Silly Raven story...
Last edited Tue Jan 3, 2012, 01:52 AM - Edit history (1)
Raven is just over seven months old...and I was wondering when/if she would be reactive to catnip.
I guess certain parts of their furry little brains have to mature for those particular receptors to kick in...and some cats lack the gene that gives them those receptors.
Poor babies, they never DO get to see the pretty colors, and they watch their furry brethren and sistren rolling on the floor making fools of themselves and wonder what all the fuss is about.
Raven, it seems will not be in that minority.
It was brought to my attention that here it was, January 2nd...and the cats had yet to be given any catnip!
Da 'nip' gets doled out at chez badgerpup on an irregular basis...as rewards for good behavior during trying times (i.e. pills, shots, vet visits etc.) and "When I feel like it".
Happily for the cats, I "feel like it" frequently.
It being the second day of a new year seemed as good a reason as any...
I am surprised they don't 'ask' for it (e.g., reaching up and pawing at the cubbyhole in the bookcase where the jar lives...not to mention relieved. Don't know how I'd tell them 'NO'.
Riktor and Wimsey were on deck, and they know the sound the catnip jar makes when it comes out of the little cubbyhole. Mrrrrows, purrs, dances on hind legs and imploring paws on my knee accompany the unscrewing of the lid. The catnip is put on the floor and the boys go into their usual ecstasy...eat a few bites, and then roll in what's left.
Raven was present also, wondering why her big brothers and Jedi masters were behaving in such an UNDIGNIFIED fashion. I figured "Whatthehell, if Raven doesn't want it, one of the other cats will" and put a pinch of 'nip down for her, too.
Now this is where it gets weird/curious.
Raven gave the green flakes more than just the usual cursory sniff...then she looked very intently at Riktor and Wimsey. Her paws did the little 'dance'...the flexing of the claws. She looked at the boys again. She took another whiff of the catnip, blinked, and then very tentatively rubbed her cheek against it. Looked at the boys...and then went into a full roll. Tilted her head to see Wimsey (Riktor's out of her sightline by now)...and then squirmed a bit.
I swear, it appeared as though she was ASKING WHAT SHE SHOULD DO NEXT. "Like this? OK, I've rolled, what am I supposed to do now? My head feels kind of funny..."
I can't 'hear' the subvocal communication that apparently passes between cats, but it seemed as though the boys were telling her to just relax, go with the flow, do what came naturally, everything would be fiiiiiinnne.
Raven's 'high' was nowhere near as intense as D'Artagnan's first trip had been. I left them to their enjoyment and went into the laundry room...and Raven decided what I was doing was more entertaining than what was going on with the boys. She followed me less than a minute later.
Aside from some dried leaves on her soft glossy black fur, she showed no signs of having had 'nip...no sorta-glassy eyes, no goofy cat-grin (it's subtle, but you can see it if you know what you're looking for).
Made me wonder if the receptors come on line gradually and D'Artagnan's experience had been 'timed' to coincide with everything falling into place (and on the floor!) at the same time...
his level of development, me buying catnip and leaving it safely (I thought! 
) out of reach and the 'encouragement' of Riktor to levitate up onto the counter and GET ME THAT BAG OF 'NIP!
We'll see what develops. Maybe Raven will be 'a lady' in her 'nip consumption...or maybe she'll be as hearty and unashamed an afficianado of the stuff as the boys are.
Four stoned cats!
Four stoned cats!
See how they roll!
See how they roll!
They all got into the catnip tonight-
Enough to go 'round so there wasn't a fight.
Have you ever seen such a silly-ass sight?
As my four stoned cats!
= new reply since forum marked as read
How come no pictures? I don't think I've seen any since Raven's baby pics.
We had a cat (Cyra, who was almost 17 when she died recently) who could take or leave the catnip. She was addicted to mint, however. The two plants are of the same family, but for some reason she went nuts for one and not the other. It used to be a chore to keep her away from our toothbrushes, and she was constantly rooting in my companions purse to try and find her gum (finally had to switch to fruit flavor). We had a small herb garden (just a large window box really) and would give her fresh mint leaves on occasion.
Only cat I ever had like that. 
...save them to CD and then transfer the best of 'em to photobucket.
S'pose I oughta get on that, ya think?
Think I posted this in another thread...it's the most recent one, taken in mid-December of last year.
She's practicing her punching technique and timing by batting at the pull-chains of the overhead light.
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The meercat pose (sitting up on her hind legs) seems to come easily to her...she uses it frequently when she wants a better view of something.
Your mint-loving kitty reminded me of my little Kaminari (Spring Thunderstorm)...she loved dryer sheets, of all things.
Give her a fresh dryer sheet and she was in ECSTASY.
Think it was the lavender that she liked...I have a picture in my head of her curled sleeping blissfully in a shirt I'd taken off after I'd worn it with a lavender cologne.
[font size="1"]Kami now plays in the lavender patches that grow by the Bridge...[/font]
