Catnip

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Winterizing Catnip Plants

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It has been a fruitful year for catnip but as you know, all good things must soon start to come to an end. It is November which means the temperatures are starting to fall as are the snow flakes. Nepeta Cataria are tough plants and can keep growing through the winter. There are many herbs such as mint and parsley that keep growing even under a blanket of snow. However, snow slows the growing process which means less pickings. Winterizing catnip plants.

My catnip is resilient and is still holding its own. Nepeta Cataria is a hardy perennial cold weather herb. Sadly, the top of the plant will eventually wilt and die from the cold and snow however, the main plant will not die. Here is how you should winterize your catnip plants:

  • As soon as the temps start heading into the 40’s you should cut your catnip back a few inches from the ground.

  • Be sure the weeds are gone so they don’t suck up all of the nutrients in the soil.

  • Cover the catnip with loose dried leaves to provide a blanket of protection for the roots.

Come the first sign of spring catnip will begin to emerge once again. Catnip plants self-seed themselves during the fall. When you see flowers on the plant this means that it is ending its life-cycle and seeding itself for next year. It has the same characteristics of a weed. In fact, many people see catnip as a weed because it will spread like one. If you do not control it it will control you. However, it is a very attractive plant and cats love it.

Catnip also does well in pots. I have some in pots that sit out in the summer then come indoors in the winter months. As long as they are kept warm (they like 60 to 70 degrees), given light, misted with water, and stay away from kitty cats they will be fine. Another catnip season is coming to an end.

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Review of Pet Video Verify – in their own words

Pet Video Verify – No Microchip Needed For Your Pet

Today lost and found pets are a big issue. Many pet owners have high anxiety that their pet is going to get lost. They should be worried, the statistics are that many pets do get lost, it is estimated that 1 in 3 pets will get lost sometime time in their lifetime. If you don’t act quickly and have systems in place, you may never see the pet again. Pet Video Verify is developing applications that help you put systems in place that help manage your pets better with this website.

Pet Video Verify pet video identification system is a patent pending system. This video identification system is trying to revolutionize how lost pets are found and returned to the owner. In the current version of the web application, the pet owner looks over the pet for special attributes and takes measurements, then they video the pet including the special attributes and measurements, you can see an example of a video identification by clicking here. When all these special attributes and measurements are put together, virtually any pet can be identified. A video of your pet is a lot better way to identify them because with a video you can get all parts of the pets body. In the future, we are going to include electronic measurements of the pet in the video!

Pet Video Verify has integrated another application into its software and it is the ability to store pet medical records online by visiting here. When you have access to your pet medical records online, you can access the medical records anytime you need them from any device that is connected to the Internet. Keeping your pet medical records online also help veterinarians because if your pet gets lost and ends up at the vet, the vet may not know the identity of your pet. The vet can use the video identification to identify your pet and also pull your pet’s medical records! Very helpful and can save your pet’s life!

Pet Video Verify has an application where pet owners can sell their used pet items to other pet owners. Pet owners search the Internet looking for pet items. Many would prefer pet items that have already been used and that the owner needs to get rid of, which can be found here. They can search Pet Video Verify for these items and contact the owner to purchase those items.

Pet Video Verify also receives pet coupons from major retailers at their site. We receive the coupons or deals from big retailers such as PetSmart! We push the coupons and deals directly to our users helping them find deals on new items that they need for their pet! We are getting new advertisers all the time so we receive lots of good coupons and deals!

Pet Video Verify also has a pet supply store for when you want new pet items instead of used ones! We are updating these new pet items all the time. Check out these items by clicking here!

You can also post your cute pet pictures for everyone to see on our website. People love cute pet pictures because they bring joy to their life. Pet owners love posting them because they are proud of their pet and they want them to bring joy to other people. Also, look at funny pet videos by clicking here!

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What You May Not Know About Catnip

Baby Catnip Plants
Baby Catnip Plants

Did you know that catnip comes from the mint family? And here you thought it came from the pet store. What you may not know about catnip.  Really, catnip is a herb that grows in the soil. Catnip comes from the plant Lamiaceae which is from the genus Nepeta and of the species Cataria. There are over 200 species of this plant! It is obvious that catnip has deep origins. Now that we got all that out of the way, do you know why your kitty goes nuts over catnip? To put it simply, there is a alluring chemical composition in the Nepeta Cataria plant. What is this magical substance you ask that can send your kitty to a state of bliss? It’s the substances known as nepetalactone, which is the active ingredient secreted from the leaves and stems of the catnip plant.

