Catnip also known as Catmint is a herb related to the mint family and has an unusual phenomenon among cats, it has the ability to cause an amazing reaction that can alter your cat's behaviour. Only about 50-70% of cats are affected by this herb and when exposed to Catnip some cats will present with various behaviours some of which may resemble a drunken appearance, vocalisation, rolling around, elevated energy levels, increased affection and playfulness. Catnip is great to encourage and stimulate activity in cats, especially lazy cats and indoor cats. Catnip can be grown in the garden or purchased as a dry herb which can be sprinkled onto food, incorporated into toys or put onto a scratching post. If you are lucky enough to have a cat that does react favourably to Catnip the reaction may only last a few minutes, then the cat acclimates to it and it can take an hour or two away from the catnip to ‘reset' and stimulate the cat again. Unfortunately no one knows exactly what happens in the cat's brain when they come into contact with catnip.

One thing that is known is that Catnip contains a chemical called nepetalactone and it is this that is believed to be responsible for triggering the intense reaction and interest. Apparently, it somehow kicks off a stereotypical pattern in cats that are sensitive to the chemical that cats just can't seem to get enough of. Catnip is surprisingly very easy to grow and will thrive indoors or outdoors. Catnip seeds can be purchased from most garden stores, pet stores or vet clinics. Catnip does not need much care, as it can flourish well on its own. Give them plenty of space away from other plants in your garden as they tend to crowd other plants. Mix two parts potting soil with one part coarse sand or vermiculite into a small pot. Sow the seeds on the top of the slightly moistened soil mixture and gently press them into the soil. Cover your pot with plastic wrap to keep the moisture in. Place your pot in a warm, bright part of the house. However, do not place it in direct sunlight.

In about 7 to 10 days you should see some sprouts come through the soil. Once the sprouts get their first set of leaves on them, take the plastic cover off the pot and move it into a sunny window or area. The air inside your home will typically be dryer than the outside air so check the moisture of the soil daily. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. As the plants grow to about one foot, start harvesting the catnip. You don't have to dry the catnip for your pet to enjoy it. Houses For Sale Sugar Mill Pond Youngsville LaCats also like to eat the leaves off the fresh plants.Costco And Air Purifier If you plant catnip in the spring, it should flower by early summer. Houses For Sale In Abington Close Crewe

While the plant is in bloom, cat owners may wish to harvest the flower, top leaves and stems, these can then be placed into a toy or stuffed into a small pillow case. According to some gardeners, three good harvests of catnip can be produced in one year.With the weather getting warmer, spring is the perfect time to start planting flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. However, what you can grow also depends on the soil conditions and climate where you live. With a climate as diverse as Australia's, it's important to know which plants are best suited to your region so that you get the best results in your garden. Before you plant, prepare your soil by digging in compost and manure so your plants have the nutrients they need to grow. Also, make sure the soil is well watered. Then cover your garden beds in a 10cm layer of mulch to help retain the moisture. Plant some spring colour Australia is made up of six climatic zones and two main seasonal patterns, so depending on where you live you may be experiencing different weather conditions to other parts of the country.

The following is a list of some of the more popular flowers to plant in spring: Southern States (Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia) Spring fruits, vegetables and herbs Which fruits, vegetables and herbs you can plant and successfully grow in spring will depend on the climate in your region. Areas that are frost-free or only have occasional frosts. This is the area north of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales and all the way across to Geraldton in the west. Cool to cold areas Areas where there are low temperatures for long periods of time. This includes all of Tasmania, most of Victoria, the southern highlands of New South Wales, the ACT and a small part of the southern South Australia. Where there are occasional winter frosts, this includes much of the rest of Australia, some areas of Victoria, most of South Australia and the southern Western Australia. Start your spring garden today We’ve got everything you need to plant colour, fruit, vegies or herbs, and plenty of new ideas for your garden.

