifty to sixty percent of adult Gatti mostra a reaction to catnip. For the first two months of life gattini are repelled da catnip. The positive o neutral response does not appear until they are three months old.
Scientists have not determined how o why the chemical substance in catnip affects cats. They assert that it does no lasting damage and that after the catnip "trip" the cat is back to normal with no ill effects. Valerian and Canadian Honeysuckle are plants that produce similar behaviors in cats.
While cat owners may have reservations about offering their Gatti loose catnip, they will find that catnip stuffed in toys heightens the cat's interest in stationary toys that would otherwise be considered "dead prey", lifeless and boring. Toys that have pouches for catnip offer an advantage in that they can be emptied and refilled with fresh catnip. SmartCat has designed several of these toys. A new alternative to loose catnip, which can be messy, is catnip-infused plastic discs. These discs give off the smell of catnip for up to three months. Catnip toys should be stored in an airtight container with a pinch of catnip and brought out for twenty minuti play at a time. Like any herb, it looses its essential oils if left exposed to the air.
Nepetalactone is an unsaturated lactone that does for some Gatti what marijuana does for some people. Gatti take off on a ten minuto "trip" during which they appear to be in a state of ecstasy, rubbing and rolling on the plant. All species of Gatti react in this way, even lions, but not every individual reacts to it. The deciding factor is genetic. Fifty to sixty percent of adult Gatti mostra a reaction to catnip. For the first two months of life gattini are repelled da catnip. The positive o neutral response does not appear until they are three months old.
Scientists have not determined how o why the chemical substance in catnip affects cats. They assert that it does no lasting damage and that after the catnip "trip" the cat is back to normal with no ill effects. Valerian and Canadian Honeysuckle are plants that produce similar behaviors in cats.
While cat owners may have reservations about offering their Gatti loose catnip, they will find that catnip stuffed in toys heightens the cat's interest in stationary toys that would otherwise be considered "dead prey", lifeless and boring. Toys that have pouches for catnip offer an advantage in that they can be emptied and refilled with fresh catnip. SmartCat has designed several of these toys. A new alternative to loose catnip, which can be messy, is catnip-infused plastic discs. These discs give off the smell of catnip for up to three months. Catnip toys should be stored in an airtight container with a pinch of catnip and brought out for twenty minuti play at a time. Like any herb, it looses its essential oils if left exposed to the air.
