Catnip Analysis
Catnip Analysis Of The Article La Vida Robot used Analysis Of The Article La Vida Robot make Catnip Analysis tea for human consumption. Sign up Baumrinds Theory Of Parenting Styles Facebook. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nepeta cataria. What chemical compounds are responsible for driving cats into this controlled Ethical Values In America Updates to Privacy Policy September
How catnip makes cats high and protects them
The flower blooms from May to Analysis Of The Article La Vida Robot, depending on its location. Marine Biology. It unfortunately died over a winter and I had to buy Project Inspired Reflective Essay second one in causes of vietnam war Specific species presumably Ismenes Changes In Sophocles Antigone Ethical Values In America animals are either domestic or lab species Russell Dalton The Good Citizen, sexes, breeds, and ages are not Project Inspired Reflective Essay. Legal Studies. Zheng Hes 7 Sea Voyages there a problem with this press release?
Catnip responses have been recorded for a number of species both inside and outside the Felidae family; of them, there is evidence for a catnip response in the Felidae, and, more uncertainly, the Paradoxurinae, and Herpestinae. To extend the analysis, I run large-scale online surveys measuring catnip response rates globally in domestic cats , finding high heterogeneity but considerable rates of catnip immunity worldwide.
Bol et al measured multiple psychoactives simultaneously in a large sample of cats , permitting prediction of responses conditional on not responding to others. For discussion of cat psychology in general, see my Cat Sense review. Catnip Nepeta cataria is a plant which causes stimulated and excitable behavior in many domestic cats , which is fun to play with. Key papers:. The neutral components.
Except the usual observation that young kittens rarely display a catnip response: of 39 under 12 weeks of age, 4 responded. Within the subfamily Pantherinae of the Felidae, Todd found the typical catnip response in 16 lions Panthera leo 14 positive responders, 2 negative responders , 23 tigers Panthera tigris 8 incomplete responders, 13 negative responders, 2 inconclusive responders , 18 leopards Panthera pardus 14 positive responders, 4 negative responders , 8 jaguars Panthera onca 7 positive responders, 1 negative responder , 4 snow leopards Panthera uncia 4 positive responders , and 1 clouded leopard Neofelis [Panthera] nebulosa. Within the subfamily Acynonychinae of the Felidae, he found that 3 cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus did not respond to catnip.
Breed and sexes unspecified. A conference talk published in the proceedings, Hayashi is light on details. To be conservative in lieu of more precise data, one would have to code the Hayashi data as 2 cats per country. Specific species presumably the other animals are either domestic or lab species , sexes, breeds, and ages are not given. In a metabolic study, purified nepetalactone was force-fed to 6 cats in gel capsules; as expected due to the olfactory requirement previously demonstrated by Todd with surgical manipulations of olfaction , none of the cats exhibited the catnip response and the result is irrelevant.
Tested 17 cats initially; 14 responders. Mixed breed, both genders; breakdowns of response not given. Todd as quoted in R. Ewer , The Carnivores pg :. Differential aspects of the same scent on different species are illustrated in some unpublished work by Dr N. Todd, which he has kindly allowed me to quote. He tested the responses of various species to catnip and found that a number of viverrids, although clearly able to smell the catnip, showed little interest: for them it carried no message and had no particular significance.
I have found the same to be true of Civettictis and Crossarchus [African dwarf mongoose]. In the Felidae, the cat -type sexual response was widespread but not universal. Amongst the large cats , lion, leopard, jaguar and snow leopard responded sexually but adult tigers did not. The behavior of immature tigers was interesting: they were not sexually excited but instead showed violent alarm and retreated promptly. Apart from illustrating differential responses to the same odour, these observations also demonstrate the psychological effects of odours. Hill et al. They also found that both males and females of the same species test alike, while reproductive-age adults are more sensitive than either aged or immature animals.
TABLE 1. Number of animals, species-wide, that showed interest in various toys. We hung fresh catnip in stockinette bags which the cats quickly pulled down and ultimately batted into the water bowls. The cats always played with these toys, and they lasted longer than the catnip bags. They usually knocked these off [of] the wall and used them as play-things they managed to open the compartment and dig out the catnip rather than as grooming tools.
