CATNIP Q & A
What is catnip?
What can I expect as a reaction to
catnip from my cat?
Why is my cat acting like that when he
smell or eat catnip?
Is catnip good for my cat?
Can I overdose
my kitty with too much catnip?
Is there any other use for catnip than
toys and play?
What shouldn’t I do with catnip?
My cat is already hyper, maybe he don’t
need catnip?
Will catnip
lose its aroma over time, what is the shelf life?
My cat doesn’t react to catnip. Why?
Any alternative?
How can I differentiate the quality of
the catnip? There are so many companies that offer’s
it.
In What format is catnip available?
Is there any other plant that contain
that
Nepi..Neppo…Nipa…Nepatelactone?
Where can I get this awesome “FROM THE
FIELD” catnip?
What is Silver Vine?
What is catnip?
Catnip is the common name for a species of plant that
contain a unique chemical that make’s cat react
hormonally. A cat on a catnip high is quite fun to
watch!
Catnip (Nepeta cataria), is a member of the Mint
family of aromatic herbs. Catnip is a common aromatic
herb of the high deserts of North America. Catnip was
naturalized in Canada from its indigenous roots of
Northern Africa and the Mediterranean. Catnip has been
used for centuries by herbalists as a treatment for
colic, headache, toothache, and spasms. It is a mild
stimulant when consumed in a tea. Catnip is an
excellent sleep-inducing agent.
What can I expect as a reaction to
catnip from my cat?
Cat’s reactions differ. Some cat will become hunter and
stalker with their toys. Some will just run around and
about in frenzy. Some will simply lie down and start
biting, licking and drooling on the toys with catnip in
it.
Why is my cat acting like that when
he smell or eat catnip?
According to some intense research driven by James Black
from “Kooky Kat catnip” during his biology degree, cat’s
react to the natural chemical “Nepetalactone” in the
catnip plant.
The domestic cat along with the great cats of the
wild; cougars, bobcats, lions and lynx respond
biochemically to a compound called nepetalactone.
This chemical is the primary constituent in the
essential oil of catnip. Nepetalactone induces a
harmless physiological reaction in some cats.
Cats have a
special gland on the roof of their mouth called the
Vomeronasal gland. Essentially, they use it to
recognize and analyse
other cat's pheromones, like those contained in urine.
The Nepetalactone in catnip have a similar chemical
composition as those
pheromones. That is why cats love catnip so much!
This reaction has been studied extensively, and has
been found to induce a psychosexual response in both
male and female cats. One might say that catnip has an
aphrodisiac effect.
Is catnip good for my cat?
Yes it is. According to veterinarian, catnip
is a nice way to make old and fat cat active and loose
weight, which improve their health condition. You can
give your cat some catnip toys without worry. The only
thing you need to know is not to feed your cat too much
catnip. 1 or 2 spoonfuls at a time, 2 or 3 time a day is
enough.
Can I
overdose my kitty with too much catnip?
Not likely, cats seem to know when to say enough. If
you give your cat to much catnip she will eventually
turn her nose away from its lure. This reaction will
not last long though, in a few days she will most
likely be back to the catnip stash for another play
time.
Is there any other use for catnip
than toys and play?
Indeed there is! You can use it as a training
tool. Use catnip to encourage your cat to use its new
scratching post, or his new fluffy bed. The From
the Field Catnip Spray Rejuvenator is an excellent
training tool. That way you can easily pin-point certain
area where you want your cat’s attention.
What shouldn’t I do with catnip?
Very important: Never use catnip to train
your cat to go to his litter. For example, there is a
lot of new natural litter format available on the
market, and your cat may not like it at all and avoid
his litter box. NEVER put catnip in the litter to
attract your cat there. The reason his that he will more
than likely eat the catnip and the litter filled with
feces.
Doing so for feline can cause many fatal disease like
heart worm and fungus poisoning. Also, using catnip on
litter will associate play area with releasing area,
which will confuse the cat.
My cat is already hyper, maybe he
don’t need catnip?
Of course it is your choice. Catnip can also excite a
hyper cat into super-hyper-activity, and after his
light-speed running around, he will be very relaxed and
maybe fall into a peaceful sleep, letting you enjoy him
calmly!
Will catnip
lose its aroma over time, what is the shelf life?
Cats respond to catnip in concentrations approaching 1
part per billion. All essential oil bearing herbs will
lose their potency over time. The primary reason for
this is that nepetalactone is UV photosensitive. Store
catnip in the freezer to maximize its freshness. Make
sure your furry fellow can’t open the freezer door!
The shelf life is approximatively 2 years in good
storage condition (dry and dark).
My cat doesn’t react to catnip.
Why? Any alternative?
Approximately 15% of all cats
do not respond to catnip. Cats which are less that 6
months (not sexually mature) almost never respond to
catnip regardless of their genes.
Asian cat breed are not genetically preprogrammed
to respond to catnip. Some common breed can also lack
the “gene response” to catnip, which is natural. It’s
Mother Nature’s choices!
But rejoice! There are alternatives. Less popular plant
create the same effect on cats. Valerian Roots and
Honeysuckle are two of them. Keep an eye open, since
“From the Field” just launched the new
ultimate blend made with a mix of catnip and silver
vine. Our new products aim is to have all of those
finicky cats a mega-joyful time!
How can I differentiate the quality
of the catnip? There are so many companies that
offer’s it.
First, look at the color of the catnip. Like
any other plant, bright green is a sign of freshness.
Then you can try to smell the catnip through the bag.
With potent catnip, you should be able to smell it. But
most of all, know your catnip supplier. Inquire about
your catnip business through internet. Ask them where
their catnip has been grown, and when.
Pale yellow catnip is usually been harvested a few years
ago, and has been sitting in a warehouse for a long time
before hitting the shelves of the store.
From The Field
grows its own catnip with farmers in Washington State.
All our products are made with catnip that is always
with the current crop of the year.
In What format is catnip available?
Several formats
are available. The most common is the “Leaf&Flower”
format. It is a dry mix of leaf, flower buds, and very
small pieces of stalk. There is also the Kitty safe fine
ground format, the “Whole Bud” format, the compressed
version called “No mess catnip pellets”. The one format
worth noticing is the essential oil catnip spray.
Extracted catnip
plants create essential oil that is 96% pure
Nepatelactone. We use this precious oil and mix it with
distilled water to create our potent “Catnip Spray
Rejuvenator”
Is there any other plant that
contain that Nepi..Neppo…Nipa…Nepetalactone thing?
Yes, there
is more than 100 plants species that contain
Nepatelactone.
Where can I get this awesome “FROM
THE FIELD” catnip?
Our products are available in pet stores all
over the US. You can check out our list
of pet store, sorted by state, by following this
link (Pet store US).
You can also buy our products online. Here is a list of
online
store that will gladly ship our products to you.
Here is a tip: find the perfect gift for your cat on our
web site, and print the page with the product on it.
Then go to your local pet store and let them know that
you want this product. More than likely they will make
sure to have our products available for you from now on!
What is Silver Vine?
Silver vine is a plant in the kiwi family. It
is also called Matatabi. The most potent form is the
flower that turns into a fruit, it looks like nuts. It
is then grinded into powder.
Cat loves
Silver Vine because it have also “Actinidine” in it, a
natural cat stimulant. It is similar to Nepetalactone,
and silver vine also contains “Nepetalactone”, that is
why about 50% of cats who don’t react to catnip will
react to silver vine!
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