Conference misery::feline_v1

    We grow catnip in a hanging planter in the kitchen.  It is there all year
round, which is nice.  The only problem is that our nost aggressive cat
has learned that if he climbs up the screen door, leans back (with claws firmly
in the screen) and pushes the catnip pot, it swings enough so that he can
chew off leaves.  The worst part is this is so hilarious to watch that it is
very hard to decide to make him stop.  As a result, we need new screening.
But then, it IS their house...

				ch

My cat is so incredibly hyper that when I gave him catnip ONCE, he was so
crazy he was running all over the place and attacking everything, including
the family.  We had to put him outside - he was out of his mind.  So, we got
rid of the catnip mouse.  I hope Santa doesn't bring him one next year, too!

Nichole

I also feed our cats some homegrown catnip.  They are both old (for cats)
and pretty mellow, so catnip just makes them more mellow (but not old).
Last Christmas, when we gave them refillable catnip balls, we came home
to find that the resupply bag had been left out, and had made its way
to about 5 square feet of living room carpet.  But what mellow cats!
I've started to drink catnip tea at night - it helps me get to sleep.
Great stuff, or so my cat say.

My folks have a cat named (sarcastically) Killer, which they inherited from
my brother.  They've given him catnip once or twice, but he couldn't care
less.  I thought that ALL cats reacted to catnip - but he's an exception.
Has anyone else had/heard of a cat that was immune to catnip?

Jim Stratton

I've never had a cat that didn't like catnip, but I did notice a difference
in my cats' reaction to fresh vs. dried. I grew some one year, and they
didn't seem to enjoy the fresh nearly as much as the dry stuff - I have
no idea why. My parents' cats used to have orgies in the catnip bed, rolling
and drooling and having a "high" old time, but my two prefer their stuff
well aged.

-b

	My two cats, C'mell and Apollo do seem to reflect opposite ends of the 
spectrum when it comes to catnip reactions. Apollo, after playing with a 
catnip toy for five minutes, will spend then next few hours floating around. 
C'mell, on the other hand, will politely take a few sniffs, delicately lick 
her lips, and go elsewhere, seemingly unaffected. I do remember reading 
somewhere that not all cats seem to be affected by catnip.

   There is an article in one of the cat magazines this month that said
only 50% react to catnip.  (I'll have to go back and read it again and enter 
any interesting facts.)

tlh

Jennyanydots (my Maine Coon) reacts to both fresh and dried catnip.  I've
found that catnip mouses are useless for full-grown cats with claws--mine
have always just ripped the mouse open and devoured the catnip and sawdust
inside.

--PSW

AARGH!  Please replace "mouses" with "mice" in the last reply.

--PSW (blush)

The 50% figure is precisely true in our household. Zorro, our Maine Coon, likes
to roll in the stuff, but Erick ignores it completely. Having been a Buddhist
monk in his previous life, Erick has gone beyond the need for mind-altering
chemicals, and spends a fair amount of time in meditation. (He does have a
weakness for beer, but that's because he likes the taste.)

Val and Jon

Our cat, Elroy, goes absolutely wild over both fresh and dried catnip.  Does
anyone out there know why it is that cats react to catnip.  I recently heard
that catnip is used to trap lions, so it seems to affect the entire feline
family.

