Catnip???

[LindaTX]

Does anybody know what it is about catnip that makes cats love it soooo much?  Can it be addictive or can they get too much of it?    

[FurballsMom]

Savas has such a way of describing things.  LOL

[heatherlynn22]

lol savas. i've got the funniest mental picture of 8 cats, in one room going insane and fur (like feather after a big pillow fight) flying everywhere.

[Savas]

We don't give our cats catnip.

We've got 8 cats over here and tossing some catnip into the room... I get the feeling it would be like setting off a fur-grenade.

I'd come back to find they'd left a scene of destruction that would resemble the the Storming of Normandy.

Just the idea is giving me the shudders!!!

[heatherlynn22]

it is hilarious. my moms cats do love it. venus DOES love her treats though. the little oinker.

[LindaTX]

Isn't it funny how some cats LOVE it and others couldn't care less.  I wonder why. I have one cat, Aramis, who looks like a fat racoon, and he could care less but the others crave it.  I put it on their scratching post and their little yarn balls. I love to watch them enjoy it.

[heatherlynn22]

you know we tried to give venus catnip a few times. that snot ignored it. was NOT interested in it at all. she sniffed it, stuck her nose in the air like we made her smell poo and she walked away. we have the oddest cat in the world. lol.

[FurballsMom]

This thread reminded me that I hadn't given Akira any catnip for a while.  So, I asked her if she wanted some "nip".  Her answer was a meow that sounded much like "Yes" Then, she kept meowing insistently 'til I gave it to her.  I opened the airtight seal of the jar it's in and had it on the floor to get her interested even more.  She was sniffing at it really good.  Then, she had this puzzled look on her face that looked like she was wondering how she was going to get at that catnip.  Then, I finally placed the "nip" by her food dishes, since that's where she prefers it.  She definitely likes catnip and she definitely wanted that catnip.  She will sometimes stand up and beg for her "nip", too.  

[LindaTX]

Oh my gosh, are you serious?  My cats love it but I think they may be getting addicted to it. They don't act spaced out, maybe just mellowed out.  Maybe I should try some lol.

[mandykat]

I'm not sure where in the world I heard this, but it's supposed to be similar to an LSD trip in humans??

[Piparskeggr]

Interesting...

Most of our cats have loved Catnip, including all 4 of the current clowder.

April Dancer (the little "Tuxedo" cat in my photo album) preferred horehound.

[HelpinUtah]

I remember hearing once that catnip is good for our cats.  I can't remember where but I did hear that we can't give them too much.  Although I'm still leary about that and only give them a little at a time.  Of my 5 cats, 3 of them love it!  They actually eat it and like I said I've heard it's good for them.  Maybe someone else will come along with better knowledge than me.

[IMstacie]

Catnip contains a chemical called nepetalactone.  I read where it acts like a sex pheromone on cats. Also, it's supposed to be genetic so not all cats have it.

stacie