February 2016 Whiskers `n Paws Newsletter

February 2016
Volume 3, Issue 2
In this month’s Issue:
Why Cats like Catnip
Dog Pack Behavior
Pet Gift of the Month
Too Cute Picks
Jasper
Asia Cairo Rio
Latke
.
Hudson
Muffin
Whiskers ‘n Paws Newsletter
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Why Do Cats
Like Catnip . . .
One of the great pleasures
in life for cats is catnip ^.^
they go crazy over it.
Catnip contrary to the
belief of many, Nepeta
cataria (a.k.a. catnip) isn’t a
drug. It’s an herb that’s
related to the mint family.
The chemical structure is
similar to that of the herb
valerian, which can
stimulate the nervous
system in humans and cats.
The effects of catnip in a
cat can last between 10 and
30 minutes before a cat
becomes indifferent to the
herb. After a couple of
hours, a cat will be silly
again if the catnip is
reintroduced.
A kitten will not show if
he’s responsive to catnip
until he is about 2 to 3
months old. Catnip is not
harmful to a cat, and
constant exposure to it will
not hurt him. However, the
sensation a cat feels when
exposed to the herb will
diminish if he’s around it all
the time.
So why do cats like cat nip?
A cat liking catnip is an
inherited trait, which is why
some cats love it and some
don’t. The response is due
to an autosomal gene.
When cats love this herb,
they will roll in it, lick it,
eat it and go crazy for a
couple of minutes. The
thing cats go wild about in
catnip is a substance
called nepetalactone,
which causes a chemical
reaction in the feline brain.
Scientists are not sure
exactly why this happens.
The essential oil within the
leaves is what contains the
nepetalactone, and it can
be released by shredding
the leaves.
A cat’s response to catnip
is said to be
hallucinogenic, and the
crazy reaction they get
from the herb is from how
it smells. The roof of a
cat’s mouth, above the
palate, is where the
receptor is located on a
cat that enables them to
get a good whiff of catnip.
This is why catnip in gel
caps does not raise any
excitement in a cat - they
can’t smell the herb. Cats
may actually eat or chew
catnip to further break the
leaves down so they can
release the oil that's
producing the sensation
they’re experiencing.
Interestingly, cats that do
not have a sense of smell
can even get a pleasurable
reaction when exposed to
catnip. When a cat sniffs
catnip, the herb acts like a
stimulant. However,
when a cat eats catnip, it
acts more like a sedative.
Not all cats react the
same way around catnip.
Uses for Catnip
If a cat loves catnip, the
herb can be used as a
training device. For
example, you can
purchase catnip spray or
use small, broken leaves
and place them on a
scratching post to
encourage a cat to use it.
Researchers have found
that catnip works as an
excellent mosquito
repellent, which is
beneficial because
mosquitoes can carry
parasites. The herb can
also repel cockroaches,
and rodents seem to
dislike the smell.
Cats cannot get addicted
to catnip and they can’t
overdose on it. Catnip is
a good way for a cat
owner to reward her cat
and let him have some
fun. All the Catnip Toys
Whiskers ‘n Paws makes
and sells are made with
ground organic catnip
which brings out the
intense smell cats love.
Understanding Dog Pack Behavior
will help you understand how your dog finds his place in your family
“Dog pack behavior is a process
where every dog understands his or
her place in the pack including
members of your family. It is
important to assert that family
members are more important
members of the pack”
Dogs are pack animals. They have a
highly developed social system, with
a definite hierarchy within the pack.
There is a dominant or "alpha" dog, a
"beta" dog, and so on, and at the
bottom of the social ladder, an
"omega" dog. The alpha dog may be
male or female. These social roles are
very important to the pack.
Members of your family are
considered members of your dogs
pack. They will look to you as a leader
of the pack. If you don't ask this way,
your dog will look to fill that position.
Dogs within the pack usually interact
in a predictable way and maintain the
social order of the pack. Much of
their behavior is aimed at maintaining
their social status, or sometimes at
improving
it. When the alpha dog
.
dies or becomes old or is otherwise
unable to continue in his position,
there is competition for the top
position. Likewise, when a new
member is introduced to the pack,
there is a rearrangement of social
status and some challenge to
positions.
The older the pact, the more
established the social status. The
more established the social status,
the fewer conflicts there are within
the pack. The alpha dog will often
break up conflicts when they do
occur.
The alpha dog will communicate his
or her dominance to other dogs in
the pack. Displays of dominance
include placing a paw on other dogs,
standing over other dogs, making
eye contact, circling and sniffing
other dogs, and urine marking.
Showing submission to the alpha dog
is another important part of
communication within the pack. A
dog will lie on his back, spread his
legs, and expose his belly to the
alpha dog. At other times, the dog
will simply lower his head. He is
acknowledging the alpha dog's
Catnip toys as well as all our other pet
toys & gifts are available for purchase on
our online stores - etsy, ebay, amazon.
Links to locate shops where our toys are
sold and our online stores are at
dominance. The alpha dog usually
responds with signs of friendliness
and tolerance.
You may notice your dog behaving
this way toward you. He may be
acknowledging your dominance at
times (you definitely want to be the
"alpha dog" in your house). At
other times, he may simply be
asking for a belly rub!
Puppies begin learning about
ranking and social order from the
age of about four weeks. They learn
about this from their mother and
from their litter mates. It is
important that puppies are not
separated from their mother and
litter mates too soon, or they will
not learn this valuable lesson. Even
if they will not be living with other
dogs, they need to learn about
social order because they will view
the people they live with as
members of their "pack".
Pet Gifts of the Month
CATNIP TOYS
Tube of Catnip
whiskersnpaws.biz
Catnip Drops
25 Catnip Drops in plastic jar
Catnip Sleeve in 4 colors