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Catnip – Everything You Need to Know About Catnip!

January 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Catnip –   Everything You Need to Know About Catnip!

 

       Catnip   is a perennial herb and member of the Mint family Labiatae that is well known for it’s ability to get cat’s high. It is native to   Europe & Asia, however has become naturalised in America & Canada   after being introduced. There are approximately 250 species of Catnip, and   this figure doesn’t include hybrid species. Some of the more readily   available ones are:

Common   Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
White flowers, grows up to 3 feet. This is the variety most cats enjoy.

Camphor   Catnip (Nepeta camphorata
White flowers with purple dots, grows up to 18 inches. Camphor scent.

Greek   Catnip (Nepeta parnassica)
White, pale pink flowers, grows up to 18 inches.

Lemon   Catnip (Nepeta cataria citriodora)
White flowers, spotted with purple, grows up to 3 feet. The leaves have a   lemony scent.

Catmint   (Nepeta mussinii)
Purple flowers. This plant has smallish, grey/green leaves. It   grows up to 15 inches high.

The   name Nepeta is believed to have come from the town of Nepete in   Italy. Cataria is thought to have come from the Latin word for cat.

Catnip   is also known by the following names:   Cataria,  Catmint,   Catnep, Catrup, Cat’s Heal All,  Cat’s-play, Cat’s Wort, Catswort,   Catwort, Chi Hsueh Tsao, Field Balm, Garden Nep, Herba Cataria, Herba Catti,   Nebada, Nep.

The   active ingredient which causes this is an essential oil called nepetalactone,   which can be found in the leaves & stem of the plant. Other constituents   include Acetic Acid,  Alpha & beta-nepetalactone, Citral,    Nepetalactone,  Geraniol, Dipentene, Citronellol, Nerol, Butyric Acid,   Valeric Acid and Tannins.

When   a cat encounters catnip, it usually sniffs it, rubs against it, licks it   & finally eats it. It’s actually the sniffing that gets produces the   high, it’s believed that cats eat catnip to bruise the catnip & therefore   release more of the nepetalactone. The high produced will usually last   between five & ten minutes.

When   sniffed, catnip will stimulate a cat, however when eaten it will act as a   sedative.

Around   50% of cats are affected by catnip, and those who are, are affected to   differing degrees. Kittens younger than 8 weeks old aren’t  able to   enjoy it’s effects. In fact, they show an aversion to it.  The response   to catnip appears to be inherited as an autosomal gene. It’s not just   domesticated cats who enjoy the effects of catnip, many lot of wild species   also enjoy it.  Cats can smell 1 part in a billion  in the air.   Males & females, entire or desexed, there appears to be no one group who   is more readily affected by catnip than another.

Nepetalactone causes a hallucinogenic effect. Some say the   effects are similar to LSD, others say similar to marijuana. Because cats   roll on the floor, which mimics a female in estrus, it has been suggested   that catnip acts as an aphrodisiac, but this is unlikely as males react in   just the same way. What is likely is the cat is reacting to similar   “feel good” pheromones released during  sexual   courtship/activity. However, non sexual behaviour including playing, chasing   & hunting can also be observed.  The response to catnip is via the   olfactory system. Even cats who can’t smell will can still respond to catnip.

The   effects of catnip seem to change from cat to cat. I have one cat who drools   & rolls on the floor, I have another one who becomes very hyperactive, a   third becomes aggressive, and picks fights with the other cats when he’s had   catnip.

Catnip is not harmful to your cat. They won’t overdose on   it.  Most cats know when they’ve had enough & will refuse any   further offers.

Interestingly,   researchers say that nepetalactone is about ten times more effective at   repelling mosquitos than DEET, which is the active ingredient in most insect   repellents. It was also discovered that catnip repels cockroaches   too!* Plants aren’t alone in containing nepetalactone, some insects   & ants also contain it. It’s been speculated that this protects them from   insects.