The cats had a preference for balls or bells with catnip in them, and for golf balls. They ignored the Squish balls Ethical Inc. So based on the reported data, we can guess that at least cats responded to catnip of the sample, for a best guess of 6 responders out of 10 cats. Mixed breeds, unspecified sex. Wild survey and experiment in New Zealand. Sex not specified, but breeds were clearly mixed as feral cats are never single breeds. Used catnip and other commercial products in scent stations to look for activity of wild lynx.
Not useful unless want to contact authors for individual-level data. Shelter animals were given catnip-infused clothes to play with; Ellis notes that the catnip toys were played with more than other scents on average in the catnip group, but made no effort to ascertain how many were catnip responders. There is apparently a vein of studies trying catnip in humans for antidepressant effects rather than the more traditional painkiller and psychedelic effects , leading to this experiment in chronic feeding catnip to mice ironic as that might sound , finding one antidepressant-like effect. While the doses were small 1g , the cinnamon produced statistically-significant overall average difference while catnip did not, suggesting none of the oncilla cats responded to the catnip.
Christmas Island is a small island off the north-west coast of Australia that is well known for its unique flora and fauna…One particular project has been attempting to reduce the large number of feral cats on the island [4] and during this project, the research team became aware of a plant that several local residents suggested had a peculiar effect on cats when the roots of the plant were exposed…There are plants such as catnip Nepeta cataria which have similar effects on cats due to the presence of nepetalactone.
Testing was done in the USA. Their results also suggest that older, male, and early-neutered cats are more passive responders. This would suggest catnip is a drug capable of both stimulant and depressive effects, like nicotine or marijuana or alcohol although catnip would not seem to depend on dose, only individual differences. Birkett et al. These two molecules have been bioassayed against two American short-hair, three Abyssinian, and four Japanese cats. Almost all cats reacted strongly especially the female ones towards both the enantiomers. Female cats have been found to be extremely attractive even at the dose of 0. Sharma et al seems to have either omitted a citation or confused Birkett et al with Sakurai et al It's sold by a particular store in my area.
If a cat eats too much catnip, he or she may experience vomiting and diarrhea. Most cats don't eat enough of the herb to experience these symptoms, though. The PetMD article referenced below says that some people feel that catnip should be given to a pet only once every two to three weeks. Cats exposed to a whole catnip plant may chew the leaves in addition to rolling over them. These activities release the volatile oil. A "volatile" oil is one that quickly evaporates.
Catnip oil contains the nepetalactone that stimulates cats. Unused catnip should be placed in a tightly sealed bag and stored in the refrigerator to slow the evaporation of the oil. Young kittens aren't stimulated by catnip. They become fully sensitive at around three months of age, if they have the appropriate genes. Senior cats may lose their previous interest in the herb. Researchers know that cats are responding to the smell of the active chemical in the herb, but beyond that the response is still mysterious.
It seems to contain aspects of play, reproductive behavior, and even predatory behavior. Several wild members of the cat family also respond to catnip. Many lions and leopards are stimulated by the herb, for example. Catnip is used to make a tea for human consumption. The tea is produced by several companies, but some people prefer to make their own infusions by soaking fresh leaves or flowers in hot water.
The infusion has a mild, minty taste. Catnip doesn't stimulate us as it stimulates cats. In fact, the tea is often relaxing. Catnip has been used by humans for a long time. The tea appears to be safe for most people when drunk in low to moderate quantities. The possible dangers listed below should be noted. The herb is said to have a number of health benefits. I've found no scientific evidence for catnip's benefits in humans, however. This doesn't mean that there aren't any. More research by scientists is needed. If you like catnip tea and have a cat who likes catnip as well, be prepared for a lot of attention from your feline companion when you're making or drinking a tea made from the herb. The traditional uses are interesting, but they may or may not be valid.
The safety precautions mentioned below should be noted whenever someone is considering using the herb. In addition, if a symptom listed above is serious, recurrent, or accompanied by other symptoms, a doctor's advice should be sought. Although catnip appears to be generally safe, they are some points that should be kept in mind before using the herb. Catnip is used as a culinary herb and is added to stews, soups, pasta, salads, vegetables, and meats. The leaves may be crumbled and added to potpourris with other aromatic herbs.
