Your cat's behavior can possibly be modified with catnip. As a cat owner, don't look at catnip as being something that is put in cat toys as a treat or to keep them busy. Cats will eventually become immune to catnip effects if you overuse it.

Is Catnip Powerful?

The "catnip effect" is due to a volatile oil contained in catnip. This oil acts like an aphrodisiac which causes the unique feeling on cats. It is not an addictive substance and is safe to use on cats. The cat's inhibition is usually minimized through the hallucinogen aspect of catnip. The euphoria feeling typically lasts approximately fifteen minutes.

Cats really enjoy catnip when they come in contact with it. They will lick the catnip, roll in it and often times consume the herb oil. Your cat is likely to become immune to the catnip oil if you leave it in a place where your cat can get to it a lot. Due to an inherited gene, only about 67 percent of all cats are affected by catnip. The remaining 33 percent of cats do not feel the effects of catnip because they don't have the inherited gene that responds to catnip.

What are the Catnip Benefits?

Catnip is a very powerful substance. It can make a lazy cat very active and playful. Use catnip as a starting point when dealing with a cat that has not been playful or active in a period of time. It can be used to relieve tension if your cat has been subjected to a situation of stress. As an example, you may want to use catnip after your cat has been traveling in a car or your cat became tense after company was in the house.

In addition, catnip can help build confidence in your frightened or timid cat. Your cat could have become timid due to being recently purchased or rescued from an animal shelter. Catnip will help your timid cat to respond in a friendly and playful manner.

Be Cautious in Using Catnip.

You need to be cautious when giving catnip to a cat that is in a group if you don't know how the cat will respond. Some male cats can become more aggressive after friendly play when subjected to catnip. Therefore, it is wise to give catnip to the first-time user in a environment where the cat is separated from your other cats to see what the response will be. You don't want your other cats to be subjected to an aggressive cat after taking catnip.

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F. Terrence Markle is a successful webmaster and publisher of information on Cats For more information try visiting Cats.PrimeOnlineInfo.com/cat-id-tag.htm a popular website that offers tips, advice and resources on cats.

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