Catnip: The New Kitty Ambien?
SSS! reader Jeff wrote earlier this week about a new kitten his girlfriend brought home. Kitty had been keeping the household up all night, pouncing on the beds and scatching in the litter box. Then Jeff slipped him a new catnip toy. And the cat conked out until dawn.
What's up with that? Can catnip induce sleep?
Some cats get jazzed by catnip, said West Palm Beach veterinarian Dr. Lisa Radosta, while the herb makes others a little dopey. But she thinks the most likely reason for the behavior change is the kitten was pleasingly pooped after playing hard with the toy, like a toddler after a day at the playground.
"When we come home from work, we take our dog for a walk. We don't that with cats. But your cat needs to be predatory and move his body," said Radosta, a certified veterinary behaviorist with Florida Veterinary Behavior Service. Her advice to Jeff: Buy the kitten lots of toys he likes and wear him out with structured play before bedtime.
Got a question about other wacky animal behavior? Ask away!
ANGIE BRENNAN, a Sun-Sentinel page designer,
lives with four dogs and one boyfriend. And has a lifetime of animal stories to share.
DIANE LADE, a reporter on the Sun-Sentinel's Help Team, has lived with cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, an iguana, and an armadillo.
CYNDI METZGER, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Outlook section, is smitten with Bella, her poodle who regularly ignores requests to sit, stay and get off the ivory-colored sofa. 
JOHN TANASYCHUK, a Sun-Sentinel lifestyle writer, has lived with cats as long as he can remember. He and his partner currently share their home with three.
Comments
Its nice to know that there is a Florida Veterinary Behavioral Service! My question is about CHEWING--my 15 month old lab is a great dog, high energy, sweet and mild. We get him out for a long ( one mile ) walk about four times a week, plus short daily walks, but I don't think its enough for him because although our home is a very stress-free environment, with both of us working from home, he seems to always have excess energy, which, I think, is causing him to CHEW as a stress-reducer. He chews EVERYTHING! Blankets, rugs, shoes, everything that he can get his paws on-- his teeth are like big, pearly-white SHARK TEETH! Will he outgrow this chewing thing? Am I correct in thinking that it is from stress or a lack of exercise? He is with us forever, but I would like to have a future with furniture & blankets that are in one piece!
Posted by: TJF | March 27, 2008 6:03 PM
I have a behavior question: we have a 15 month old lab, a fabulous dog, but he chews everything! He has his big-dog chew toys, which he loves, but he also chews blankets, shoes, everything he can get his paws on! I am wondering if he is chewing from stress? Or will he outgrow this. We have a very stress free home, with both of us working from home, and we do one-mile walks about four times a week with him, but I am wondering if it is a lack of exercise, stress or just something he will outgrow? We are keeping him forever, he is like our kid, but I would like to have a future with furniture and blankets in one piece! I sent this before, but I am not sure it went thru.
Posted by: TJF | March 27, 2008 6:08 PM
Hey TJF: I know labs, especially young ones, are chewers -- because I used to have two. The female ended up chewing up one of the rungs of my antique rocking chair! I'll get you an answer, probably early next week.
FYI: There are vets out there, like Dr. Radosta, who specialize in animal behavior. Just go with one who is certified.
Posted by: Diane Lade | March 27, 2008 6:28 PM