my cat just got a new toy for christmas and i filled it up with dried catnip. My cat went crazy for it. then my cat started to act all goofy like he was high or something. he sortof wonbbled and became really tired.i don't know what to do. :(
2006-12-24 12:57:12 · 18 answers · asked by ampitout 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Yes. It has the same properties as a drug. Cats love it and it will do it no harm. Both my cats get high, act weird, roll about then sleep. They love it
Catnip contains nepetalactone, a terpene, that is thought to mimic feline sex pheromones. Cats detect it through their vomeronasal organs. When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they will rub in it, roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr, often salivating copiously. Some cats will also growl and meow. This reaction only lasts for a few minutes before the cat loses interest.It takes up to two hours for the cat to "reset" and then it can come back to the catnip and have the same response as before. Young kittens and older cats are less likely to have a reaction to catnip but big cats, such as tigers, seem to be extremely sensitive to it.
2006-12-24 13:00:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
he will be ok, it is a drug of sorts for cats. If you feel he's getting too hyper take it away for a while.
What Is Purr!!?
(& What is Catnip?)
Purr is a secret mixture of herb extracts commonly found in homeopathy. Whilst Purr contains no catnip, some of the extracts come from related plants and work in much the same way.
Catnip, and it's relatives are all a part of the mint family. Native to the UK and northern Europe, catnip can now be found growing wild in many other areas, to which it has been imported over the years.
Not ALL cats react to Catnip, or to Purr, and as yet there is no firm evidence to say why this is, but on the whole they go crazy for it, roll about on it, rub against it and generally make a big deal over it. (Purr has a 100% money back guarantee - Catnip does not!!)
The reaction to Catnip usually lasts about 5 minutes or less, with a 'cool off' period of about 2 hours, before they return and have the same reaction again. We have found that the reaction to Purr tends to last significantly longer in many cats, sometimes as long as half an hour, with a cool off period of about the same length of time as catnip.
No-one is exactly sure why it works, but one popular theory is that the chemical nepetalactone is responsible, being found in both Catnip and female cat pheromones - although still no explanation is given as to why female cats seem to enjoy Catnip just as much as male cats.
Even big cats such as lions and tigers have been know to have a reaction to catnip. We're still waiting for an opportunity to see if any big cats react to Purr, but as soon as we have we'll put the pictures in the Gallery. The closest we've been able to get so far is with Zen. (Zen is descended from an ocelot and an Asian leopard cat cross)
Catnip family plants are completely non-toxic, non-addictive and have no side-effects. Extensive research in the field has found no negative aspects to any of the Catnip family of plants and has even noted many medicinal uses for humans and animals alike.
2006-12-24 20:59:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not. Cats just love the smell. Catnip is in the same family as spearmint, peppermint and roundleaf mint (Lamiaceae). If you put down a pack of mint flavored gum in front of your cat, you'd see the exact same reaction. It's completely harmless to your cat and they enjoy it very much. So enjoy the entertainment and have a Merry Christmas!
2006-12-24 21:01:21 · answer #3 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is just the same as grass, cat's love it for some reason and it is not harmful to them, if it was it would not be sold on store shelves in mass quanity, after the cat plays for a while with it, of course the poor thing is going to be exhausted, just know that he had fun and it is just nap time before the next round
2006-12-24 22:19:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catnip isnt a drug, most catz like catnip itz completely normal but if ur still concerned buy a new toy for ur cat & get rid of the catnip.
I have 9 catz & they all have there very own catnip toyz they hav never effected them in any way before.........so rlly itz up to u.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
Christine
2006-12-24 21:34:40 · answer #5 · answered by !XxXDevil'sRejectXxXCatLover 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Catnip, which my fellow ailurophiles and I like to call "kitty reefer," is an herb. It contains a substance similar to female sex hormones, which is why many cats get off on it. Even some big cats are sensitive to this plant. Not all cats react to catnip, though. If yours does, you and he are both lucky!
2006-12-24 21:39:07 · answer #6 · answered by Killertiel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, it's harmless, catnip has a drug that mimics a female cat in heat, why this also affects female cats I don't know
2006-12-24 23:21:55 · answer #7 · answered by meatismurder90 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take it to the vet before it closes, it could of been diagnosed with a disease common in a lot of cats called "tredser." This is toxxic to there body. Go here.
2006-12-24 20:59:47 · answer #8 · answered by Love Me♥ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know about being a drug but when you grow it in the garden cats will lie in it most of the day - must be something go...ood about it!
2006-12-24 21:06:15 · answer #9 · answered by joybelle with warm water 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
haha no its just the smell they go crazy for.they like the smell of mint.example:we have a mint bush and my cat's always around it.plus if you have a real christmas tree,they also go crazy around that.it brings out the true kitty in them.lol
2006-12-24 21:01:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