Curiously,

Leslie

  I just happen to have in my hand a copy of Cat Fancy Magazine.  (July 84)
In it is an article called the Catnip response.  
  "The response has nothing to do with the kind of cat: Persians adore it 
just as much as domestic tabbie, and some wildcats of all species find the
plant irresistable.  Both males and females, neutered or whole, seem to react
equally.
    The ability of an indiviual cat to respond to catnip does, however, seem 
to be inherited, with only about half of the cats of any variety showing any 
perceptible response....
    ...Kittens rareky respond to catnip until the age of puberty (5 to 9 
months), and some scientists link the catnip response and the sexual response,
citing the particular suseptibility of cats in heat and the heat-like 
behavior catnip produces.cats that are sick or under stress (In strange
surroundings) are less likely to repond to catnip....
    ...The active ingrediant in catnip is nepetalactone.  We still don't know
exactly how it affects the cat internally to produce the odd behavior exhibited
by cats under its influence.  WE do know that the response is activated by 
smell--the cat need not eat the catnip, although it often will-- and it works
upon the cat's nervous system....
     ...Strangely enough the chemical seems to produce contradictory responses,
for whil it excites the cat and often prompts it to play and excercise, it
also calms the cat and makes it less skittish."
    There's more, but that's the gist of it.
    By the way, you can buy spray products that have the active ingredient
in them.  I got one these and sprayed it on the bottom 4 or 5 steps in my old
2 story apartment.  The cats went wild.  They each had a step and they were 
ambushing each other and just generally having a good time.  

tlh

I have a friend who has catnip growing wild around the barn on his property.
As a result, he gets stray cats showing up all the time.  Funny, of the ones
that stay around, none could care less about it.  Guess they get immune to
it.  The plants he has growing get huge! (several feet tall)  Judging by the
reaction in my own cat, his stuff is much stronger than the dried commercial
stuff.

-Mike

    Last year I planted some catnip in my garden, figuring it would
    be a real treat for my two cats.  I was right, they loved it...so
    did  all the other cats in the neighborhood, so much so they killed
    the plant in about three weeks.  I'm hoping it comes back to life
    this year!!

    Re .14:
    
    If yopu're going to grow catnip outsiode, either grow l_o_t_s of
    it, or grow it from a hanging planter.
    
    Also, it becomes more potent when it's dried out a bit after
    harvesting.
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    Try to grow a small amount indoors (where the cats won't get it).
    If you allow it to flower, you'll be able to shake the seeds out
    of the pods, thereby allowing yourself a self perpertuating crop.
    
    I've found that catnip needs a bigly amount of water. It gets real
    withered looking when thirsty, but responds almost immediately to
    a good soaking.
    
    Aja doesn't touch the fresh plants unless I crush the leaves between
    my fingers. She prefers the dried herb. 
    
    Edd

    Sorry, I may be a bit naive but could someone answer the following
    questions for me.
    
    1. What is catnip?
    
    2. What is it supposed to do for the cat?
    
    3. Someone mentioned that they drink some catnip before going to
       bed.  Does it help humans as well?
       
    4. Does anyone know where I can buy this stuff from in the United
       Kingdom?
       
    
    I have just moved to Portsmouth and ahve brought my cat with me.
    As my parents lived in the country I never had any worries about
    letting her go out when and where she wanted.  Now I am Portsmouth
    I live very close to a busy main road, so I do not let my cat out.
    Jet, the cat, apparently does not seem to bothered about being cooped
    up all day in the house but she is very lively.  (Now and again
    she sits at the door, almost begging to go out - do you think keeping
    her indoors is making her unhappy?)
    
    Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
    
    Collette

re: What's Catnip?

I believe you've been bitten by the "British/American English" problem.

It's called "catmint" on your side of the pond.

Ray

    Re: .3
    
    I suppose you can make a tea out of catnip.
    
    Playing with Jet will tucker her out.
    

    If you're concerned about her being unhappy why don't you buy a
    harness and see if you can leash train her.  I have four that I
    put out on leashes in the good weather.  One of them will walk
    very nicely with my husband and I, tho she gets scared of the
    cars whizzing past her on the road and we sometimes end up carrying
    her.
      Be forewarned tho - NEVER leave a leashed cat unattended for more
    than a minute or two.  They can climb and become tangled and 
    potentially fall and strangle.  ALso, if any other cat or dog comes
    into the yard and attacks them they are at a great disadvantage.
    
      I know it takes a little more of your time, but the tradeoff is
    that the cat gets fresh air and a change of scenery and is much
    safer.
      Good luck.
      Nancy DC
    

    I have just found some catmint/catnip in a local "fancy goods" shop.
    
    Inside the box there are two tubs which contains seeds - one tubs
    contains catnip seeds and the other pussgraze.
    
