Catnip
Your cat will go crazy for catnip
Catnip is an herb in the mint family that has psychoactive properties for cats. To humans, it smells innocuous – a bit minty, perhaps. To cats, it is irresistible, and they will do anything in their power to sniff it, eat it, rub on it and roll around on it.
Catnip's mechanism of action in cats is not fully understood. It contains a terpene called nepetalactone, which probably mimics a cat pheromone or urine odorant. Both cat pheromones and odorants are substances that cats use to communicate with one another through smell, and therefore cause them to become excited and display characteristic rubbing and pawing behaviors.
It would appear that catnip excites cats by mimicking a pheromonal response that is profoundly pleasurable. The result is excited rubbing, pawing, purring, frisking, and frantic playfulness. Some cats tend to become fierce and may bite and scratch, as well, so it is prudent to keep a bit of a distance after offering catnip.
How and When to Give Your Cat Catnip
It is not thought that cats can become addicted to catnip, or that it is harmful, so you should feel free to give your cat catnip whenever you like. It is available most commonly in dried form, but you may also find fresh catnip, catnip oil or catnip novelty items such as sprays and bubbles. Catnip is also conveniently available in a catnip toy, such as catnip sachets, stuffed animals and fur mice. Many people also enjoy growing catnip themselves. Obtain seedlings from a pet store or garden store, and grow them in a sunny location. However, be very careful not to let your cat have any access to the plants while they are growing, as they might destroy them.
If using dried or fresh catnip, a large pinch (about half a teaspoon to a teaspoon) is usually sufficient. Since your cat will probably roll on and disperse the catnip, you may want to add another pinch every once in a while to maintain the psychoactive effect.
Every cat responds to catnip differently. Generally, since catnip's mode of action depends on pheromones, young kittens will not respond to catnip. You may want to wait until your kitten is about six to eight months old before introducing catnip. Some cats will not respond until a year or older, and some will never become responsive.
