Kitty Gets Catnip Fix After Breaking Into Pet Store: Viral Video Shows Stoner Cat’s Drug Binge
Some cats will do anything to get their catnip fix, including escaping their owners and breaking into the local pet store to roll around on top of a pile of catnip toys. One cat recently did just that, and the nice humans who found the regular Tony Meow-tana didn’t immediately send him to kitty rehab to get help. Instead, they decided to amuse the internet by filming the feline’s drug binge.
According to the Daily Mail, the kitty in question managed to sneak into a Dutch drugstore, and he knew exactly what he was looking for; the feline made a beeline for the catnip toys. By the time he was discovered by the humans who recorded his trip, he was in such a state of ecstasy that he didn’t even notice their presence. The viral video below shows the kitty going crazy on a pet store shelf stocked with catnip toys. The feline flails around on top of the toys, which he seemingly just can’t get enough of. After he knocks a majority of the catnip containers on the floor, he does get temporarily distracted by a toy hanging up beside the catnip section, but he quickly goes back to rolling around in the irresistible dried herb.
A second video shows what happened after the kitty knocked most of the catnip toys off of the shelf – he simply moved to the floor to continue getting his fix. However, he doesn’t seem quite as energetic after spending so much time tripping so hard.
“Catnip is one hell of a drug,” the video of the “Super Freak” feline above is captioned.
Luckily, the cat didn’t have to rely on his drug-addled brain to tell him how to get home; his owner eventually showed up. The kitty presumably curled up and enjoyed a long catnap after it was forced to part with its beloved catnip; but, hopefully, the owner bought the kitty at least one toy for the road.
“The cat essentially reacts to an artificial cat pheromone.”
Behaviors cats exhibit while “high” on catnip are similar to those of a cat in heat. They include drooling, rolling around on the plant, growling, and meowing. However, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman told the Huffington Post that a cat’s response to catnip isn’t all about sex. Kitties under the influence display “several natural feline behaviors” that can be linked to getting food, hunting, and mating.
“This implies a general excitatory effect on areas of the brain, particularly those centered in and around the hypothalamus, the region that controls appetitive, predatory and sexual behavior.”
Humans aren’t affected by catnip, but they can consume it. It’s acts as a “mild sedative” when it’s brewed as an herbal tea, and survivalist Bear Grylls told the Guardian that he actually brewed up a cup of catnip tea for Barack Obama when the President appeared on his reality series, Running Wild With Bear Grylls.
According to Science Daily, catnip can also be used as an insect repellent; cockroaches and mosquitoes hate the stuff. If you want to keep pests away while ensuring that your pet doesn’t run away in search of a catnip fix, entertain yourself and your feline friend by investing in a few toys full of kitty kush.
[Images via SensualCat/YouTube, kmlkmljkl/YouTube]
