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Cats opt for chemical pleasure
In June you may notice your cats showing interest in particular plants in the garden - certain herbs seem to give them a great deal illicit pleasure! After recent scares about poisonous plants and cats, especially lilies, owners may be worried.
However, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB), a charity dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of cats, 80 per cent of pet cats enjoy the occasional sniff of catnip, a popular cottage garden perennial herb also known as catmint (Nepeta cataria). Owners should not worry unduly about having an addict on their hands. Catnip is considered a safe, non-addictive recreational drug for cats!
Catnip contains various aromatic oils. One of these called nepetalactone is the mild hallucinogen which, if inhaled, will affect the catís brain and have soporific or excitatory effects. When exposed to catnip cats will often rub themselves on the plant and sniff, lick or eat it. The cat may show signs of intoxication or have a wild or drunken appearance. Vocalisation, rolling in ecstasy and showing signs of sexual arousal may be evident after contact with catnip. Cats that do respond to the chemical can go into a trance like stance for up to 15 minutes.
Cat toys are sometimes stuffed with catnip to encourage play. Responsive cats may miaow and rub, chew and roll over these toys.
Owners should not worry about catnip overdose. The effects of catnip are usually short-lived and then the cat will not react for another hour or so, according to veterinary surgeon Andrea Harvey, FAB Lecturer at the Bristol University Feline Centre. “If consumed in large quantities, by cats or people, catnip causes self-limiting tummy upsets. Nor should owners be worried about kittens being exposed to the delights of the plant. The effects of catnip cannot be appreciated until the cat is about 12 weeks old.”
Not all cats will react to catnip. Independent research suggests that between 10 to 30 per cent of cats don’t respond to catnip. Susceptibility to catnip is inherited as a dominant trait in cats. This means cats can inherit susceptibility from one parent. If present, the receptor for nepetalactone is found at the back of the cat’s nose in the vomeronasal organ (a special organ that lets cats concentrate and taste/smell odours of interest). Cats draw in air through the vomeronasal organ by slightly opening their mouths and pulling back their lips - like a slight grimace! This is called the Flehmen response.
FAB supports residencies in feline medicine at UK veterinary schools to provide a referral service for owners and information for vets in practice. It provides a wealth of health information for cat owners which is available on www.fabcats.org
For more information contact the FAB, Taeselbury, High Street, Wiltshire SP3 6LD, telephone 0870 742 2278, email fab@fabcats.org |
