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.
Many times, I was left standing with my mouth open when I was watching the fall maneuvres of my cat partner. I was curious and started to look for more information about where the cat ability to always fall onto all fours come from along with their...
Sri Lanka – a holiday paradise in south-eastern Asia, the promised land for travellers. It is no problem to communicate here in English, the prices are relatively low, the locals are poor, but friendly… However, to dog lovers, apart from the fairy-tale...
A pet brings joy, that’s what everybody who lives with one in a joint household knows. With its playfulness and unconditional love, it often distracts us from stressful thoughts and duties. It teaches us to live here and now, to concentrate on the...
In this series, we will get to know famous dog personalities. Dogs, after all, play an important role in our life, so let us take a look what have they already managed to achieve during the time of us living together. Bobbie walked an incredible 4000...
Did you know, that such watches exist? You can join them as well. I’ve first heard about these watches referenced this year while on holiday doing a crossing of Šumava (the Bohemian Forest). And of course, I had to find out more!
If your dog sniffs on every corner when you’re walking it, nosework would probably be the right sport for it. Do you know, what it is?
Same as with dog record holders, we will find many cat records as well. For example, do you know, what is the record in the number of cats living under one roof?
Are you interested in how big the tallest dog is, how small is the smallest one or perhaps how many balls a dog managed to stuff in its mouth? Among the typical records such as age or size, we will find also a few more peculiar ones, so let us have a...
Securing windows and balconies is one of the first things that you need to arrange at home, when a cat arrives into the family. Do you know, what your options are?
Everyone, who has a cat at home, is definitely aware of its beneficial influence. When you are down or worried, nothing beats a purring ball of fur settled on your lap or a cat which massages you with its small claws. However, did you know, that...
Japan is not the only country, that has an island full of rabbits. Did you know, that you can find one even in the Czech Republic?
It is clear to every cat owner, that a fluffy needs its own place where it will feel safe, where it can laze about, play, scratch and climb. Not every cat will like a scratching post or a tree, but if your cat belongs among those who love it, the...
