Posts tagged “Water Fountain”

Catnip Highs vs. Human Drug Highs While our ability to understand the subjective experience of cats is limited, we do have some sense of how the plant affects people. There was a brief period in the 1960s when the cheaper and more readily available catnip was mixed with tobacco or marijuana and smoked. After smoking catnip, people reported having visual and auditory hallucinations and feeling “happy, contented, and intoxicated,” similar to feelings induced by marijuana. Of course, cats are not small people. We cannot assume that what’s true for us holds true for cats. Drugs that work in humans are often unsafe or ineffective in pets. For example, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen are relatively safe in people but can be lethal for cats. And with some exceptions, antihistamines are often ineffective in controlling allergies for pets.,What’s the Strongest Type of Catnip? Various forms of catnip exist, including sprays, dried leaves, and the entire plant. Although each varies in its concentration of nepetalactone, there is minimal difference in how profoundly these different forms affect cats. Since catnip is not a drug, its effects don’t depend on the amount given or the concentration. There only needs to be enough nepetalactone to trigger the endorphin response. This causes a cat’s body to release those endorphins at a strictly regulated level that is not proportionate to the amount of nepetalactone inhaled. This is why cats cannot fatally overdose on catnip. Featured Image: iStock.com/Okssi68,You may have given catnip to your cat at some point and wondered whether cats can actually get “high” from it. The effects are obvious (and entertaining): after smelling the catnip, most cats will rub their faces in it, roll on their backs, and vocalize (make loud noises). Although some cats will exhibit more subdued behaviors—a “sphinx-like posture” is reported in one study— the vast majority of cats become excited and hyperactive, leading to the perception that catnip makes cats high. Do Cats Get High on Catnip? With respect to catnip, there is reason to believe that cats may experience something like the highs achieved by pioneering marijuana users 60 years ago. According to a recent paper, catnip works through the body’s internal opioid system. W hen a cat smells catnip, a substance called nepetalactone interacts with certain cells in their upper airway. Once the interaction occurs, the cat’s body releases endorphins—natural opioids. This theory is supported by the fact that cats who receive the opioid “antidote” naloxone are not affected by catnip. Ingestion alone seems to have little effect on cats, although some may chew on the herb, perhaps to release the nepetalactone, especially from drier leaves. Although reports that the herb induces LSD-like hallucinations are probably overblown (and difficult to prove), catnip is nonetheless a safe, cheap, and effective way to give your cat some short-lived enjoyment.

Because this is your first cat, I highly recommend that you find a cat organization or individual who can support and mentor you about all things cat. A local humane society or a rescue group can help you understand how to care for your new cat and teach you to recognize, interpret and respond correctly to her body language. Many humane societies have free behavior helplines that you can call. Excellent books are available perfect for first time cat people. Two I highly recommend are Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett and Complete Kitten Care by Amy Shojai. The first step in earning your cat’s trust back is to not corner her or insist she interact with you. Encourage your cat to come to you by using the method of formally greeting cats while you are sitting or crouching a few feet or across the room from her. Extend one finger towards her at cat-nose level. If she wants to say hello, she will come to you, touch your finger with her nose, then will turn her head until your finger is on her cheek. At that point, gently pet her cheek, her head and the back of her neck. Healthy cat treats that she adores will also help her trust you. If she’s not feeling secure enough to fraternize with you, leave her alone and try again later. Always bring cat treats with you that you can toss near her. Although most cats love to play, never play rough and don’t use your hands when playing with your cat. Instead, play with her using fishing-pole type cat toys. Pull the toy away from her so that she can chase and catch it (fishing-pole-type toys should be out of reach of cats when no one is around to supervise). Most likely she will also enjoy chasing toys that you throw for her. Don’t force her to participate in the games. When she loses interest, stop and have a play session later on when she’s more in the mood to play. Be gentle with your new cat and learn everything you can about her and how to care for her. If you create a safe environment for her and treat her gently and with care she will eventually feel secure and not run from you.,Q.