What is Catnip?

Catnip (aka. Nepeta cataria) is native to North America and Canada, originally from Mediterranean soil. It is a member of the mint herb family.

The reason why it drives cats crazy (according to about.com) is because the active ingredient in catnip is called Nepetalactone. The response to this chemical is mediated through the olfactory system that cats have a special receptor for. This chemical is thought to minic the effects of a pheromone to cause a variety of behaviors.

We as humans, are not affected by catnip, and catnip is not harmful to cats, infact it can aid in digestion if they eat it.

Do all cats like catnip?

It seems that young cats aren't really affected by catnip. As a cat matures (about 2 or 3 years) they start to exhibit reactions. Some cats will never be affected by catnip if they don't have the right genes.

What does catnip do to cats?

Some cats like to eat it (it's not harmful, but if they eat too much they might do a like pukey-pukey later on), some cats like to roll around in it (if it's loose leaf).. some cats go nuts and start bouncing around (usually in younger cats).

Some cats exhibit aggressive behavior like growling. Consider it like cat booze; different cats react different ways. I knew a kid who cried when he drank Gin, and we all know people who start fights when they're loaded. Same variation in response with cats, except they likely won't be hugging the "porcelain god" the next morning.

How can I grow my own catnip?

This baby is like a weed, so you definitely don't want it in your garden. I found with my own cat, though, that she didn't care for the fresh stuff oddly enough.

Anyhow, if you want to grow it, you're going to need a lot of water. Just kidding, but it does need to be watered several times a day, and pruned often. Catnip leaves aren't what the cats like.. if you consult your local pothead, you'll find that they've got some similar interests. It's all about the bud.

Growing Killer Catnip Bud
How to Grow Catnip
Grow Your Own Catnip

When is a Puppy Full Grown?

Puppies are considered full grown by age 2.

Large breeds usually stop growing around 18 months, small breeds fill out by about 9 months.

Most canines reach their full size by the time they are 12 to eighteen months old, although it does take longer for some of the largest breeds to finish growing. Some breeds even reach their full framework within the first six months of life, although it takes longer for the rest of their body to catch up. [source]

From a maturity perspective, it's important to keep in mind that different breeds tend to mature at different rates. Many people believe that they'll only have to put up with rambunctious puppy behavior for a year.

While some dogs do reach maturity near the end of their first year of life, others take significantly longer to mature. For example, Border Collies and other herding dogs don't begin behaving like grown-ups until they are approximately two years old. Catahoulas don't fully mature until they are closer to three years of age. If your pup has always seemed to take great joy in shredding newspaper, chewing your furniture or digging holes in your yard, watch for signs that these behaviors are starting to subside. This can be a signal that maturity isn't too far over the horizon. When you notice that your dog starts to exercise a little more restraint, it's a safe bet that he or she is starting to mature. [source]

What Do Baby Pigeons Look Like?

I was just wondering why you never see a baby pigeon. According to this article, baby pigeons hide in their nest which is why we never see them.

According to John Heppner, president of the National Pigeon Association, pigeons are parents non pareil. They lay only two eggs at a time, and spoil those babies shamefully. "The parents will feed the babies until they're totally feathered out," Heppner reported proudly. "By the time they leave the nest, they'll be about the same size as the adults. "

"You know when people eat squab, that's when they take 'em -- when they're nice and plump." Squab, for the culinarily challenged, being baby pigeon.

How do you pick the right puppy from a litter?

For the past 5 years, I've been telling myself (and everyone else) that I'd be getting a Bulldog, as soon as the time was right. The time being right = when I have a pet friendly apartment and when my cat is fat and lazy enough not to care anymore.

Anyhow, I was thinking.. how can you tell if you're getting the right dog or not? I guess most people go on instinct, after all that's how I chose my cat, and despite my previous post on her super snobby ways, she's still better trained than any other cat I've met.

But alas, there is apparently a few ways to tell which dog will fit your own mannerisms that I found on a Bulldog information website, but it applied cross-breed.

BulldogInformation.com has a great article with 5 good tests to perform when meeting your prospective mate. I almost don't want to link because they're such snobby bastards that they disabled any type of copying, including source code. How anal.

