There are many valid theories to explain the global appeal of cats‚ including our obsession with watching videos of them online. In terms of cats’ pure entertainment value‚ however‚ our fascinations are probably attributable to their seemingly endless repertoire of bizarre behaviours.From being able to “trap” your cat by simply drawing a square around them‚ to cats seemingly freaking out when presented with a cucumber (I don’t condone this latter activity on cat welfare grounds)‚ our feline companions are as entertaining as they are perplexing.When it comes to their seemingly weird reactions to things‚ their response to an unassuming plant belonging to the mint family is no exception.Nepeta cataria‚ or more commonly known as catnip is a plant native to parts of Europe and Asia that is well known for its cat-attracting (and craze-inducing) properties among domestic cats and several other (non-domesticated) felids‚ including lions‚ leopards and jaguars. Responses to catnip typically include sniffing‚ licking‚ biting‚ rubbing or rolling on the plant‚ head shaking‚ drooling‚ vocalising and even kicking with the hind feet.Catnip’s status as kitty kryptonite is due to a specific chemical compound called nepalacatlone that the plant naturally releases when its leaves or stem are bruised. This chemical is thought to bind to protein receptors within the cat’s nose which then stimulate sensory neurons that lead to changes in brain activity.These mind-altering affects can typically last between five and 15 minutes‚ although some cats will respond much more intensely and for longer than others. Interestingly‚ the ability to respond to catnip is thought to be heritable‚ with around one in three adult cats seemingly immune to its effect.However‚ other scientists argue all cats may possess the ability to react to catnip‚ but that some are active and others more passive responders‚ with differences in intensities of reactions influenced by their age‚ sex and neuter status.Is catnip a drug for cats?Many cats are certainly very attracted to catnip and will actively seek it out in their environment. For these reasons‚ catnip is often used (in its dried form) to encourage cats to use their scratching posts – as opposed to the arm of our expensive new sofa. It’s also commonly placed within cat toys or planted in gardens as a source of enrichment for cats.In humans‚ smoking catnip has been described as inducing sensations akin to those of marijuana or LSD. It’s possible that cats may experience similar effects‚ although their brains are not quite the same as ours‚ so their “trips” might feel a little different to them.However‚ a recent study indicates that exposure of cats to nepalactalone leads to increases in a peptide hormone associated with pleasure. This suggests that catnip could have some pretty powerful feel-good properties for kitties.Interestingly‚ the authors also found that cats covered in nepalactalol were less likely to be bothered by mosquitoes. This provides a suitable evolutionary explanation for cats’ innate attraction (and reaction) to the plant - covering yourself in catnip might feel really good‚ but also help keep those pesky insects at bay.Is it cruel to give a cat catnip?Although evidence suggests catnip does have pleasurable side-effects‚ not everything we like – or are at least attracted to – is good for us. The heightened arousal and altered state of consciousness that probably occurs among active responders may not always be a welcome experience.In situations where cats feel anxious‚ unsure or not fully in control‚ they tend to seek out sources of safety rather than stimulation. Under these circumstances‚ the last thing cats probably want is to go on some sort of mind-bending hallucinogenic trip.While it may certainly be fun for us to watch their catnip-induced antics‚ we should think carefully about if we are doing this for the cats’ benefit‚ or simply for our entertainment. We should also avoid disturbing or trying to stroke cats that are under the influence‚ and ultimately‚ cats should always be allowed to say no.If we want to give cats catnip‚ it’s best that we place it somewhere quiet‚ away from their core areas in the home – avoid locations where they usually eat and sleep – and let them decide if they feel like taking a hit‚ in their own time.Lauren Finka‚ Postdoctoral Research Associate‚ Animal Behaviour and Welfare‚ Nottingham Trent UniversityThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Over more than a century of aliens in cinema‚ we’ve seen Earth’s first encounter with extraterrestrials imagined in a myriad of ways. Would humanity be forced into an intergalactic war‚ like in Independence Day? Would it happen after a watershed technological advance‚ like in Star Trek: First Contact? Or would it be more like… you know… the final scene of Superbad‚ where everyone is just kinda hanging out in the mall‚ shopping for pants?Turns out – if you believe strangers on the internet‚ that is – it’s that last one. According to a brand-new conspiracy theory circulating the fringier edges of social media‚ aliens are among us – and they’re apparently indulging in the January sales.“10[-foot] Aliens/Creatures (caught on camera?) fired at inside and outside Miami Mall‚” claimed one post on X‚ formerly known as Twitter‚ early Friday morning. “[M]edia silent‚” the pseudonymous account continued‚ “cops are covering it up saying kids were fighting with fireworks‚ yet all these cop cars‚ &; air traffic stopped that night except for black military choppers…and no media coverage.”Could it be true? Well‚ despite your likely first instinct being to roll your eyes and mutter something about the internet being full of ill-informed people who’ll believe anything‚ there is at least some truth to this claim.Not the aliens bit‚ obviously. Just the bit where it says that the police had responded to an incident involving rowdy teens outside a Miami strip mall.         IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.As seen in the footage circulating online‚ cops arrived at the scene “for crowd control due to… juveniles refusing to leave‚” Miami Police Department public information officer Michael Vega told NBC News. “Some businesses were temporarily closed to allow us to clear the area.”“There were no aliens‚” he added. “No airports were closed. Nothing is being withheld from the public. LOL.”So where on Earth did “aliens” come from? Part of the supposed “evidence” for the claim was in the seemingly outsized police presence‚ with footage from the scene showing dozens of cruisers parked up and down the street outside the mall – quite a lot of manpower if all you’re facing is a few adolescent loiterers.But it makes a little more sense when you read the details of the incident: roughly 50 people‚ according to police‚ brawling and setting off fireworks.The real tinfoil-hat stuff‚ though‚ came when people started claiming that the footage showed huge shadowy gray figures moving about near the police cars. Other accounts popped up‚ claiming to be eyewitnesses to these otherworldly beings‚ and within hours of the rumor’s inception‚ things had already escalated enough for the Miami Police Department to release an official statement denying the extraterrestrial claims.          IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.And the truth‚ it turns out‚ couldn’t be more “nothing” if it tried.“What is seen on this clip is the shadow of someone walking‚” Miami PD told TMZ. “If you look at the bottom of the shadow‚ you can see the person. No creature.”Another video of the “aliens” has slightly more substance – in that it shows some police officers‚ rather than their shadows. But overall‚ there’s no evidence of interplanetary visitors to a Miami strip mall.Not that that’s quelled the rumors. Despite Elon Musk’s early claims that Twitter should become “by far the most accurate source of information about the world‚” since his takeover and rebrand of the site‚ accounts posting misinformation have seen a massive increase in engagement compared to other users. It’s a problem that seems to go all the way to the top‚ in fact‚ as Musk has notably used his own site to promote such conspiracy theories as Birds Aren’t Real (amusing‚ not dangerous) and Pizzagate (not funny‚ very dangerous).And in this case‚ it looks like we’re somewhere in between those two extremes. While some of the posts across X and other platforms do appear to be sincere‚ most are parodic or trolling. Nevertheless‚ the conspiracy has been seen millions of times at this point‚ and people are already coming up with explanations for the lack of literally any evidence of ET in FL.          IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.And listen: if any aliens are out there reading this‚ we have some advice for you. When it comes to first contact‚ don’t go to Florida. With all the wild shenanigans that go on down there‚ you wouldn’t even make the evening news.

