would catnip even work on the bigger cats?
2007-01-12 13:54:32 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...many zoos do offer freshly grown catnip to their larger felines as they love it just as much as the domestic house cats. Catnip affects the exotic cats the very same way as house cats. This part of the routines defined as behavioural enrichment training to keep the big cats happy and healthy.
http://www.thefcf.com/husbandry/behvenrichefel.asp?key=134
How catnip affects all cats from domestic to exotic:
CATNIP: (Nepeta cataria--also part of the mint family of plants) contains a substance called cis-transnepetalactone which when inhaled or eaten is thought to be hallucinogenic through the stimulation of centres in the brain--it gives some cats a europhoric high. Not all cats are responsive to catnip and here's why:
It's not known why the reaction to catnip seems to occur only among the feline species. What is known is that the ability to react to catnip is a genetic one. Cats that react to catnip possess a gene that programs them to react to catnip. The gene does not develop until after six months of age or so, and not ALL cats possess the gene. About 15 percent of the cat population does not possess the gene. If they do possess the gene, cats of all sizes - from housecats, cheetahs, mountain lions, pumas, etc. - will love catnip.
2007-01-12 14:14:47 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, big cats in zoos get catnip and it does work. The big cats in the zoo I volunteered at much preferred hunting scents to catnip though.
2007-01-12 14:41:11 · answer #2 · answered by Shadow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep they do. If you ever get to visit the SF Zoo and go into the Lion House during feeding time one of the "snacks" the lions love during mealtime are this ENORMOUS blocks of frozen blood. They sit there like kittens with it between their paws and lap at it.
Not catnip, but it is entertaining to watch.
2007-01-12 16:47:24 · answer #3 · answered by Kati B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOL, I would love to see that! I bet it would work on them. That'd be funny to see a huge lion all sprawled out on his back, high on catnip.
2007-01-12 14:15:53 · answer #4 · answered by HobbesMom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was a big pillow size full of catnip. I'd pay good money to see that!
2007-01-12 14:07:24 · answer #5 · answered by pinkrosegreeneyes bluerose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HAHAHA oo they need to do that at zoos like line the whole bottom of the cages with it LMAO i would sit there for like 12 hours just watching the lions go crazy HAHAH oo i can picture it now lol haha somone HAS to do that
2007-01-12 14:50:35 · answer #6 · answered by Day Dreamer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep. Big cats respond like house cats do. Some respond, some don't.
Also provided for their enjoyment:
Mint
Vanilla
Lavendar
Rosemary and other herbs
All sorts of things. They call it "enrichment", and it keeps the cats (and other animals) from being bored and restless.
2007-01-12 14:15:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drugs should be ILLEGAL, whether a CAT or NOT!
JUST SAY NO!
2016-09-21 08:39:27 · answer #8 · answered by haleb2015 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