Rats   & mice are also believed to have a strong dislike of catnip & will   avoid places where it grows.

If   you set it, the cats will eat it. If you sow it, the cats don’t know it.
Philip Miller, The Gardener’s Dictionary

This   saying came about because fresh catnip is supposedly more attractive to cats   when it is bruised & transplanting catnip bruises the leaves. I   don’t know how much truth there is to that, certainly my cats will have a   nibble on the catnip I keep in their enclosure, which hasn’t been bruised.

Catnip   is usually fairly easy to grow, you should be able to  purchase the   plant from your local garden centre. It likes light sandy soil, and grows   best in full sun.

Most   pet shops either sell catnip toys, or tried catnip. When storing catnip, put   it in an air tight container, in the fridge or freezer.

To   dry fresh catnip, hang upside down in a dry, ventilated area, away from the   sun.

Human   uses:

Catnip   tends to have a sedative effect on humans. It is most often drunk as a tea.

It is   also useful for settling an upset stomach. It has also been used to   treat headaches, scarlet fever, coughing, insomnia & smallpox.

Catnip   can also be used for cuts, studies show it has a natural healing quality.   Crush fresh catnip leaves, damp them & apply to your cut. **

Some   other medicinal uses for catnip are: Anaesthetic, antibiotic, anti rheumatic,   antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, muscular aches and pains,   rheumatism, chills, cold in the joints, haemorrhoids, toothache.

K’Eogh,   in his Irish Herbal (1735) wrote of catnip, “It provokes   urination and menstruation: it expels the stillborn child; it opens   obstructions of the lungs and the womb, and is good for internal bruises and   shortness of breath. Drunk with salt and honey, it expels worms from the body.”   ***

Pregnant   women should avoid catnip.

It   can also be used as an aromatic herb in cooking & salads.

According   to The Herb Garden, “The root when chewed is said to make the most   gentle person fierce and quarrelsome”. In fact, there is a story about   an executioner who would have to chew on the root of catnip so he could bring   himself to do kill.

Valerian   also produces the same reaction in cats. As do plants which contain the   chemical Actinidine.

Bibliography

* Science   Daily

**     277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You to Know by Paulette Cooper & Paul Noble.

*** Herbal   Advisor
Filed Under: Cats, Pet Accessories, PET HEALTH, Pet Needs, Pets

Declawing! What You Need To Know

January 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Declawing! What You Need To Know

What does it mean when a cat is declawed? How is it done? Examine the drawing

on the bottom of this post.

The cat’s claw is not a toenail at the end of the toe as in other animals. It is

movable digit attached to muscle as a finger might be. Note that strong ligaments

and tendons which give power to extend and retract the claws. This is unique in

cats. Without this your cat would not be able to properly grasp, hold or establish

footing for proper walking, running, springing, climbing or stretching. Think of

the cat as having 10 toes on each foot. Declawing is akin to cutting off half their

toes. When the end digit, including the claw is removed, the sensory and motor

nerves are cut, damaged and destroyed. They do not repair themselves or grow

back for many months. Following the surgery there is a wooden lack of feeling,

then a tingling sensation during the long convalescence while the cat must

walk on the stub end of the second digit. Remember that during all this time

the cat may not “rest” his feet as we would after a similar operation but must

continue to scratch in his litter box, walk and attempt to jump as usual

regardless of his pain.

Since cats have keener senses then humans, they suffer even more than humans.

Many pain killing drugs, including aspirin, do not agree with cats and can cause

illness or even death. Anyone who has had surgery will appreciate the problem

that can be created by the inability to take pain-relieving medication. It is also

possible for the claws to grow back, but often not in the normal manner, instead

they may grow through the top or bottom of the paw,creating a bloody, painful

sore. An Atlanta news station recently had a story of a declawing followed by

infection so severe that the cat’s foot had to be amputated.

