Effect of Catnip on Cats

Effect of Catnip on Cats

EFFECTS OF CATNIP

Purpose: To determine the effect of catnip on cats.
Materials: 2 cats
              Cat Nip
              5 cat toys (balls) - 2 with catnip                   inside; 3 without
              1 cat nip mouse
          1 Scratch Pad

Procedure: 1.     I sat with my cat and the toy balls.   The balls were bounced one at a    
                                time, allowing time for the cat to do what she pleased with them.   I              
                                watched her actions toward   which ones she was more active with    
                                and which ones she did not care for.
2.     I then recorded the data.  
3.   I presented my cat with a scratching pad that we had purchased for    
                                her.   I let her explore it and observed her actions.
4.   After letting her have her way with it for a while, I repeated step 2.    
      Only this time, catnip was sprinkled throughout the scratch pad.   I  
        observed her actions.
5. I then recorded the data.
6. After putting away the scratching pad, catnip was sprinkled in a small area on the carpet, couch, and the cat's bed.
7. Observations were taken, and data was recorded.
8. Catnip was also presented to a second cat, and observations were taken.

Analysis: When playing with the balls, she would chase all of them.   The catnip balls, however, she had more interest in.   With these, she would play with more, bat around with her paw, and even fetch the balls.   She would pick them up in her mouth, walk toward me with the ball, and drop the ball in my hat that was lying upside-down next to me on the floor.   Also, she was much more hyper and excited after playing with the catnip balls.   After leaving her to record my data, she continued to play.   She brought the catnip ball to me in the next room, as if she was saying, "please play with me!"
I presented my cat with a scratching pad made from cardboard.   At first,...