2007-03-04 12:41:09 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
My daughters fixed,female cat goes crazy for olives and rolls around on the floor with the pit! I thought maybe it was because it had similar smell to catnip ,but this cat won't go near catnip!! Another idea was the maybe the musky smell of the olive is similar to the natural scents of another cat. Any ideas?
2007-03-04 12:43:32 · update #1
Ok let me elaborate further....the olives/olives pits excite her as catnip excites most cats.
2007-03-04 12:51:55 · update #2
Both green olives (Olea europaea) and Pimentos (Capsicum annuum) contain isoprenoids that are structurally similar to the methylcyclopentane monoterpene nepetalactone, which is responsible for binding to receptors in you cat's vomeronasal organ and consequently the mind-altering effect your cat experiences.
These compounds are not unusual, although thie configuration varies widely between plant species.
These compounds resemble pheromones, and as such some of them function as a natural mock-pheromone pest repellents for the plant, which is likely how such high levels of these constituents within a plants' essential oils evolved.
The vomeronasal organ is what your cat (and most other animals with the exception of humans, although there is a small indented area and partial nerve channel where it would be, left over from our evolution) uses to sense pheromones, and is where the nepetalactone in catnip stimulates pheromone receptors resulting in space-kitty.
Summary - it is likely that either the green olives or pimentos have a chemical in their essential oil that is similar enough to the active chemical in catnip to have a similar effect on the same receptors in the part of kitty's nose that are responsible for catnip getting her high.
2007-03-04 14:42:50 · answer #1 · answered by Matthew 1 · 14⤊ 0⤋
Olive Green Cat
2016-12-11 14:54:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We spilled some green olives on the carpet. Cleaned it well. The cat came out of his room and tugged at the carpet and rolled around where the olive juice had been. I have to think, therefore, it has to do with smell/chemicals as he's never seen a physical olive.(he will soon though!!)
2014-05-03 05:33:38 · answer #3 · answered by Heracles 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If Matthew's answer is for real, that explains a lot. We have had two different cats at different times go nuts for olives - Greek olives. The first one, Pouf, went absolutely bananas for them - he would bite into it, roll, make funny sounds, eat around the pit, roll and roll. Then we would take the pit away and he would totally play and roll in that area of the floor. Our current cat will bite into, do a roll or two, but nowhere near as huge a reaction.
It's really fascinating; I've read on here about green olives giving the same reaction. Regular black olives didn't do it for our cats.
2007-03-05 01:02:44 · answer #4 · answered by Lydia 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My cats LOVE those green "spanish" olives that come in a jar soaked in juice. I think it might be the salt..but not positive. It affect them as if they have had catnip, makes them very playful. I thought perhaps the juice has some sort of mint in it, as catnip is in the mint family..but the ingredients show nothing like that so all I can assume it the salt is having that affect on them.
2007-03-04 12:56:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like your cat truly loves olives! Just make it a special treat to have one.
Most cats do not like olives. It is unusual. I had a cat who went crazy for leaf lettuce fro the garden. He would not eat the lettuce in the garden. It had to be picked and brought into the house and washed. He also went nuts over cantaloupe. He snuck up on the counter one night and ate half a melon.
I had another cat who crazed Doritos. He would attack for corn chips! I think it was the salt, but who knows?
Animals have there peculiar tastes, too. We have an old horse which I had gotten for my oldest daughter. One day my two girls were out grooming him, maybe it was after Halloween. They had a Butterfingers bar. That horse nearly bowled them over to get that candy bar. He does not like chocolate or other candy except Butterfingers bars!
2007-03-04 12:56:01 · answer #6 · answered by Susan M 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
It may just be the salt. Cats love salty things and she has just developed an affection for olives.
2007-03-04 13:34:56 · answer #7 · answered by krissy4543 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
My kitty goes crazy for olives too - even chasing me for the empty plate. I do see the same crazy when I have catnip in the house (he ll climb cupboards to help himself!). Cool to know its similar!
2015-09-12 05:07:38 · answer #8 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol, I heard oriental cats don't like catnip, my birman doesn't like it. my boyfriends cats goes nuts for olives to. cats like salty stuff
2007-03-04 14:34:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As clean as we are, they like dogs will continue to lick you because of the salt your body gives off. My dog does it for 10min.
at a time. However, what would happen if you were to digest that
much salt? High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol Level, and other major factors would come into play with heath. Therefore too much of a good thing isn't always wise. Just hoping you don't over do it.
I hope I've answered your question informatively?
Summer
2007-03-04 13:00:40 · answer #10 · answered by Diana D 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