My cat OD'ed! (Update: Doc says he'll be ok...sorta.)

[LordRaiden]

Came home today for lunch and found my cat on the steps in front of my house appearing to be in convultions. It worried me so I took him over to the vet. Vet said that my cat OD'ed on catnip. (Catnip is Crack for cats) Apparently he had a stomach full of this stuff. Doc pumped his little tummy and gave him some drug to counter the effects of the catnip, but my cat is still perty messed up. I know peanut is known for getting perty laid out on catnip during the summer, but this is crazy! We've got a whole field full of it out behind our house (local farmers field gone fallow) and he apparently went nuts in that field today. He's alright for right for now, but he's still very messed up by the catnip and will probubly have one heck of a hangover when he comes to. Vet has him for 24 hours for observation. I hope he's ok.

To the pics people, I don't have a pic online of him right now, but I will soon.

Edit: Sorry, no pics yet. I can't seem to find any of either of my cats. I'll post some when I do finally find them, or take one of him when he comes home.

I talked to the Doc this afternoon and he says Peanut will be fine, but a tad fried for a few days and may sleep constantly for up to the next 3 days till this all works itself out of his system. Apparently they found a combination of catnip, mouse, and some other unidentified plant in his stomach. I get to pick him up tomorrow and bring him home. They're still keeping him overnight for observation.

 

[ElFenix]

:Q

 

[filmmaker]

Another reason why I don't buy too many things with catnip in them.

 

[Encryptic]

Whoa! Sorry to hear that and didn't realize cats could actually OD on catnip. Our cats love that stuff (we sprinkle some of the dried stuff around), and I can attest to the fact that catnip=kitty crack.

Hope your kitty's OK!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Huh - I have never known that was possible. I would be interested in what the pharmacological effects of catnip are, because I have no idea what it actually does to the animal. Lord knows it gets some cats REALLY freaked out, though. I hope your cat is OK, in any case.

 

[Brutuskend]

What a fun hog!

Thats pretty weird, who would have thunk it?

 

[Adul]

Why do cats love catnip

 

[Rogue]

Your cat's a lush!

Sorry for your situation. My cat gets a little bit of the nip on special occasions only. Usually Christmas or Thanksgiving and even then, only in moderation. Don't want him to become Jack Osbourne or anything.

 

[conjur]

dude...your cat's going to be suffering withdrawal...and jonesing for more!

 

[AlienCraft]

Poor Kitty!
That stuff is a stimulant, and I hope Peanut can cut back.
Nothing more expensive than Kitty Rehab! :Q

Glad you got him to the vet!

 

[TwinkleToes77]

ok i know this is a silly/stupid question.. but what is catnip?

 

[LordRaiden]

Originally posted by: Encryptic
Whoa! Sorry to hear that and didn't realize cats could actually OD on catnip. Our cats love that stuff (we sprinkle some of the dried stuff around), and I can attest to the fact that catnip=kitty crack.

Hope your kitty's OK!

So do I. Thanks for the concern. I guess Peanut is going to become a perminent housecat like his brother Puff. (the one that was tearing up neighborhood dogs for fun) I kinda feel bad because I'd love to let them roam free, but if they're gonna do this, I'm gonna need to keep them inside for their own safety.

 

[MacBaine]

"How are you feeling today Peanut?"

"What's it to you!?"

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
ok i know this is a silly/stupid question.. but what is catnip?

its a plant, people can make tea out of it or eat it and not feel a thing but it has some interesting affects on cats.

 

[Ernieb]

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
ok i know this is a silly/stupid question.. but what is catnip?

catnip
n. plant, herb which acts as stimulation drug for cats

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: LordRaiden

Originally posted by: Encryptic
Whoa! Sorry to hear that and didn't realize cats could actually OD on catnip. Our cats love that stuff (we sprinkle some of the dried stuff around), and I can attest to the fact that catnip=kitty crack.

Hope your kitty's OK!

So do I. Thanks for the concern. I guess Peanut is going to become a perminent housecat like his brother Puff. (the one that was tearing up neighborhood dogs for fun) I kinda feel bad because I'd love to let them roam free, but if they're gonna do this, I'm gonna need to keep them inside for their own safety.

Good, I'm glad to hear that. I would definitely keep him inside for safety not just from catnip, but because indoor kitties live much longer than outdoor ones (exposed to much less disease, bad weather and other things that can shorten their lifespan). I wouldn't let our cats outside anyway for fear they'd get hit by a car or that someone would shoot them for kicks or something.

::sigh::

 

[Rogue]

I've seen cats exhibit typical "human" symptoms to similar drugs that we can take. Dialated pupils, increased agression, irrational behavior (my cat has run up the walls, literally) followed by a clear "coming down" period where they are lethargic. It's pretty interesting to watch really. I wonder if the nip works on larger cats the way it does on domesticated ones. Anyone know?

 

[InverseOfNeo]

:Q

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
ok i know this is a silly/stupid question.. but what is catnip?

Catnip is an herb in the mint family. Here is some more info on it, though to this point I have not found anything more specific about how it works.

 

[Swag1138]

Im sorry about your cat, but that made me crack up.

Made me think of the Coked Up Warewolf on conan.

 

[loup garou]

Technically, cats can't OD on catnip. There was probably something on the plants, or another plant in the area that he ate and it made him sick.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Rogue
I've seen cats exhibit typical "human" symptoms to similar drugs that we can take. Dialated pupils, increased agression, irrational behavior (my cat has run up the walls, literally) followed by a clear "coming down" period where they are lethargic. It's pretty interesting to watch really. I wonder if the nip works on larger cats the way it does on domesticated ones. Anyone know?

Apparently so: If you think watching your ten-pound housecat enjoying the effect of catnip is amusing, imagine watching a five-hundred-pound lion roll around like a kitten. Most big cats -- including lions, cougars, bobcats, lynx and leopards -- react to catnip with the same cheek-rubbing antics as your favorite domestic cat. Tigers, however, seem to be immune to the herb's effects.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: Rogue
I've seen cats exhibit typical "human" symptoms to similar drugs that we can take. Dialated pupils, increased agression, irrational behavior (my cat has run up the walls, literally) followed by a clear "coming down" period where they are lethargic. It's pretty interesting to watch really. I wonder if the nip works on larger cats the way it does on domesticated ones. Anyone know?

Don't know about catnip and big cats, but we get our cats high on occasion.

They'll hang out in the living room with us for a little while until they've had enough, then they'll get the munchies and go to their room to eat and pass out.

 

[clamum]

Here's some more info on catnip:

Used to treat colds and flus as well as stomach upset. Fresh leaves can be used as a meat tenderizer, or mix with oil and seasonings as a marinade. Catnip can also used to make a natural light yellow dye.

Fresh dried leaves attract cats. Most cats find eating and rolling in catnip to be pleasureable and intoxicating. Some veterinarians recommend occasional catnip as a remedy for stress and tension in cats.

 

[hdeck]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
:Q