Online Pets Advice By Expert Advice On Online Pets Advice.Com

Is your cat crazy for catnip? When she gets some catnip does she start frolicking around the room and displaying behavior that is normally too “undignified” for a cat?

Well, according to Pet Place most cats (70 to 90 percent) are likely to exhibit at least some reaction to catnip, which is an herbal relative of the mint family. Even the housecat’s super-sized cousins (lions, pumas and leopards) get turned on by it.

Some cats get whacky when they smell the stuff – licking, meowing and rolling around. Other cats don’t get the same kind of buzz. And a few show absolutely no interest in catnip at all. Cats of reproductive age tend to enjoy it more than older or younger cats, while kittens under 8 weeks of age and cats that are fearful or stressed may avoid it altogether.

Scientists aren’t sure what causes the “catnip reaction” but most kitties have a blast when they’re around it. The fun usually lasts anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. But after the frolicking is over, most cats won’t respond to catnip again for at least another hour.

Many people buy catnip toys for their kitties. Some catnip toys propel your kitty into overdrive while others seem to get little or no response at all.

Why is that? Well, like everything else, not all catnip toys are created equal.

The active ingredient that gives your cat a “buzz” is called nepetalactone. It’s highly concentrated in the leaves and blossoms of the catnip plant, but not in the stems. Which means catnip that contains stems will have less of an effect on your cat.

The catnip used in many commercial catnip toys and products is made from the entire catnip plant -stems and all. This “toy grade” catnip is cheaper, but the toy will be much less appealing to your cat.

Another important factor in the effectiveness of a toy is the actual amount of catnip the toy contains. Some manufacturers merely “scent” their toys. Others use only a small amount of catnip, stuffing their toys with “fillers” like cotton or plastic. These toys will be far less pleasing to your precious pet.

When you buy loose catnip, look for a greenish hue. It means the catnip is fresher, which is important because catnip loses its potency as it ages. But you can’t see the catnip inside the toy, so how will you know if it’s fresh? Take a sniff. If you can’t detect any herbal smell, chances are the catnip is old or of low quality.

I was recently contacted about a new site who’s goal it is to support not only the pet community, but animal shelters as well. Here is some information from the press release:

Roseland, N.J., June 22, 2009 – Shop ‘til you drop in support of animal shelters, then get together with friends to share stories, advice and even pictures – all online. That’s the goal of the newly launched www.bringpetshome.org. The fundraising Web site also offers exclusive content for cat and dog owners which includes information on pet care and safety, information on animal shelters, as well blogs, groups and open forums.

The site’s primary purpose is to raise money to help shelters care for homeless pets. It serves as an online portal where visitors can access more than 150 major online retailers, like Amazon, Sephora, Wal-Mart, iTunes, and many more. To raise money, online shoppers register at www.bringpetshome.org to select a shelter to support, then click-through to the merchant of choice. Each retailer specifies a percent commission on the Web site and donates that percentage of the purchase to Bring Pets Home. There is no additional cost to the consumer.

Every year, six to eight million animals enter U. S. shelters. According to the ASPCA, as many as one million additional dogs and cats are in danger of losing their homes in 2009, at a time when fewer donations are coming in. All need food, shelter, and medical care, so that they have the chance to be reunited with their original owners or adopted into caring, permanent homes.

“Bring Pets Home is a great way for pet lovers to raise money to help homeless animals without ever leaving home—and at no cost to them,” says Linda Block of Bring Pets Home. “More pets are entering shelters, but donors’ purse strings have tightened. Anyone can help by simply remembering to visit http://www.bringpetshome.org to click-through to a favorite online merchant whenever shopping online.“

About Bring Pets Home

BRING PETS HOME is a not-for-profit animal charity that raises money to help animals in shelters across the country. 100% of the money raised will go directly to animal shelters to provide food, shelter and medical treatment to pets in need. All operating costs of BRING PETS HOME are covered by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. There is no additional cost to the consumer. To learn more, visit www.bringpetshome.org.