Every spring, we have a short period of time when these small black ants
try to invade our house. We repel them with little problem (homemade
"ant repellant" made of water, dish soap, pennyroyal oil and habanero
sauce, plus being vigilant about not leaving foodstuffs out where they
can get to them).

They've started this year and I found out when I got to my desk this
morning to find my bottle of water teeming inside & out. (*EEEEK!*)
After bagging and tossing the water bottle (no, I am NOT going to drink
out of it evereverever again, thankyou), I used a paper towel to smash a
bunch of ants still on my desk and tossed the paper towel into the small
wastebasket next to my desk. Then I continued to smash stragglers with
my finger. (By the way, my attitude is that any ant that comes into my
house has expressly stated they want to commit suicide, and my job is to
facilitate that. Generally, I leave bugs alone.)

What has me very confused (and this is the first time I've noticed it)
is this:

- Jezebel hopped up on the desk to say hello and immediately started
rubbing her cheeks on the desktop and licking it.
- Shane did the same thing a little later
- Shane pulled the paper towel out of the garbage and began rolling on
it and licking it and rubbing on it, for all the world as if it were a
catnip toy
- Emma did the same thing a little later (She's still sitting on top of
it with this "mine!" look <g>)

Why do ants make cats act like they've gotten catnip? has anyone else
seen this, or are my cats terminally weird?

Thanks,
Deborah
slave to Fearless Fosdick, Princess, Smokey, Jezebel, Cinder, Miss Bitty
Kitty Who Is Not Bitty Anymore, Shane and Emma