The cat’s body is especially well designed. The skeleton is better jointed and more

elastic than most other animals and the muscles governing the lithe body are highly

developed. This gives the cat great climbing power. The sharp claws can be

whipped out for business or tucked neatly away. The elastic tendon holds the claw

in it’s own sheath. The claw is flat on each side so it will slide in and out better.

When the cat pulls his claw down with the use of the big tendon that lies along the

under part of the toe, the ligament stretches like a fresh rubber band. It is hooked

on the end for hanging on.

Cats like to keep their claws sharp and clean (and remove the outer sheath of the

nail) by working on the scratching post you provide. Equipping your cat with the

proper scratching post and taking the time to train him to use it will help preserve

your furniture and carpets. Scratching posts made of soft carpeting teach your cat

that soft fabrics, i.e. your sofa and rugs, are proper for scratching. A better idea

are posts made of sisal rope or carpet turned inside out. This encourages your cat

to scratch on hard, coarse surfaces. Training your cat to use this post takes some

effort on your part. If you see him attempting to scratch on furniture or carpet, clap

your hands sharply, say no! then pick him up gently and place him on the sisal

post. (If stronger measures are needed, you might also want to keep a squirt bottle

with plain water handy.) If your cat seems to prefer a particular area, try covering it

with aluminum foil for a while. Catnip-treated cardboard scratchers, best used lying

flat, are also effective. Most cats are pretty smart and after a short time, and much

praise, will get the idea. It is also essential to properly clip your cat’s claws with a

well-made cat claw scissors. The sharp hook must be clipped off without injuring

the pink quick. Cutting into the quick will hurt the cat and you will have a difficult

time holding him quiet the next time.

Besides the physical mutilation, consider what declawing may do to the cat’s

emotions, the personality changes that may occur. Knowing he has not the means

to defend himself, some cats follow the precept of the best defense is a good

offense, and will bite at the least provocation (and it may truly be the least

provocation.) Others become depressed and lose the loving personality that

made you choose him to start with.

“The Learning Channel” had a series of documentaries about cats in January of

1993 and again in July 1995 and several of their comments were appropriate to

this post. In one segment a cat owner spoke to a pet psychologist about her biting

cat. It was no surprise to me when she admitted that the cat was declawed.

Another segment showed a kitten being declawed. The commentator said that

declawing was an American procedure and, in fact, most veterinarians in other

countries refuse to do the operation.

I have recently heard about another nasty piece of business that some

veterinarians are advocating as an “alternative” to Declawing; Tendonectomy-

the cutting of the tendons themselves to prevent the claws from being extended.

This is a bad, if not worse, than declawing itself. The claws continue to grow and

constant maintenance of trimming must be done for the rest of the cat’s life. ( The

same trimming procedure that if done anyway will keep your cat’s intact claws

shortened, blunted and less damaging to your furniture.) Failure to trim claws in

this situation will result in additional veterinary attention throughout the cat’s life

as the claws will grow around and into the paw pad of the foot. You can imagine

how much daily pain a cat would have to go through in this condition.

If you really love your cat, you will want him to lead a long, happy life,

giving and receiving love and affection. If you really love him, and care about him,

don’t declaw him

We wish to thank and give credit to the All State Burmese Society, a CFA club, from whom the bulk of this information was gathered.

Filed Under: Cats, PET HEALTH, Pets

Feline Leukemia

January 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Feline Leukemia

Holistic veterinarians are now fighting
FeLV with “new” weapons

BY FRAN HODGKINS

For an owner whose cat has tested positive for the presence of the feline leukemia virus (FeLV), there may seem to be little hope. But thanks to holistic medicine, an FeLV-positive cat may have a better chance of survival than in the past.

Feline leukemia is a disease caused by a virus in the “me family of viruses as feline immunodeficiency virus. The FeLV virus can lead to anemia, tumors, kidney disease, and reproductive disorders including infertility. The symptoms may include fever, weight loss, anemia, poor diet, vomiting or diarrhea, and pleurisy. It is not considered treatable by conventional methods, but research is showing that not all cats will die from the disease, and that new treatments may bring hope to FeLV-positive cats and their owners.