Catnip is a perennial herb and a member of the mint family. It is also known as catmint, catwort,  and field balm, as well as other names. The volatile oil that causes the “catnip reaction” is nepetalactone. Catnip was native to Europe but was imported to the United States and other areas and is now widely grown. There are several schools of thought as to why catnip creates a response in cats. It has been reported that the cat experiences a marijuana or LSD-type response. This response, luckily for the cat is without any of the risks and is simply getting high without any of the consequences associated with that action. Other theories include: the reaction being the same as the estrus behavior of female cats (rolling, rubbing); or that it simply triggers a pleasure response. Even though your cat may look like a love-sick feline, catnip is not an aphrodisiac. Cats who are neutered or spayed will have the same reaction as intact cats. The typical behavior of a cat reacting to catnip includes sniffing, licking, head shaking, eating the herb, body rolling and head and cheek rubbing.

The effects usually last about 5-15 minutes. Even though the cat may display these behaviors, the response occurs through the olfactory system. Once the cat has had his fill, he will walk away from it. A cat will not respond again to catnip for at least a couple of hours. Not all cats respond to catnip. The catnip response is hereditary. It is estimated that about 1/3 of the cats lack this gene. Additionally, kittens less than three months old don’t respond to catnip and often even show an aversion. With many kittens, the response doesn’t even occur until they’re almost six months old. Kittens don’t really need catnip exposure though anyway – they’re already motorized and ready to play at a moment’s notice.  Many elderly cats may not show much of a response as well. The euphoric state produced by catnip is safe and you don’t have to worry about kitty getting hooked. There are a couple of precautions though to be aware of: First, if exposed to catnip too often, there is a risk of your cat losing his ability to respond to it.

That would be a very sad consequence, so it’s recommended that you provide catnip no more than once a week. Don’t leave catnip toys hanging around the house all the time. Instead, keep them in tightly sealed containers when not in use. It has been my experience that there some male cats who, when exposed to catnip, get a little too rambunctious and can even border on being aggressive. In a multicat household, that can create a challenge if one cat who is on his catnip high, starts in with too much rough play. The first time you give catnip to a male cat in a multicat household, my recommendation is to do it in a separate room so you can see what kind of reaction he has. It won’t take long before you can easily evaluate what kind of response each of your cats will have. Some will become extremely playful, some will drool, others get very vocal and some will just roll back and forth in a euphoric state. Either way, it’s as much fun for you to just watch your cat totally enjoying himself without a care in the world.

When buying dried catnip, look at the packaging and try to find brands that state they use only leaves and blossoms. Companies that put use lots of stems aren’t as good. To ensure you’re getting the best catnip possible, try growing and drying your own. Of course, it can be very difficult to grow fresh catnip without kitty getting into it before harvesting time. Cats easily pick up on the catnip scent so don’t grow catnip outdoors unless you want every cat in the neighborhood to visit your backyard. Catnip will also easily take over your garden. Catnip comes in various forms – catnip spray, liquid, dried herb, fresh and catnip-filled toys. I think some of the lower priced catnip-filled toys aren’t really filled with catnip at all. My advice is to buy regular toys and “marinate” them in dried catnip or buy toys that have catnip pouches where you merely fill them with the dried herb. If you’ve bought some catnip toys and your cat doesn’t show a reaction, it might be a poor quality product.

Before giving up and assuming that you have a cat who doesn’t have the catnip response gene, invest in some good quality catnip and see what happens. I buy plain old fuzzy toy mice and keep them in a sealed container filled with top quality dried catnip. It’s cheaper than buying catnip-filled toys and they can be marinated over and over again. You can even fill the tip of a sock with catnip and put a knot on the end. Sprinkle a little on the floor and watch your cat roll around and rediscover his “inner kitten.” There are so many ways to use catnip. Hint: When using dried catnip, rub it between your hands before giving it to your cat to release the volatile oil. Don’t just view catnip as an opportunity for your cat to swing from the chandelier and act goofy. It can be a powerful behavior modification tool to help with many feline behavior challenges you might be facing. If you have a timid or fearful cat, offer a little catnip so he has a chance to lose some of his inhibitions.