    I will be growing these over the next couple of weeks and can't
    wait to see what Jet thinks of this stuff.
    
    PS.  Jet has now settled down to life indoors.  At every opportunity
    I open the outside doors for her to go out but she only stays outside
    for about 10 minutes before she returns indoors for a cuddle.  I
    think she's happy even though she does tend to tucker me out as
    we constantly seem to be playing games.
    
    Thanks for all the advice.  I will let you know what Jet's reaction
    to catnip is.
    
    Collette

    Of course you can only grow catnip in your back yard if you live in the
    city with lots of alley cats roaming around.  We've tried to grow it
    inside, but then the cats get to it before it has a chance to grow.  We
    also tried locking them out of the indoor gargen, but our cats became
    *very* resentful ... :-(  
    
    Can't wait until we move to the country, or at least the burbs.

    I just like to say that ive been trying for ages to get fresh catnip
    instead of the dried stuff but as usual i have failed in finding
    any, so if anyone out there who can help me or can give me some
    it would be very much appreciated. I will give you my address if
    i have any responses, or you can contact me on suburb.		
    
    thank you	
    
    Amanda Brown  p.s cant wait for your replys
    	
    

    
    
    I grew some from seeds and a co worker just brough tme in a huge box!
    The stuff grows like weeds.  I have a packet of seed you can have.
    
    Michele & Nippa
    

    Michele & Nippa,	
    
    Thanks for you reply, my address is 		
    	
       Amanda Brown	
       9 Normanstead Rd	
       Tilehurst	
       Reading	
       Berkshire	
       RG3 5BY	ENGLAND	
    
    I think that my moggy will be very happy 	
    
    Thank You very much		
    
    Amanda & Sasha

   Help...I planted some Catnip seeds about one month ago and it 
    doesn't appear to be growing.  I planted the seeds in a partially
    shaded area and I have been watering them just about every night.
    (Did I drown them???)
    
    What am I doing wrong????
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley) there getting inpatient!!
    

    re:.25
    
    	Does anyone know if I'd have a problem shipping a packet of seeds
    	to England?
    
    re: .26
    
    	did you plant them in a pot?  outside or in?  It sounds like too
    	much water to me, but then I really don't have much of a green
    	thumb..... :^)
    

    I planted the seeds outside right in the ground!!  Maybe I need to look
    in the Garden notes file for my answers on "how to grow".  I can
    just picture the notesfile on how to grow beautiful flowers and
    how to plant trees...and I ask about catnip??  They'll probably laugh at
    me, but oh well it's worth a shot!!
    
    Sandy

    re.28
    Don't be shy, some of us are there too! I beleive catnip has been
    discused before, it may be under mint also. See you in PICA::GARDEN!
    Sandy
    

    Re: a few back.
    
     There may be problems sending seeds into the U.K. I would think
    that if customs got hold of them they would not let them through
    without a lot of hassle which is probably not worth the effort.
    
    As for getting the seeds in the U.K. I have seen seeds for 'CAT MINT'
    in several U.K. garden centres, and on the packets it goes on about
    how the cats adore it, it makes them playfull etc. just like the
    blurb on the catnip box, so maybe it's just known by a different
    name in gardening circles. I cannot vouch for the effectiveness
    of 'CAT MINT' yet as I planted a lot of seed this spring and forgot
    what was where and none of the seedlings are big enough for me to
    identify yet but for the sake of 95p it must be worth a try! 
    
    Martyn.
    
    P.S. I am based in Basingstoke so if the 'CAT MINT' comes through
    I could let you have some later in the year.
    
    

    	
Martyn, 	
        Thank you for the information i will see if i can get hold of
    some cat mint.	
    
Amanda
            
    

                                                                
    In the U.S. catnip plants are often sold in the herb section of
    nurseries, where they
    have little pots of herbs for a dollar or so.   There is a famous
    seed company named Thompson and something in the U.K.  (not so
    famous that i remember their exact name :-) I would look in their
    catalog for seeds.
    
