Psst! Wanna know where you can buy some high quality cat nip?
Mountain Lion Cat Nip company in Forest Hill, West Virginia.
But don't worry, you won't have to buy a plane ticket. Just log on to the internet at: http://www.mtlioncatnip.com and you'll be transported to their web page where the company's slogan is, "Just a pinch will make 'em pouncy."
But a pinch may be more than you'll need. "There's something about these West Virginia mountains that grows an extremely potent strain of (cat nip)." says Maggi Basler, who owns and operates Mountain Lion with her husband Wilson and two kids, John and Helena. Not to mention that they've been hard at work refining their product over the last thirteen years.
So, what's in this potent perennial that makes felines run, roll and chase imaginary mice? It's the oils found inside this plant, which is a member of the mint family, that gives them a harmless high, Maggi said.
Cats will even try and break through the dried leaves to get to the oils, although their feeling of exhilaration doesn't come from ingesting the plant, it comes from it's odor.
"It will make old fat cats act like kittens." Maggi said, who recommends giving it only once a week. "It's really a lot of fun to watch them do thier thing with it."
Approximately eighty percent of all adult felines go for cat nip, although kittens don't care for it until their six months old. And it's not just the little cats - lions, pumas and leopards like it too.
But don't worry if you think Fluffy will have a little too much fun and become addicted. It doesn't happen, Maggi said. "Once cats have had enough they just walk off or don't pay attention to it anymore."
The Baslers got into this business years ago because they thought it was a good cash crop. Even though this isn't their full time jobs - Maggi is a writer, Wilson a carpenter- their small six acre farm produces 500 pounds of cat nip a year. Most major growers are in California, said the Baslers, but their stuff is whimpy in comparison.
So be forewarned. Once your cat has had one whiff, you'll have to start hiding your internet password. It's been rumored felines have been logging on in the middle of the night, ordering extra stash, while their owners are fast asleep.
To get Mountain Lion's catalogue call 800-390-5588 or Imperial Cats in North Naples carries some of their product line.