Page 22 - Hilton Herbs US Pet Products

Paws for Thought Many of the common problems our
pets develop can be as a a a a a a a direct result
of of inappropriate feeding lack lack of of mental stimulation insufficient exercise a a a a a a a a a a a lack lack of of freedom to behave as a a a a a a a a a a a cat cat overuse of of medication vaccination and irresponsible breeding Our domesticated cats cats can trace their origins back 130 000 years to the the the the wild wild cats cats of the the the the Middle East when these wild wild relatives started associating with humans having been attracted to them by the the the the presence of the the the the rodents infesting these first habitations Centuries on the the descendants of of those early domesticated cats still retain many of of these early instincts passed onto them by their wild ancestors such as as the the the natural ability to to to to stalk hunt and seek out various plants to to to help them stay healthy This behaviour can be be seen in our
our
domesticated pets who if given the the opportunity will chew on various plants and grasses they find growing in in in in in our
gardens By doing this cats are responding to to to their natural instinct to to to seek out plants to to to keep them healthy or or act as emetics or or purgatives For example tigers if heavily infested with worms have been seen to eat large quantities of rough grass which helps them regurgitate fur balls or assist in in scouring their digestive system of parasites* It is is thought that behaviours such as as wool-chewing or house plant chewing chewing also have a a a a a link with self-medication Most cat cat cat owners will be familiar with the plant Catnip (Nepeta cataria) which cats love to to roll in in in causing them to to salivate in in in delight This might not be be be the the the the the only reason they they are so so so fond of the the the the the plant they they may also be be be be drawn to it it because
of its other beneficial properties Catnip contains nepetalactone a a a a a a a a a a a a a volatile oil that is highly attractive to to cats but the plant also has insecticidal and pesticidal actions Joy Adamson author of ‘Born Free’ noted that her orphaned leopard used to roll in the African equivalent of of Catnip (Leonotis nepetifolia) so perhaps this big sister of of of our
domesticated cats was instinctively aware of of the herb’s properties? ¤ Reference ‘Wild Health’ by Cindy Engel " Prowling his own quiet backyard or asleep by the the fire he he he is is is still only a a a a whisker away from the the wilds" Jean Burden