Hunter Biden praised his lawyer and so-called “sugar brother” Kevin Morris for lending him big bucks as legal battles mount against the president’s son. During an interview with the Los Angeles…

There are many issues concerning Vivek Ramaswamy‚ namely his authenticity‚ since he doesn’t come off as a serious candidate. Then again‚ the billionaire entrepreneur has delivered haymakers to political…

MASON CITY‚ Iowa — Former President Donald Trump implored his supporters not to be complacent days before Iowa's caucuses‚ the 2024 Republican primary's opening contest."We don't want to take anything…

I was very naïve when I left the military. I’d spent years concentrating on “leadership‚” daydreaming about how I would perform under threat of gunfire and IEDs‚ scanning the daily news from Iraq‚…

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven‚ and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain‚ they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south‚ or toward the north‚ in the place where the tree falleth‚ there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit‚ nor how … The post The Editors’ Quote of the Day:  appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

To be prepared for a crisis‚ every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column‚ the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening‚ ranch improvements‚ bug-out bag fine-tuning‚ and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles‚ but written incrementally and in detail‚ throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n … The post Editors’ Prepping Progress appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a Bible for preppers‚ a comprehensive book that contains useful information that we really need to know? Well‚ there is such a book! And it is The Bible. For those of you who are neither Jewish nor Christian‚ I ask you to look at the following examples that I’ve compiled‚ and decide for yourself whether the Bible is a worthwhile source of information‚ regardless of who you think wrote it. Aspects of Biblical wisdom are often hidden from the readers. We’re told to do something‚ or not to do something‚ but we’re rarely … The post The Bible‚ For Preppers‚ by K.D. appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

On January 6‚ 2021‚ supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol‚ where Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden‘s win in the 2020 election; Trump and his backers alleged widespread voter fraud. Today‚ three years later‚ after more than 950 arrests‚ there are still some defendants awaiting trial. — Today is the birthday of musician Earl Scruggs (1924-2012). — Today we present a feature article that was too short to be considered as an entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Remember that there is a 1‚500-word minimum‚ and that articles on practical “how-to” skills … The post Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 6‚ 2024 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.