What FeLV?

According to Dr. Neils C. Pedersen of the University of California at Davis, “It is an infection that is endemic among free roaming cats, with one to 2 percent, plus or minus, of the cats carrying the virus and shedding it in their saliva, feces and urine.” Although FeLV isn’t serious in nature, Dr. Pedersen says, it can be devastating for cats in an indoor environment. Indoors, the infection 0 is 30 times worse than outdoors, with about one-third to one-half of the cats infected for life, the rest will dune it off. Of the exposed cars, about half will die each year.

As a result, the presence of one FeLV-positive cat in the household is cause for concern. Most conventional vets recommend vaccinating cats—especially if they go outdoors–against FeLV. However, three holistic vets we spoke to do not generally suggest the vaccine to their clients. Dr. Susan Wynn, executive director of the Georgia Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, says that the vaccine’s effectiveness is “far from clear.” She says, “It may work kind of well,” but wonders if the apparent decline in FeLV cases that veterinarians have seen is due to the vac-cine or to the increased isolation of infected cats.

Of cats that become infected, Dr. Wynn says, about a third will get ova it, a third will have negative signs of the virus in their blood, ant a third will test persistently positive.

Testing for the virus

Two main tests are used to detect FeLV: the ELISA test, which can be done at the vet’s office, and the IFA (immunoflouroassay) or Hardy test The ELISA test detects the virus in the blood; the IFA, within white blood cells. Notes Dr. Debbie Mallu, a holistic veterinarian in Sedona, Arizona, the ELISA test shows an early infection. “The animal may ward it off,” she says.

Conventional treatments, including chemotherapy, generally relieve symptoms and may prolong life. However, there are no guarantees. Dr. Mallu encourages ha clients not to view an FeLV positive as a death sentence. She urges them to “be more positive. Think, ‘Yes, my cat is sick, but what can we do to make him better?’”

A good diet comes first

“Nutrition is such a big factor in resistance,” says Dr. Carolyn Blakey, who practices in Richmond, Indiana. She suggests owners put their cats on a raw-meat diet, including liver. She also suggests vegetables, noting that owners can offer their cats different ones to determine which ones they’ll eat; cats have been known to enjoy cucumbers and Brussels sprouts! Veggies can be cooked or served raw, or even pureed. However, Dr. Blakey does not encourage owners to give their cats baby food unless it’s organiC.

Like Blakey, Dr. Mallu recommends a raw-meat, homemade diet and supplemental vitamins, enzymes, and fatty acids, as does Dr. Wynn. Wynn also provides her clients with immune-system stimulants, such as Rachie mushroom.

The use of herbs

Other immune-system stimulants include herbs, both western and Chinese. Dr. Mallu explains that the use of Chinese herbs helps build Chi–the energy that flows through the body (it’s most familiar to Western persons as being the focus of acupuncture, which stimulates and corrects the flow of chi by inserting fine needles at points along the chi’s flow paths, the meridians). She uses the Chinese herb Dong Qui in cats with FeLV. For cats suf- from anemia due to an FeLV infection, she uses the high-iron herb Yellow Dot to help improve the blood.

However, note that herbs, if given by someone not familiar with their effects, can do more harm than good; it’s important to work with a holistic vet who is trained in administering them. (See related story on herbs on page 7.)

Although Dr. Wynn says she “hasn’t been too excited” by her experiences with antiviral herbs, she notes that another antiviral element can be helpful to FeLV-cats: interferon.

Interferon is a family of proteins that have been used to treat a variety of human diseases, including liver disease, multiple sclerosis, and HIV. Besides being antiviral, interferon has the added bonus of being an immune stimulant, Dr. Wynn notes.