Cut Catnip Stems
Cut Catnip Stems

Nepetalactone oil is extremely volatile which means that is dissipates very rapidly. The fresher the catnip the higher the potency of oil. It is the oil from the catnip plant that drives cats mad. A fresh leaf from the catnip plant has the highest potency. One fresh leaf is stronger than that old catnip mouse, in fact, one fresh leaf from the catnip plant is stronger than the bag of catnip you just picked up at the pet store. As with most things in life, fresher is always better. Like every plant from the mint family, the catnip plant has a short shelf life. The main reason catnip looses it’s effect is due to the nepetalactone oil. This oil in the catnip plant is UV photosensitive. It is for this reason that you need to store catnip in a dark, cool and dry place for maximum freshness. Therefore, unless you play on giving that whole tub of catnip you just bought to your kitty you should probably stick with smaller quantities of catnip.

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September is National Happy Cat Month

 

Catnip overload?
Catnip overload?

September is National Happy Cat Month, no kidding. You can bet that we are thrilled about that. What else could possibly make your cat more happy then the bliss of crack for kitty. However, happy cat month is not about catnip (well not officially anyways). What then is National Happy Cat Month about if not bliss and catnip?

Happy Cat Month is a initiative started by The CATalyst Council to discover ways to keep cats happy and healthy. Formed in 2008, The CATalyst Council is a grassroots organization made up of different animal welfare and health organizations. Their initiative is to, “Work on behalf of cats”. They are a not for profit organization that is comprised of three groups: Shelter/Animal Welfare, Veterinary Medicine, and other industry such as Cat Fanciers, commercial companies and the media.

The vision of The CATalyst Council is to, “Make a difference in the way the United States sees and experiences cats”. They desire to change the stereotype attitude of people’s image that cats do not require contact or care from humans. The LOGO_America-1Companion_medorganization noticed that, although there are more cats owned in America than dogs, cats were not being treated as well of dogs. The numbers are higher with cats versus dogs for being dropped off at shelters. Also, cats are not taken to the vet as much as dogs are. The CATalyst, “Believe that cats deserve better care, hence its mission to elevate the status of the cat and reverse these trends”. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are 81.7 million cats owned by humans with only 72 million dogs owned by humans. Therefore, it is their belief that cats deserve to receive their overdue recognition as The United State’s number one companion pet.

So it is more of a health and wellness kick then a catnip fix. This does not mean that you should not give you cat catnip this month. Anything that makes kitty happy should make you happy as well.

 

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Catnip Not Just For Cats

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The famous Nepeta Cataria plant aka catnip is the ultimate trip inducing herb for the cat. But did you know that it also has human benefits? In fact, the roots of Nepeta Cataria go way back to the old country and even further! It is assumed that the Ancient Egyptian would give the magical herb to the their felines. The Egyptian cats probably requested it of their servants. Before trades with China began the British Isles would make a tea out of the catnip. This tea was a delicacy among the residents of the Isles. Once the trades began catnip was shipped all around the world. The catnip plant originally was native to Asia, Europe and Africa. Nepeta Cataria came to North America with the settlers and spread like a weed throughout America. Obviously, catnip had other uses beside for cats because it is unlikely that the settlers brought it over for their cats. Catnip not just for cats.

Human uses for catnip include:

Have toothed, heart shaped leafs
Have toothed, heart shaped leafs

 

  • Mild sedative
  • Infant colic
  • Cramp relief
  • Migraine headaches
  • Indigestion
  • Gas
  • Insomnia
  • Anorexia
  • Nervousness
  • Reduce swelling from soft tissue injury and arthritis
  • Bug replant

 

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Catnip: The Cat’s Drug of Choice

The desire for happiness is ingrained in all creatures whether is be human or animal. Sometimes this “fix” comes in the form of a indulgence while other times it comes in the form of taking a drug. Cats are no stranger when it comes to their “happiness drug”. Catnip is the drug of choice for most kitty cats. Why are cats so addicted to the green herb scientifically known as Nepeta Cataria?

