Pet Lady Article
Catnip/Car Chasing
Q: My cat goes bonkers with catnip, but I was
wondering if it’s actually safe to give him.
People always talk about how cats get high on catnip. Am I doing more damage than good getting my
cat hooked on kitty drugs? Can he
overdose on catnip?
A: Don’t worry about turning your cat into a niphead. If he enjoys catnip, let him have it. Catnip loses its punch after about 15 minutes of kitty antics. After that timeframe, cats are no longer receptive to the chemical nepetalactone (the ingredient that gives catnip that kick for cats) until around an hour later. Catnip overdosing is practically impossible. Cats will vomit before consuming too much. Some cats do not respond to catnip at all while others go into all sorts of antics to include sniffing, licking, chewing, head shaking, rubbing, rolling, pawing, scratching, and even salivating. Some people worry that it will make their cat aggressive. Cats do sometimes “play fight” with others while under the influence of catnip, but this is a short-lived behavior and usually not meant as an aggressive act. Of course, if you find your cat acts out in negative ways while digging his catnip, it’s time for kitty rehab and abstinence from catnip use!
Q: My Border Collie has a real problem with cars
passing by when we walk. She pulls and
lunges towards the cars all the while barking furiously. It’s gotten so bad that we just don’t walk
her anymore because we are afraid she will get hurt or worse pull us in front
of a car. Is there anything we can do to
stop this behavior?
A: Chasing is an
instinctive behavior for dogs, especially herding breeds like Border
Collies. Obedience classes using
positive methods will help you teach the dog some control methods to use while
walking. You need to redirect the chase behavior, teach control, and condition
the dog to accept traffic. First, I
would suggest fitting the dog with a head halter in order to have better
control over the dog. Do not pull on the
head halter until the dog starts to react to an approaching vehicle. Then gently guide the dog away from the
oncoming vehicle—never jerk a dog wearing a head halter. Get her interested in a toy (a ball with a
rope usually works well with Border Collies) to distract her from the car and
ask her to sit. (You may need to build
her interest in this toy before you start working around cars.) Get the dog to look at you and the toy, not
the car. Reward the dog with the toy
once the car has passed. Repeat this
numerous times. The goal is to have the
sound of an approaching car be the signal for the dog to sit and look at
you. Now instead of chasing cars you
have a dog who is looking to you for direction. Remember, training doesn’t
happen overnight, you will need to repeat this process for days, weeks, or
possibly even months depending on how intense the behavior is. Consistency is the key! (
