INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Catnip plants like drier soil, and root rot can set in if the soil is too moist. When you water, thoroughly soak the soil to saturate the roots. Let the soil dry out completely, and test it out by touching a finger to it before watering.  If the soil feels moist or wet, don’t water the plant and check it later that day or the next day. Catnip plants are fairly hardy and quite drought-resistant, so you should be more concerned about over-watering than not watering them enough. After your plant's first flower blooms finish, remove the spent flowers. Shear back the plants by one-third to promote new growth and a new bloom of flowers. Remove any dead or dried leaves regularly. Shearing and deadheading plants will result in bushier plants that flower more consistently. You can propagate, or make new plants, by dividing one plant’s root system. Dig up a cluster of plants with at least two to three stalks, or remove them from their pot if you used a container. Soak the root ball to the point of complete saturation. Use a clean trowel or garden knife to divide the root cluster in half, then replant each new plant.  Continue to water frequently after you’ve divided the plants. Don’t let the root system dry out as you would with a normal catnip plant. Dividing plants can help control overgrowth, renew fading plants, or simply allow you to share a plant with a friend. Cats are of course attracted to catnip plants, and love to nip at their leaves and lay in plant beds. If you have an outdoor cat, don’t plant catnip next to delicate flowers or plants you wouldn’t want your cat to damage. If using containers, avoid positioning pots in places where they might easily be knocked over or broken. Consider using garden fencing, bracing, or bamboo sticks to support the plants and prevent your cat from laying on them. To harvest, trim down a stalk to its base, or just above a leaf joint, or cut off the whole plant at the base. Cutting just above a joint, or where a leaf or leaves spring from the stalk, will promote more rapid new growth. Air drying is the best drying method for preserving catnip leaves.  Let your leaves sit out on a paper towel beneath a sunlit windowsill for two or three days. For whole plants, hang them upside down in a cool location for a few weeks. Do your best to keep your cat away from your drying leaves. Consider a room with a closed door to keep the cat from jumping up and getting into the leaves. Once they’ve dried, place them in an airtight container for storage.

SUMMARY: Allow soil to dry out between watering. Shear and deadhead plants to promote new growth. Divide root systems in the spring or fall. Keep your kitty from damaging it or nearby plants. Harvest and air dry leaves.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Avoid drastic measures that could cause rapid weight loss in your cat. This could lead to a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis, where excess fat that is broken down accumulates in the liver. This makes your cat feel ill and decreases his appetite, setting up a vicious cycle of more body fat breakdown and fat accumulating in the liver. If you suspect your cat has hepatic lipidosis, get your cat prompt medical treatment at a veterinary hospital. It's a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. Overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes, where the body doesn't create or manage insulin and blood sugar levels properly. If a cat develops diabetes, it may be manageable through gradual weight loss and a high-protein diet  alone, while other cats will need daily insulin injections by their owners for the rest of their life. Obese cats are also at risk to develop painful osteoarthritis due to years of excess weight stressing the bones and joints. In addition, they are at risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. Obese and overweight cats have a tendency to be less energetic, sleep more, and have fewer interactions with their families. This is how they get the reputation of being fat and lazy. The vet will do a thorough examination to make sure there are no underlying health issues. The vet can then guide you on to the type and amount of food you should feed your cat. You'll also be told how much weight your cat should lose each month and how much weight he should lose overall. Your vet will probably recommend that your cat lose a quarter pound a week or one pound a month, depending on your cat's frame, size, breed, and sex. You may want to get a measuring cup with 1/8th measure increments. This will help measure the appropriate amount of food for your cat. Look for commercial cat foods that are high in fiber and can be fed "as-is" or mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of a powdered fiber supplement into wet food. You can also feed 1 to 2 tablespoons of canned plain pumpkin to add fiber to a regular diet. If you add powdered fiber or pumpkin instead of the commercial high-fiber food, cut back on the amount of cat food by 1 to 2 tablespoons at the same time.  If you're having trouble getting your cat to eat the less flavorful high-fiber food, add a little water that's been drained off of a can of tuna. This can entice your cat to eat it. Fiber is an important form of carbohydrate that will take a while for your cat to digest, making him feel fuller without contributing too many calories. High-fiber foods will give important nutrients and keep your cat from eating too many calories. Look for a commercially prepared high-protein food or have a trained pet nutritionist create a homemade diet for your cat. This is important because cats need the amino acid taurine in their diets or they'll develop heart and vision problems. While high-protein foods are generally tastier for cats, they might not be as filling or satisfying to a cat used to eating more food.  Note that a cat with kidney disease should not be placed on a high protein diet since it will further damage the kidneys. If you do chose to gradually switch cat food, do so over a period of one to two weeks. The first two days mix ¼ new food with ¾ old food. The next four days mix ½ new food with ½ old food. The next 2 to 4 days mix ¾ new food with ¼ old food. If the cat leaves the old food in the dish, make a more gradual transition to the new food. If he absolutely refuses the new food consult your veterinarian for advice. You might try keeping your cat's regular food, just offering a smaller portion. Use the measuring cup to measure out the recommended amount on the cat food label and feed that amount. If it's more than what your cat normally eats, cut down accordingly, since some manufacturers are fairly generous in their serving sizes. A good rule of thumb is to decrease the amount of food fed by 10%. It is important to understand that if your cat was used to having food available  to eat at all times, you will need to begin feeding your cat two or three times a day. Since your cat has been overeating, you need to control feeding times. Before starting your cat on a diet, write down your cat's weight on a calendar or notebook. Weigh your cat every week while he's dieting. It's easy to do this by holding your cat in your arms, stepping on a bathroom scale and then weighing yourself after you place the cat down. Subtract this number from your first number to give you your cat’s weight.  Remember the goal is for your cat to lose no more than ¼ pound a week or 1 pound a month. If you find after two weeks that no weight has been lost, cut down portion sizes by 10%. If your cat still hasn't lost weight after 2 more weeks, talk again with your veterinarian.

SUMMARY:
Prevent complications from rapid weight loss. Recognize the health risks of being overweight. Create a personalized plan with the veterinarian. Feed your cat a high-fiber cat food. Feed your cat high-protein food. Reduce your cat's meal sizes. Monitor your cat's weight loss.