Boy Dog, or Girl Dog?

CanisMajor.com says you should "first, decide whether a male or female suits you best. Females tend to be smaller than males, to wander less, and to be less dominant. Whichever you choose, determine that, unless you are buying a breeding animal, your pet will be spayed or neutered at six months of age. Spayed females cannot get pregnant, so there'll be no accidental litters. They also cannot get mammary or uterine cancer or pyometra, an infection of the uterus.

Castration reduces the male's tendency to wander in search of females in heat, his need to mark every corner of his territory, and his penchant for aggression and dominance. It also eliminates the chances of testicular cancer."

Give Your Potential New Friend the Puppy Personality Test

UncleMatty.com says that there are "Six Basic Personality Types":

1. Responsive – this dog wants to be a people-pleaser. He is eager to learn and is a quick study. Handle him in a normal manner and be very generous with your praise. Leash, voice and corrections can be vigorous but don’t overdo it – no more than necessary. This is still a puppy.
2. High Energy – can be challenging because this dog is easily distracted and very excitable. You need to muster up extra patience while being firm and determined when you handle him. Subdue the praise so you won’t over-excite this little one and have to start all over again.
3. Strong-Willed – or should we say "this dog has a mind of his own" and can be resistant to teaching? You must exercise patience and be persistent in the process. Eventually he will “get it.” In the meantime, be firm and somewhat assertive and loud with your voice. Most important - lavish on the praise when this doggy does what you want him to do.
4. Shy and Insecure – this timid little one needs sensitivity and kind patience. He may be timid or fear-ridden; afraid of noises and sudden movements. Strange people, strange places and new situations are troublesome. Use a soft tone of voice and use a leash but no leash corrections or shake cans. Love, affection and quiet enthusiasm is important.
5. Calm and Easy Going – lives life at a slower pace than most dogs and could be called lethargic or sedate. Commands should be firm but loving and lavish praise is essential. Patience and tolerance will get the job done better than harsh tones of voice and harsh corrections. No shake cans. Leash corrections in a gentle manner only as a last resort.
6. Aggressive – this unwanted behavior is primarily “Dominant” or “Fear” based. A dominant aggressive dog is frighteningly dangerous and can be menacing and controlling as they guard their territory including those who live in the same house. Don't confuse dominant aggression with protection! Early training Is essential if behavior modification is possible. Fear aggressive dogs can be just as frightening but they are ruled by their own fears. If you know the dog is aggressive or temperament testing indicates any aggressiveness, DO NOT TEST.
   

Uncle Matty also has five tests, which I'll link to below the descriptions..

Sociability Test | View the Results
Instructions: You and the puppy should be in a quiet area with the dog about six feet away from you while you stand or kneel. Using a high-pitched tone, whine like a puppy (make puppy noises) or talk to the puppy affectionately until you get a reaction. Reactions indicate whether or not the dog is socially acceptable and also indicates how he deals with curiosity.

Noise Response Test | View the Results
Instructions: You will need a shake can (empty soda can with a few pennies in it so it rattles when shaken). You and your puppy should be in a quiet area about six feet apart. This is a two-part test.

• Part One: shake the can vigorously behind your back. The dog should not see the can. This will reveal how the dog reacts to noise he cannot see.
• Part Two: requires that you throw the can six to ten feet away from the dog. Do not ever throw the can at the dog and never make the dog feel threatened. The dog may have a different reaction to this part of the test which will reveal more insight into his nature.

Hand-Shy Test | View the Results
Instructions: This test should not be administered if the dog has shown any aggressive behavior. This is a two-part test to determine if your dog has been hit or punished by a hand or rolled-up newspaper on any part of his body. The results of hitting can be biting. In fact, hitting abuse is one of the major causes of biting dogs. During this test, do not ever hit the dog.

• Part One: Stand one or two feet from the dog, raise your hand (with or without a newspaper) and PRETEND to hit the dog. Do not hit the dog but make the gesture seem threatening. If your dog shows immediate fear, discontinue the test immediately.
• Part Two: Stand one or two feet away from the dog and yell at him in pretend anger, “Bad dog. What did you do? No. No! Never do that again.” Try to sound convincing because if you don’t, the test is useless.