Other immune system stimulants being tried with some success include lmmunoRegulin, baypamun, and acemannan, a derivative of the aloe plant. Be sure to work with your vet if you want to investigate these treatments because they cannot always be used; for example, ImmunoRegulin should not be used if a cat has developed a Iymphosarcoma. Baypamun, a homeopathic remedy, is designed to cure infections in kittens; it is not necessarily meant by its manufacturer to be an FeLV treatment. Dr. Wynn notes that she has used acemannan, but finds that herbs work just as well and have the additional benefit of providing nutrients.

Homeopathy can help

Dr. Blakey has also found that homeopathy remedies can sometimes be helpful. Homeopathy is based on the concept of “like cures like.” A homeopathic remedy is a minuscule amount of a plant, mineral, or animal-derived substance that is given to cure symptoms. For example, arsenic, a poison, can cause serious gastro-intestinal problems; however, the homeopathy remedy derived from arsenic may actually cure the ailment. Veterinary _ consult with the owners and take a histo-ry of the animal in question and then, based on the answers, select a remedy. Because the remedy chosen is based on the particular animal’s needs and preferences–for example, if the cat prefers to be warm or cool–it’s not possible to name one or two homeopathic remedies for FeLV.

Note that herbs, if given by someone not familiar with their effects, can do more harm than good; it’s important to work with a holistic vet who is trained in administering them.

To find a homeopathic vet, you can check Dr. Wynn’s website, AltVetMed (www.altvetmed.org). It includes a list of members of the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association, and includes each vet’s specialties and contact information.

No matter which form of treatment you and your veterinarian choose to use, isolating the infected cat is still a good idea. Other cats in the household should be tested too, or immunized if feasible. Not only will isolating FeLV-positive cats from FeLV negative cats protect the ones that test negative, it will also protect the cat that has tested positive from possibly catching illnesses from its companions.

Dr. Blakey notes that human clients tend to “react more negatively than necessary,” when the diagnosis is FeLV Some cats will live long and relatively healthy lives, although infected with the virus. FeLV-positive doesn’t have to be a death sentence. “Cats have a good chance of bouncing back,” says Dr. Wynn.

Fran Hodgkins is a freelance writer who lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter and four cats. She is a member of the Cat Writers ‘Association.

Allopathic Options for Feline Leukemia

Although mere is no hard and fast cure for FeLV, certain other traditional drug therapies may enable the cat to remain fairly healthy for up to several months. The Whole Cat Journal, while aiming for a holistic approach in treatment, believes that a cat owner should exhaust every possibility in the attempt to save the life of a cat, or ease its suffering.

Chemotherapeutic drugs may produce a temporary remission, depending on me general health of the cat and its type of leukemia. Some of these are in the experimental stage and their efficacy is qualified.

Phosphonoformate (PFA) appears to have the potential to suppress FeLV and is not poisonous at the cellular level.

Suramin, used for treating prostate and other cancers, may also be effective in treating the disease.

Phosphonylmethoxyethyladenine (PMEA) has harsh side effects, so it can’t be used on a long-term basis. It has been used for treating the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and may work against other viruses such as FeLV.

Staphylococcus Aureus-Protein A (Staphylococcus A) has been used experimentally against FeLV and associated tumors; it has been shown to help interferon therapy work.

DEC (Diethylcarbamazine) has been shown to decrease, but not eliminate the virus, particularly In young cats. Its use, however, does not appear to be widely known.

Prednisolone may work against the Iymphosarcoma tumors caused by the disease. In addition, steroids can inhibit cells that are normally responsible for destroying senescent (aging) red blood cells, which can combat anemia and destruction of red blood cells.

Although the long-term use of steroids compromises a cat’s immunity, cats do have a relatively high tolerance for them. Therefore a high quality diet and other immune-building strategies should be followed.

Taken from “The Whole Cat Journal- February 1999″

Filed Under: Cats, PET HEALTH