Catnip is actually a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family.  There are over 200 different types of catnip out there.  There is an oil in the catnip called nepetalactone that causes the effects it does on your cat, although not all cat breeds are of the same size, the smallest amount will work even on Maine Coon cats which can grow to the size of a small dog or even bigger.  When you give your cat catnip they will sniff it out and that’s what gives them the high.  If they actually eat it then it may put them to sleep.

They say that catnip gives a similar effect and feel to lsd.  I’m sure you will notice your cat acting strangely and quite hyper for about 10 minutes or so.  Not all cats will have the same reaction to this and you shouldn’t give it to your kittens as they won’t be able to enjoy the experience as they are too young.  You don’t have to worry about giving them too much either, it’s not possible for them to overdose on it.  Cats are smart enough to know when enough is enough.

I wouldn’t suggest giving it to them everyday but once in a while is great and they love it!  It’s fun to see them be playful and having a great time.

The Burmese breed colors are tortie colors, brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream and brown.  These cats have a very laid back temperment and also enjoy being lap cats.  They are very playful and like to follow close to their humans.

When it comes to grooming your Burmese, they don’t require much.  They have a natural cleanliness so ear cleaning, nail trimming and occasional brushing will keep these brilliant cats looking their best.

Burmese cats make great family pets and are good with children.

The neighbor I had when I was about 7 was an older lady from Germany who had about five Burmese cats with many different coat colors. My favorite was a little sable female named Malachi which (after much begging) became my cat…I absolutely loved her, and she was a true natured Burmese adoring all things to do with any kind of human interaction. Not a night went by with out her gentle purring above my head, or her little paws kneading my scalp as she slept on my pillow.

She loved to play fetch after I taught her how; she also was an active hunter and extremely athletic climbing many trees in the front yard. I remember how much she adored hanging out with my father (he worked swing shift) when he got home in the late evening…eating popcorn with him and watching t.v. How could I not love an animal so personable and loving?

Malachi never got angry or scratched or hissed even when put to the test of having a new puppy underfoot and was always good spirited and gentle.

She was an absolute doll her entire life…She spent 16 years with my family, and long after I had grown and moved away from home my mother would have to carry her up the stairs to my old room (arthritis having taken its toll on her capabilities as a climber) and place her on my bed, so she could sleep and in the morning bring her back down, and it went on like this until the very end.

When it comes to basic cat health there are a few things you need to familiarize yourself with.  You can usually tell when something is different with your pet since you live with them, you recognize things out of the norm or atleast you should.  It’s important to pay attention to their eating habits, behavior and ofcourse their body weight.  If any of these things change, it’s time to take them in for a check-up. 

When they are kittens, in their first year is when you really start to recognize your cats behavior patterns and what his actions are telling you.  It’s important to pay attention to these things as it will be very helpful in the future as you will know your cat so well and when something isn’t right.