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Some cats may respond quietly to catnip - study
The typical response to catnip is rolling around, rubbing the face on the catnip, sniffing, licking and drooling.
Research challenges the idea that some cats don’t react to catnip

A recent study suggests that nearly all cats respond to catnip, but some do so in a ‘quiet’ manner.

It is generally thought that some cats react to catnip, whereas others don’t. The typical response is rolling around, rubbing the face on the catnip, sniffing, licking and drooling. This response is inherited and around two thirds of cats respond in this way.

Scientists from the Universidad Veracruzana, however, believe that all cats respond to catnip, but not all have an ‘active response’. Some respond passively by reducing activity and assuming the Sphinx position. Furthermore, their study suggests that young kittens under the age of three months do not show the active response, according to findings published by Companion Animal Psychology.

The research team studied 60 cats at a shelter in Veracruz, Mexico. Over three days, cats spent 10 minutes in a cylindrical chamber from which they could not see out. On day four, once they were used to the chamber, they spent five minutes inside before being given catnip. They then spent five more minutes in the chamber with the catnip. Scientists watched videos of the cats’ behaviour before and after catnip was added.

Under half of the adult cats (45 per cent) and 25 per cent of the juvenile cats (three to six months), showed the active response. None of the kittens under three months displayed an active response.

The Sphinx position was most commonly seen in adult cats, while among juveniles it was seen more often in males than females. Male cats spent more time in the Sphinx position and were less likely to miaow, groom or show reduced activity. Cats that had been spayed or neutered early (at six weeks) showed less activity after catnip was presented than cats that were still entire. The frequency of rolling over was not affected by neutering status.

Scientists conclude that the active response to catnip is not affected by sex hormones but by maturation of the brain, meaning young kittens have not matured enough to have an active response. Differing chemicals within the catnip could also be responsible for the differing responses, they added - nepetalactone for the active response and actinidine for the passive. Further research is needed to test this hypothesis, however.

No control was used in the study, which scientists say is not a limitation because of the behaviours they observed. However, they said it would have been useful to demonstrate that the reduced activity responses were down to the catnip rather than other factors, such as anxiety or interest in changes to their environment.

The research team concluded that cats may enjoy catnip even if they do not react by rolling around. Providing scents is a good enrichment activity and scientists advised owners to try a variety of scents, including toys containing catnip or silver vine.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.