    If you don't bruise the leaves, the plant doesn't give off teh catnip 
    scent, so if you bring an undamaged starter plant into the house,
    you should be okay.
    

    Be warned - the cats in the neighbourhood - tend to plonk themselves
    all over the cat nip/mint if it is grown in a bed or pot on the
    ground.  I put mine in a hanging basket, out of cat perch reach,
    so I can have fresh in the summer, and bring it in the winter. 
    
    BTW it takes a fair time to germinate from seed - upto six weeks
    - so be patient

    re: -1
    
    You are sooooooo right about planting it in the garden.  I got a
    plant at the nursery this year when I bought all the other herbs.
    I thought it would be nice for the cats.  It lasted exactly 2 days.
    The first day the kids pulled off all the leaves and spread them
    down the driveway for rolling.  The second day one of them dug up
    the rest of the plant and took it to some secret hiding place never
    to be seen again!!!  So much for treating MY gang!!!
    
    Ellen

When we went to the garden shop this year to buy our vegetable garden starters,
we bought a packet of catnip, just to try it out.  Our garden is usually on
our deck in planter boxes, and there is no real access to it from outdoors.

A few weeks ago, we had to bring the boxes into the house because we are getting
the outside of the house cleaned and re-stained.  I happened to notice Tigger
had his paws on the large flower pot containing the catnip, which had germinated
a few weeks before.  He had his head in the pot, but I didn't know if he was
just looking, eating, or what.  (he didn't act like he had been eating it).

I took it as a sign to move the pot back outside until the painter returns to
do the deck, or until I find an alternate spot indoors where I'll remember to
water it.  fortunately, Tigger hasn't made the connection between

a) going out on the deck from inside the house
b) climbing up the side of the house to the deck, which he has done on occasion
c) knowing the catnip is on the deck/smelling it from below??
d) putting all of this together

Then again, if he can figure it out, more power to him, and he deserves the
catnip!!

Is it preferable to dry the catnip?  Do you just pluck the leaves and leave the
stems?  How do you dry it?

thanks,
Jill

    Nippa prefers her catnip fresh picked and then aged.  She seems to
    think the flavor is richer and stronger.  Her little red friend
    likes it straight off the plant.  He's in trouble w/ me though - he
    breaks the stalks while rolling in it, and then allow the stalks
    to age for Nippa.  If this keeps up there wont be any left!
    
    

    Delikat Moist is running an offer at the moment, send off 3 vouchers (1
    per box) & �2.60 and they will send you a "Grow your own catnip" kit,
    which consists of a set of seeds, some seed compost, and a covered seed
    tray.
    
    It doesn't seem a particularly good bargain but is an easy way to grow
    your own.
    
    Martyn.
    

    Martin,

    	My two love Delikat moist, if I was to send all the coupons off, I'd 
    have a house and garden full!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and also two zapped cats).

    	Do you want any of the coupons?

    Heather

    >    	Do you want any of the coupons?
     
    Thanks, I could use 2. I only found out about it when I got home with a 
    couple of boxes and only 1 was carrying the coupons, and as my two don't
    eat a lot of Delikat it might take me some time to collect more coupons.
    
    	Martyn Pattison @BST.
    
    

    Heather,
    
    
    If you've got any more spare coupons ...... pretty please!
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    
    Lisa Allgood
    (REO2 FM/9)
    

    
    I think it would be cheaper to go to the garden centre and buy a packet
    of seeds for Catmint (which is their name for catnip).  Sure beats
    having to buy the product then pay an extra �2+ and have the hassle of
    sending it all in and probably ending up on someones junk mail list.
    
    Unless, of course, one is just "into" coupons!
    
    LaDonna 

    You can also often buy catmint/nip plants already started.
    

     
>    Thanks, I could use 2. I only found out about it when I got home with a 
 
	Martyn, I'll bring them in Monday, and put them in infernal snail
	mail.

   	Heather

    
    
>    If you've got any more spare coupons ...... pretty please!
    
 
	I know I have two, I'll check the others,

	Heather