My friend Deborah send Andy and Dougy some of that catnip she grows in her garden in Maine, and it arrived in Saturday’s mail. The kitty brothers were amused!
“Catnip, boys! Catnip!” The kitties come running.
“Inhale deeply, boys! It’s fresh Maine-grown ‘nip!”
I offer them their first taste….
Dougy runs off. He’s not into ‘nip as much as Andy, who pounces on the ‘nip and puts on a show.
“My ‘nip!” Andy covers his precious leaves!
Whew! Exhausted but content with this imported ‘nip, Andy wears it off.
Yep! Time to try to walk straight. Or just stay in one place.
Fresh nip is such a good thing. We have one in a container here that comes back every year. Some our cats like it more than others. Nice series of photos, but especially love the one of the boys sniffing the bag. 🙂
That was my favorite, too, with their little Persian kitty cat ears folded back in ecstasy!
You got me thinking with this post. I had to look it up (Am I thick or what?)
Cats, from our domestic companions to lions and tigers, are exquisitely susceptible to a volatile oil found in the stems and leaves of the catnip plant.
When cats smell catnip they exhibit several behaviours common to queens in season (females in heat): They may rub their heads and body on the herb or jump, roll around, vocalize and salivate. This response lasts for about 10 minutes, after which the cat becomes temporarily immune to catnip’s effects for roughly 30 minutes. Response to catnip is hereditary; about 70 to 80 percent of cats exhibit this behaviour in the plant’s presence. In addition, catnip does not affect kittens until they are about six months old and begin to reach sexual maturity.
Well, I like to learn something new. Wondered if i couldget some for my Sisters pussies in Nottingham.
Cheers
Better yet, grow a pot full of it for them. It’s a weed and very easy to grow! It’s a member of the mint family.
I’m going to find some seeds, I’ll have a look on y trip to the hospital today, I’ll set out early so i can get some for Sister Jane, thanks for the tip mate. TTFN
They are available from many sources in UK. Amazon sells them for as little as a pound fifty for 100 seeds, which is quite a lot of seeds! They may be available for less at other sources. *I googled “catnip seeds for sale in UK”, and there were numerous sources.
Thanks you Sir. When I get the British Gas sorted, if I ever do (Hehe), and the cancer autopsy out of the way, I’ll try to get some for them. On the other hand, I suppose I could tell them the sites I’ve found that sell them now I’ve followed your advice and got them.
TTFN Sir.
No pressure! Given the issues you deal with (specifically French-owned British Gas and their inability to get it in their heads you can’t get gas from a fictitious gas meter….!) and your health issues, your dance card is full.
Ooooh…look at the pretty colors~~~ I could just see Andy fitting into the ’60’s flower-power scene!!!
I think both would enjoy drugs, sex (if they had two vital parts…!), and rock and roll.They have the sleep all day part down at least.
Something Andy doesn’t have to worry about Dougy horning in on is nice. My cats all like it but some like it fresh and some don’t. Dried is OK with everybofy which is handy in winter.
I always crumple the dried ‘nip to bring out the essential oils, and I let the boys work out that part with the fresh.
There’s nothing better than fresh catnip… just like I need dark chocolate every morning!
You have that right! We humans even like it as a refreshing, relaxing tea, though I don’t think we get quite as much fun out of it as many cats do.
O Doug, I told you this stuff is MaryJane…watch your back when you take it away. hee hee hee I haven’t been on-line for a couple of weeks because besides dog watching 3 dogs in a condo; I’ve been trying to feed a 4 week old kitten (I lost 3) that the mother deserted. Today, I started him on kitty heroin (meat baby food) and he is sleeping it off right now. This may be the first night in days that I get to bed before 4am. ~~dru~~
That must have been heartbreaking to lose three, but that fourth one will be your best friend for life! They are so delicate at that stage of life.
The cats have been much excited by the catnip . It was a rich idea ! 🙂
In friendship
Michel
I very much appreciate Deborah’s thoughtfulness. Her three cats are very lucky to have someone plant catnip for them. They are the same three cats that Deborah took to Paris with her, so they are very uniquely experienced cats!
I can’t seem to interest my 4 in catnip.
Only a portion of catdom is affected by it. I think I read somewhere where only about 60% do have a reaction to it, and Dougy seems to be one of those that doesn’t react much to it. Andy, though, definitely gets into it!
That was a nice surprise. Looks like good stuff 🙂
It definitely is to Andy’s liking! Dougy spent a little time with it, but Andy….!
That seems to be really powerful nip, oh so funny!
I think the trip to Nebraska in the plastic bag concentrated it a bit.