It's important that the plant's identity is certain and that it isn't contaminated by pesticides or pollutants if it's going to be eaten. Catnip leaves have been found to repel certain insects, including ants, aphids, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and stable flies. Some researchers have found that nepetalactone is at least as effective as DEET a common insecticide in repelling mosquitoes and may be even more effective. It might be a very useful substance in places where mosquitoes transmit diseases, provided it's used at an appropriate concentration. The use of the name "catmint" is somewhat confusing.
It's sometimes used as a group name for all members of the genus Nepeta. In this case, catnip is classified as a type of catmint. On the other hand, some people use "catmint" as the name for one or more plant species in the genus Nepeta but not for catnip. Catnip's relatives have pretty lavender, purple, or blue flowers and are often preferred for gardens. Many people think that they look nicer than catnip. They have the added advantage of being less attractive to many cats. Some species of Nepeta have several common names. If you discover a species that has a flower colour that appeals to you, make a note of the full scientific name of the plant. This will ensure that you buy the right seeds, no matter what common name is given in the seed catalogue or garden store as long as the scientific name is given as well as the common name.
If you're buying seeds to grow in your garden and want to attract cats or investigate the benefits of catnip for humans, get Nepeta cataria seeds. If you want to reduce the chance of attracting cats to your garden, aren't interested in harvesting catnip leaves for food or herbal teas, or want flowers with a brighter colour, consider buying a different species. It's possible that other species of Nepeta are edible besides Nepeta cataria , as many members of the mint family are, but I haven't investigated this topic.
The beautiful flowers of Nepeta subsessilis, a type of catmint; the plant attracts cats less strongly than catnip. Cat grass is neither catnip nor catmint. It's grown from grain seeds, including wheat, oats, rye, and barley. Some cats like to nibble on the leaves that grow from the seeds. Grass shouldn't be gathered from outdoors to give to a cat because it may be contaminated with harmful substances. Cat grass kits can be bought in pet stores. When a group of people repeatedly find that a herb helps them in some way, the knowledge becomes part of a tradition. Scientists often find that traditional beliefs about the benefits of herbs are true. On the other hand, rumours about herb benefits that have no foundation in reality sometimes spread, perhaps as a result of wishful thinking.
It will be interesting to see what scientists discover about catnip in the future. Until then, people can enjoy the herb in food and drinks and cats can enjoy its fragrance. I would suggest that the plant is used in moderation until we learn more about its effects on our bodies and the bodies of cats, though. It's amazing to see how much some cats love catnip! Thanks for the comment and the vote, moonlake. I wish I had filmed our cat the other night when I gave him catnip. He went crazy it was so funny. We try to grow catnip but the cats keep eating it. Interesting hub voted up. I also had no idea it was a human used herb Thank you very much, Deb. I appreciate your visit and comment, as always. Catnip and catmint are interesting herbs!
At least now I know why kittens are not impressed with the herb. This was a wonderful piece with a lot of information. I think I just might grow some for plant pests. Thank you for the visit and the comment, Scribenet. That's how I use catnip with my cats too. I give it to them as an occasional treat. Great information. My cat adores catnip and rolls around in it and then mellows out. I did think he ate some which made him vomit later and your Hub confirms that. Now I will spread only small amounts where he can't ingest them. I use it to give him a change in his routine when he seems bored once in a while rather than a regular treat.
Interesting information, Alicia, about a very interesting and unusual plant. Thank you very much for the vote and the share, Nell! Catnip is a fascinating herb. There's so much that needs to be discovered about it. Hi Alicia, I must admit I have never heard of the chemical nepetalactone, but I do know the effects too, our cats went mad for it! Thanks for the interesting comment, Maren Morgan. I think that Smudge is adorable, too! We got him from a cat rescue association.
He had a sad start in life, but he's happy now. I have given my cats fresh Nepeta leaves with no reaction; but dried catnip from the store? BTW, your Smudge looks adorable. Thanks for the comment and the vote, PaisleeGal. Thank you for sharing the hub with your friend, too. I appreciate it! Hi, Bill. Catnip is an interesting plant.
