While cat nip is beneficial to cats, thanks to the volatile oil Nepetalactone, your cat doesn't have to sniff the herb. Instead, they can drink catnip tea. The benefits of catnip tea include relaxation, sleepiness, and tranquility.
My dance troupe is getting ready for a world-class musical: Catnip Cats. Today, I'm meeting with my contact, Lenny, to get our hands on some wholesale catnip so we can sell it and fund the show. It's been two weeks of preparation, but without some extra income, Catnip Cats won't be able to get off the ground.
We're meeting under the Caterwaul Bridge, and it's a brisk morning in Whisker City. The thunder of traffic on the bridge is deafening. I can't even hear my thoughts.
"Hey Marco, been waiting long?" Lenny shouts from behind me.
"No, only a few minutes. You got the stuff?" I shout back.
"What?" He asks.
"You got the stuff?" I cup my paws around my mouth.
"What stuff?" He shouts back.
"The cat-" Before I can finish the word, Lenny rushes over and puts his paw over my mouth.
"Maybe we should meet somewhere a bit quieter!" He yells into my ear. I nod in agreement.
What is Catnip?
Catnip is part of the mint family, and its scientific name is nepeta cataria. Catnip is a leafy green herb that contains a volatile oil called Nepetalactone. This oil interacts with a cat's olfactory senses, triggering intense feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
Lenny and I sat on opposite sides of the booth at Catamaran's, a bar close to the bridge. Although it's a pub, Catamaran's also sells breakfast. However, no one really comes in the morning, as there are just a handful of cats besides us in the place.
A waitress brings us a couple of menus and says she'll be right back.
"Don't you think this is a little conspicuous?" I asked.
"Nah, it's fine. They know me here. Plus, they're very good about being discreet. Also, I'm famished. Are you hungry?"
"A little," I replied.
"The waffle platter is to die for. I get that with six scrambled eggs and four pieces of bacon. It's enough to last me practically the whole day," he explained.
"I think I'll just stick with something simple." I gazed at the glossy menu, trying to avoid catching the light as I read.
"So, about that catnip," I started. Suddenly, the waitress appeared out of nowhere.
"What can I get for you guys this morning?" She had a quintessential Southern waitress accent.
"My usual, Darcene, and whatever he wants." Lenny closed his menu and pointed to me.
"Uh, I think I'll just have some bacon and eggs. Over easy." I handed my menu to Darcene.
"Sure thing, darlin'. I'll have those right up."
I waited for her to leave my view before resuming my previous question. "So, about that catni-" As the word exited my lips, Darcene came back from another side.
"I forgot to ask, white or wheat toast?" She stared at me.
"Uh, wheat, I guess," I stammered.
"Thanks, hon." She winked.
Again, I waited for her to leave. I even craned my neck to ensure she was almost to the kitchen before turning to Lenny.
"So, about that catnip," I said.
Suddenly, another waitress appeared, carrying a pitcher of water.
"Y'all thirsty this morning?" She asked, pouring ice water into each of our glasses. Her accent was even thicker than Darcene's.
"Thank you, that'll be all," I said, sipping from my glass. She smiled and went on her merry way. I checked again to ensure she was out of sight.
"So, about that-" I started.
Darcene poked her head from behind the chair. "Sorry to bother y'all, but the cook informs me that we're out of bacon this morning. Sausage okay?"
Does Catnip Calm Cats?
Yes, catnip has a calming and relaxing effect on cats. However, for the best calming benefits, you should feed a small amount to your cat. Ingesting cat nip helps cats get drowsy and fall asleep, helping to alleviate restlessness or insomnia.
During the entire meal at Catamaran's, I could barely even say the word catnip before someone would burst in out of nowhere, checking on our table. Lenny said it was a sign of great service, but it was extremely frustrating.
After a while, we decided to just discuss our plans out back, next to the dumpster. The heat of the day was starting to make the garbage smell, but I wasn't going to take long.
"So, how can we secure a lot of catnip upfront without any money? Also, is it possible for everyone to get a free hit first?" I asked.
"Well, for something like that, we'll have to take a larger percentage. Typically, it's 25 percent of your sales for the first batch. If you do it again, the percentage changes to 20," Lenny explained.
"I think Darren would be okay with that. So, the percentage just goes down every time?"
"No, 20 percent is the going rate. After your first batch, you get a standard customer rate. Or, you can just buy the 'Nip yourself wholesale and cut out the middleman." Lenny pulled out a small notebook. "How much catnip do you need to start?"
"Darren wants 200 pounds if possible," I replied.
Lenny's mouth dropped open. "Why so much?"
"Is that a lot? Darren thought it wouldn't be enough," I explained.
"Let's start you with 100 pounds and see how that goes. I gotta get in touch with my supplier, and we'll set up a meet and greet."
"Great, so you'll be in touch?" I asked.
"10-4, Marco. Nice doing business with you." He reached out to shake my paw.
Can Cats Eat Catnip?
Yes, cats can eat catnip as it's safe for their digestion. However, too much catnip can cause an upset stomach, so it's best to use it in moderation. Also, eating catnip helps your cat relax while sniffing it makes your pet more playful and energetic.
"Only 100 pounds? That's not enough! I told you to get 200!" Darren yelled.
"Sorry, but Lenny said he couldn't secure that much. Once we sell the first 100, we can get another order. What's the problem?" I asked.
"Oh, I didn't realize we could just do that. I got carried away. Sorry, Marco," Darren replied. He put his paw on my shoulder. "I guess I'm just a bit wound up with preparations for the show. You know how I get." He smiled.
"Hey Darren, it looks like we'll have to wait about 10 minutes for rehearsal. Catherine just called to say she's hung up in traffic," our choreographer chimed in.
Darren's face turned to pure rage. "WHAT??? 10 MINUTES??? OF MY LIFE??? WASTED???" His voice boomed and echoed throughout the stage.
"It's no big deal; we'll just do an extra 10 minutes at the end to make up for it," the choreographer explained.
"Oh, okay. That works," Darren changed back to his normal self.
How to Make Catnip Tea for Cats
To make catnip tea, just boil about 500 ml of water and steep two to three teaspoons of dried catnip for a few minutes. Make sure to let the tea cool down before serving it to your cat. Also, if your cat drinks too much, it may experience a stomach ache.
Cat Crack does well for catnip tea because it's pure and organic. You don't need much to yield positive benefits, and your cat will love the aroma and flavor.
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