Dominant-Subordinate Test | View the Results
Instructions: Work inside or outside in a secluded area. Place puppy on his back, lying flat. Be sure he is on his spine and not on his side. Crouch over him straddling your body over his legs or if necessary, kneel beside him. The dog’s position makes him feel extremely vulnerable. With hand near the puppy’s collar, gently but firmly grab the skin under his throat for fifteen or thirty seconds only. During this time, do not respond to the dog’s reactions.

Physical Sensitivity Test | View the Results
Instructions: There are three parts to this test. Conduct this test in a quiet area – just you and your puppy, no one else. Use extreme caution if the dog is ten months old or older because bites can be very serious. Control your dog using a leash and collar. Use the fingers of the other hand to pull on the dog.

• Part One: Grab the tail and pull gently observing the dog’s reactions.
• Part Two: Using finger and thumb, press lightly between the puppy’s toes expanding them outward. Gradually increase the pressure for several seconds until the dog shows signs of discomfort.
• Part Three: Pull the dog’s skin near the rump, gently at first and then increase the pressure.

Temperament/Personality Testing is featured in Uncle Matty’s best-selling puppy book, I Just Got a Puppy. What Do I Do?.

Choosing A Puppy From A Litter

YourPurebredPuppy.com has some tips for selecting a puppy out of a litter:

"Puppies who hide or tuck their tails or shrink away from you are not safe choices as pets. Don't try to convince yourself that you can "bring them out of their shell." You don't know what's going on in these puppies' genes. Shy puppies usually become shy dogs who may snap defensively at anything that startles them.

If the litter isn't running away, what should they be doing? Normal puppies are friendly, curious, trusting. They mill around your feet, tug at your shoelaces, crawl into your lap, nibble on your fingers.

After a while, they may stop playing with you and begin wrestling with one another. You can tell a lot about the individual puppies by the way they interact with their littermates.

• Which ones are strong, outgoing, bossy, noisy?
• Which ones are quiet, submissive, gentle?
• Which ones grab all the toys and win the tugs-of-war?
• Which ones seem delicate or picked on?

Most families do best with a pup who is neither boss of the litter nor lowest on the totem pole. Look for good-natured, middle-of-the-road pups who don't growl or grab or bite, but who do join in and hold their own.

Clap your hands gently, snap your fingers, jingle your car keys, shuffle your feet, whistle softly, cluck your tongue.

• Which pups are interested?
• Which ones come over to investigate?
• Which ones are apprehensive?

You want an alert and confident puppy. A nervous puppy who is afraid of sudden sounds or quick movements will not do well in a busy household. A puppy who is completely oblivious may be too dull, too independent, or unhealthy."

Four Quick Personality Tests

AssociatedContent.com had an article called The Puppy Personality Test—How to Find the Right Dog for Your Home which had similar ideas to the above articles, but are written in a more simple, memorable fashion:

• Dominance. You can restrain a puppy on his back to test for dominance. Gently roll the puppy onto his back and hold him there for 30 seconds. A dominant puppy will spend the entire 30 seconds fighting your hand, trying to right itself. A puppy that relaxes right away, looks away, and licks your hand is showing submission. Middle-of-the-road puppies will fight for a few seconds before relaxing, not displaying dominance or submission in great amounts.
  
  
• Independence. While you have the puppies attention, walk away from him. Puppies that ignore you when you walk away, indicating that it doesn't bother them, are likely strongly independent. A less secure puppy will follow you in a subdued manner, possibly with a drooping tail.
  
  
• Prey drive. Use your hand or other object to tempt the puppy to perform this test. More your hand or the object along the ground in front of the puppy at an easy pace. If the puppy pounces on your hand his prey drive is fairly strong. A puppy that acts uninterested has a low prey drive.
  
  
• Friendliness. Simple observation will tell you how friendly the puppy is toward other dogs and people. In ideal situations, the puppy will respond nicely to all the other dogs and people in the room. Behaviors that are not friendly would be showing his teeth, growling, and actively exerting dominance. Mouthing can be said to be unfriendly, but most puppies do it to some extent. It's not necessarily a sign of an unfriendly puppy since it's usually related to teething and being a puppy. With training, they usually grow out of the habit easily. An actively biting puppy however can cause damage as it gets older, especially depending on breed. If the dog doesn't realize how strong his jaws are he can hurt someone.

