While Catnip is a herb with medicinal effect for people, it has different and much stronger effects on cats. Why does this undemanding perennial plant have an intoxicating effect on cats?
Catnip is nicknamed cat drug or cat cocaine and it has every right to be called so. When some cats come into contact with it, they roll on floor, salivate uncontrollably, basically look like drugged.
Catnip produces chemicals cat strongly react to. A substance causing cat intoxication is called nepetalactone which is a type of a chemical substance called terpene. This little molecule stands behind a whole series of events.
In other plants, terpenes are formed with one enzyme but in catnip, two enzymes created in a two-level process create them. The two-level process have never been observed earlier and scientist assume that something similar is present in the synthesis of anticancer drugs obtained from a tropical plant called Madagascar Periwinkle. Besides this finding, the study also identified three new enzymes with unusual activity.
Only about a half of cats react to catnip and the predisposition for that is hereditary. Another curiosity is the fact that kittens are immune to the drug-like effect of catnip to the age of approximately 8 weeks. The individuals that are sensitive to this plant seek it, shred it, eat it and roll around in it. You can notice a change of their behaviour – they can shake or turn their head, roll around on floor, sneeze, spin around and meow, lick themselves or salivate. The effect of nepetalactone lasts for approximately 10 minutes, then its influence on the cat dampens until it completely subsides.
Also valerine has similar effect on cats as catnip. If your cat doesn’t mind catnip, you can also try that or silver vine. What works for your cat? Mine is attracted to both catnip and silver vine, I haven’t tried valerine yet.
Choosing the right dog food is a beginning and the end of caring for your pet dog. We, as dog lovers, also know that quality dog food is not only positive for the health but also for the overall well-being of the animal. When choosing the dog food,...
Do you have any favourite books you would recommend your friends to read? Are any books about pets among those? Today, I will share with you the names of six books about dogs any animal lover shouldn’t miss in my opinion.
Who didn’t want an animal companion as a child? Keeping pets can be valuable experience for children. An animal companion also brings a lot of joy to the household. But taking care of a pet also brings many duties and responsibility. How to choose...
“You look so sad, you’re definitely hungry, here you are.” This is the sentence I often hear when my dog shows one of its dog faces. And he deserves “little something to eat” doing it before I even manage to do anything against that. To feed a dog...
Do you like travelling? And do you like travelling by plane? You don’t have to leave your dog or cat at home during your holidays. Some airlines allow small pets on the board if they are in a crate. What other conditions you have to meet?
We, as cat lovers, can’t get enough of cats and that’s why we also like to read books about them. Look at some of them you shouldn’t really miss.
Miniature dog breeds have specific requirements for nutrition and care in general. Their physical development is much faster. Besides from their subtle composition of body and jaws, it is therefore also necessary to take into account their fast...
It would probably entirely unnecessary to describe the appearance of the German Shepherd. Probably everyone, even non-dog-lovers, have seen the German series Inspector Rex.
Getting a cat doesn’t mean only buying a cat toilet, bowls, a bed and a couple of toys. You also have to realise that the animal will also need certain care and count with this already before getting it. Each breed has its own specifics. While some are...
The Persian longhairs have most likely descended from the Turkish Angoras, were bred in England at the end of the 19th century. Since then, they have undergone great changes, and today they have a much more compact body in comparison to the original...
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a dog, with which you will definitely won’t get bored. The owners say that it’s often a great adventure with them. They are mesmerising animals and they definitely can’t deny their wolf ancestors. What is typical for all...
Do you take your dog or cat regularly on trips and holidays across the Czech Republic? Is travelling with your dog or cat fun for you and not a horror? Have you got a destination in mind, where you’d like to stay for longer or you’re even planning a...
