Conference misery::feline_v1

    I have some questions about catnip too... Tashti (our 5 month old
    kitten) is getting his first catnip toy this Xmas.  Can someone
    describe exactly what catnip is/does?  Is it like a drug?  Is the
    cat/kitten actually "high"?  Does it involve a personality change
    (temporary or permanent)?  Would it hurt to give it to a young kitten?
    
    I was a little bit against giving Tashti a catnip toy originally,
    since I didn't want a "drugged up" kitty.  However, I have since
    broken in since my s.o. doesn't want to deprive little Tashti from
    something he'd derive so much pleasure from.  Does anyone out there
    have any opinions?  Bad experiences with catnip etc.?
    
    Thanks in advance for all your input!
    Ruby/Tashti
    

    
    I think that catnip is actually an herb rather than a drug.  I've
    heard of people using it in their tea (although I've never tried
    it).  As far as my kitties go, Buttons loves to beat up her mousy
    - she flings it in the air, bats it around, rolls on it, drools
    on it, kicks the daylights out of it, and just has a grand 'ol time!
    Puffin likes the mousy when it is fresh out of the box but otherwise
    doesn't seem to care too much.  I've never had any bad experiences
    with catnip, just a LOT of FUN.  
    
    Joanne
    Puffin & Buttons
    

    Dazed eyes ... laying paws up ... thought I'd die laughing!!
    
    Yes, I sprinkled some catnip on the living room carpet.  Cocoa
    proceeded to sniff at it, paw at the rug, rolled on that spot
    then tried to bite a hole in the rug.  I grabbed the dust
    buster, or is that the bust duster, and vacuumed it quickly.
    He still goes to that spot and tries to chew up the rug.  Not
    too good on wall-to-wall, but he was funny.
    
    I've been told it's like when a human takes a nip of brandy or
    bourbon.  That's why it's called cat'nip'.  I haven't given
    him any since because I'm not sure how much is safe either.
    
    Can someone enlighten us?
    
    BJ
    

    Well, catnip is an herb, but it also contains a drug, just like
    marijuana, only for cats, not people. 
    
    Only about 50% of cats respond to it and it is triggered by the
    hormonal changes at adolescence. Small kittens won't be interested.
    We have one who gets crazy and one who must like the taste, cause
    he eats it but shows no effects.
    
    It doesn't do them any harm, and the effects wear off rather rapidly.
    I've seen outdoor cats seek out patches of it and just roll all
    over it until they can't stand up.
                                    
    No, cats can't over dose on it. When they've had enough they'll
    walk away from it. 
    

    This note brings back memories :-).  I keep my loose catnip in a
    baggied stored inside a tin (otherwise the cats would have unlimited
    access to it).  Well, one day I opened the tin and sprinkled a little
    catnip in the top for Space and some in the bottom of the tin for
    Dubbers.  I put the tin on the floor to let them have at it, put
    the baggie on a shelf and went upstairs to visit someone.  Well,
    when I came back down, there was catnip from one end of the carpet
    to the other and the cats were COVERED in it from rolling around.
    They must have had the time of their lives - they were hysterical!
    Since then I always make sure to put the baggie where they can't
    reach it or smell it.
    
    Joy

    The only I ever take is not to let the cat out immediately after
    exposing it to catnip.  (That was when we had an "outdoor" kitty)
    
    I think catnip has a hallucinogen in it for cats, and letting them
    out is a bad idea.

    Re: .4
    
    You mentioned that catnip only effects cats that have gone through
    the adolescence stage.  Do you know when this happens for a cat?
    Is 5-6 months an adolescent or still a kitten?
    
    Also-- for the 50% of cats that ARE effected by catnip, do they
    all respond in the same way?  Several responses here have mentioned
    jumping and rolling around, glazed eyes, laying with paws in the
    air etc.  Does catnip ever act like a depressent?  Any other
    descriptions of how your cat(s) react to catnip would be appreciated!
    

    Also re .4:
    
    If the catnip really is "like marijuana", only for kitties, can
    one assume that there may be some long term effects if the cat is
    given too much too frequently?  In other words, am I slowly but
    surely knocking off TJ's brain cells? (Not that he's got that much
    to lose.  He's never been too bright, but I'd like him to hang on
    to what little he's got!)
                                  

    No catnip is not "like" marajuana. Catnip is an herb, which contains a
    substance (by definition a drug)which causes some cats to react to it.
    Marijuana is an herb which contains a substance (by definition a drug)
    which causes people to react to it. That's all my analogy meant. No
    catnip doesn't cause brain damage (but how can you tell in some cats
    ;-).
     

    Aja got her first exposure to catnip when she was about 4 months
    old. You could see the look of exultation on her face ("My mom
    told me about this, but I NEVER imagined it would be like THIS!")
    Or maybe it was drool. I dunno, there was SOMETHING on her face!
    
    Anyhow, I grow fresh catnip indoors for her. She never touches the
    growing plant, but really loves it when I rub Senor Mouse around
    in the leaves. She sit's on him, kicks and bites him, throws him
    in my beer and then goes hunting for demons. (She KNOWS there are~r
    demons in my house. She sees them!!)
    
    She's got her habit under control...
    
    Edd

         
    
          i'm certainly not an expert, but i have heard that cats will
    react to catnip up to a certain point, and then something shuts
    off the "response" when their body has reached a saturation level.
    
       so, they'll roll and go crazy...get glazed eyes (like my boys)
    but at a certain point, the stimulus response in their nose shuts
    off, so they can't o.d.
    
    
       of course, this is just what i've heard...from a friend who read
    it in some book (what a reference, huh??!)...i'll try to research
    it more, but it sounds valid...and seems to correspond to my
    critters....
    
    
               kat
    
    

    I don't think my cat has a "breaking" point for catnip. One time
    he got into the catnip I had hidden (he opened the cabinet and ripped
    apart 4 layers of plastic) and ate about 5 ounces! And the little
    amount that was left on the floor, he rolled and rolled and rolled.
    
    AFter I vaccuumed it up, he was wild eyed and spastic! And then
    kept following down! AFter some sleep he was okay again. (I wonder
    if he had a headache like a bad hangover....)
    

    My guys, at 16, still love the stuff!  They are *somewhat* more
    dignified about their reactions, but still react to the catnip and
    each other the same way.  Munchkin must be first (R.H.I.P.), and
    not only rolls in it, but splashes it on his face, snorts and eats
    it.  Mutu watches quietly from afar, and when he's done, she attacks
    it, nervously watching for his attacks.  It's almost like she gives
    me this look to say, "Well, isn't he acting like a first-class fool",
    and then proceeds to be the same way!  However, her favorite smell
    is Desenex foot powder - she reacts the same way as cats do to catnip;
    however, the smell is terrible - Munch doesn't want to cuddle next
    to her at all!  Reminds me of how she likes to eat chives, and then
    she talks to Munch; he makes this terrible face and walks away.
    
    Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  Happy, health new year to
    all.