Also, Bonnie Dalzell from NetPets.com has some tips for choosing Dogs to Match Your Lifestyle.

How and Why do Cats Purr?

Now, my cat Nermal is likely to be the most obnoxious thing on four legs, between the incessant licking of plastic bags, opening doors that should be closed, being everyone's excited bathroom buddy, humping feet (pre-op), and staring at you like a creepy old woman until you invite her over, which she in turn decides it's "snub time" and walks away... cats are attention whores SUPER.... right?

People with actual medical degrees will claim that cats have a theraputic asset to them. That in retirement homes, the people with cats have substantially lower blood pressure. I'd imagine it also has some kind of mentally soothing effect to have a snobby, hairy, vibrating feline on your lap for a few hours while you watch tv.

I mean c'mon, when your cat climbs into your lap, tucks in his paws under himself, and begins to purr, all is right in his world. This is one of the things we love about our cats; that feeling of contentment they share with us.

According to About.com, all domestic cats are born with the purring ability. A queen will purr while giving birth. It is unknown whether this is because of happy anticipation, or whether it is a relaxing "mantra." Kittens instinctively purr when nursing, and the momcat purrs right back at them. Your adult cat will purr at the drop of a hat whenever you're near, and especially when you are holding or petting him.

Cat purrs will range from a deep rumble to a raspy, broken sound, to a high-pitched trill, depending on the physiology and/or the mood of a cat. A cat will often "wind-down" when going to sleep, with a long purring sigh that drops melodically from a high to a low pitch. Does your cat's purr sometimes sound like an idling diesel engine? That's because at the lower range of 26 Hertz, the velocities are nearly the same.

Scientific American says that scientists have demonstrated that cats produce the purr through intermittent signaling of the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles. Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. Various investigators have shown that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing. This association between the frequencies of cats' purrs and improved healing of bones and muscles may provide help for some humans.

According to veterinarian Bruce Fogle, author of The Cat's Mind, the original function of purring was to enable a kitten to communicate with his mother that things are well. A kitten is able to purr by the second day of life, and although he can't meow and nurse at the same time, he can purr and nurse. And the mother cat often purrs back, probably to reassure the kitty.

According to PetPlace.com, One study determined that purring involves activation of nerves within the voice box. These nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act. In other words, cats purr only when they want to.

Purring is an integral part of the feline communication system and occurs for a variety of reasons. It is classified with the "murmur vocalization" group, which involves sounds produced by a cat while the mouth is closed. In addition to purring, this group of sounds includes grunting, calling, and acknowledgment murmurs. Domestic cats and some wild cats, like pumas and mountain lions (almost any big cat that cannot roar), are all able to purr.

As the cat matures the meaning of the purr changes. Some cats purr to indicate contentment or pleasure, but badly frightened cats and severely ill cats also purr, and so do females while they are delivering their kittens. It is not uncommon for cats to purr when they are close to death.

This final purring may indicate a state of anxiety or possibly euphoria, states that have also been described in terminally ill people.Animal behaviorists believe that when cats purr under stressful circumstances, they are reassuring or comforting themselves, much as humans may sing to themselves or hum when they are nervous. Frightened cats may purr to communicate submissiveness or non-aggressive intentions. A feral cat may purr to signal that he will not attack and other cats need not feel threatened. Older cats may purr when they play or approach other cats, signaling that they are friendly and want to come closer.

A more recent theory about purring is that it is caused by the release of nature's own morphine-like substances (endorphins) in the brain. Since endorphins are released under circumstances of pain and pleasure, this would explain the seemingly ambiguous expression of purring. This theory jives with Pederson's reasoning, that purring is initiated in the brain, and is also compatible with the more mechanical explanations for purring, as endorphins activate one of the main action systems in the brain (so thought is translated into movement). Whatever the explanation for purring, it seems to indicate cats' contentment and is associated with improvement in their affect at times of stress. Purring is one of cats' most endearing qualities.