Cats love to sniff fresh catnip
Cats love to sniff fresh catnip

It is believed that the name “Nepeta” came from a town in Italy called Nepete. The second part of the name “Cataria” may be derived from the Latin word for cat. The Nepeta Cataria plant secretes an oil contained within its leaves and stems called Nepetalactone. This oil is highly affective with most cats in causing them to “get a high”. Nevertheless, there could be a percentage as high as 50% of cats out there that are not affected at all by the Nepeta Cataria plant. Big cats in the wild such as lions and tigers can also fall under the influence of the Nepeta Cataria plant. It is amazing that such a small plant can even affect a large creature such as a lion with the hallucinogenic symptoms from the Nepetalactone oil. However, kittens are immune to the affects of catnip and do not exhibit the same symptoms as adult cats.

Kitty on a catnip trip
Kitty on a catnip trip

It is thought that Nepetalactone may cause hallucinogenic effects in cats. Some cats moan and make other sounds while under the “influence” of catnip. One thought is that they may be hallucinating and that is why they are making those odd sounds. Catnip may influence cats the same way LSD or marijuana does in people. Perhaps catnip is releasing a “feel good pheromone” resulting in cats acting happy. However, bouts of aggression and playfulness can also occur. Other observations that can be observed in cats under the influence of catnip include: chewing, head shaking, sniffing, licking, body rubbing, drooling, stretching, hyperactivity and jumping. Their high could last anywhere from five to ten minutes. Afterwards, they become temporary immune to the affects of the oil and can not be affected again by it for at least an hour.  Catnip: the cat’s drug of choice.

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Pruning Is Harvesting

Pruning or cutting back is essential when it comes to growing herbs such as catnip. Pruning a tree involves cutting off branches and tossing them. Pruning a catnip plant means cutting back the stems with leaves and keeping them. Pruning a herb plant is actually harvesting it.

Pruning makes all plants grow better and herbs such as catnip are no exception. If you want your catnip to grow fast, full and bush-like then you need to prune (harvest) regularly. If you do not make every attempt possible to harvest your catnip you will wind up with a tall herb with very few leaves. The taller the catnip gets the sooner it will enter the flowering stage and then the conclusion of its life cycle. You want to harvest as much catnip as you can from each of your plants to stretch out the plants growth stage. Each harvest will promote more growth and keep the plant producing tasty catnip for your kitty. Regular harvesting (pruning) will also make your catnip plant look good and full.

Pruning is Harvesting
Pruning is Harvesting

Keep a schedule of when you harvest your catnip. Right now (mid July) my catnip plants are in full growth. However, I’m battling the ‘war of the flowers’ almost everyday. The more flowers I pinch off the more that come back the next day. You might want to do more then pinch the ends of the plant. Consider (if your plant is big enough) clipping off around six to twelve inches from the top. If your plant is on the smaller side then measure from the bottom and clip above the six inch mark. Don’t worry about killing your plant. Pruning your catnip plant will not kill it. Instead, it will actually make it come back thicker and stronger producing even more harvestable catnip. Unless you have an indoor plant or live in a area with access to year round harvesting you better think about drying out as much as you can for winter.

 

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Pinch off Flowers on Catnip Plants

Flowers means no more growth
Little purple flowers means that your catnip plant is approaching the end of its life for this season

To promote growth on any herb plant you need to cut them back. DO not let them flower because it is too early in the season. Although the flowers on the catnip are very pretty purple (and my bees love the color purple) you do not want them to start flowering. Once a catnip plant (or any herb for that matter) starts to show signs of flowers you can be sure that the herb’s life cycle is coming to its season end. Pinch off flowers on catnip plants. Contained within those little flowers are seeds that it will seed for next year.

Pinch the flowers off
Save its life by pinching the flowers off

You must combat these flowers by pinching them off as soon as you see them. You may even have to cut a little below the flower to make sure that you prevent the flower form coming back right away. In some cases you may have to clip the entire stem if it is loaded with flowers.

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Sparkle high on catnip flowers

Do not toss the pinched off flowers. You can dry them out and save seeds for next year or you can give the flowers to your kitty for its crack fix.

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Nepeta Cataria Plant aka Catnip

Your cat is peacefully sitting on the couch when he catches a scent from the addictive plant that you are rubbing between your fingers. Suddenly, he is alerted to the aroma of a kitty drug scientifically called Nepetalactone.  Nepeta Cataria Plant aka Catnip.  Why does kitty go crazy for catnip?  To put it simply,  there is a alluring chemical composition in the Nepeta Cataria plant.  This plant, which has over 200 species, is where catnip originates.  What is it that takes your kitty from its restful state to “kitty happiness”?  It’s the substances known as nepetalactone, which is the active ingredient secreted from the leaves and stems of the catnip plant. 

Nepeta Cataria plant
Nepeta Cataria plant