| Most people are familiar with the affinity | | | | which stimulates a response from the cat's |
| cats have for catnip. After viewing your | | | | olfactory system. Some people believe that |
| cat's reaction to catnip, you may become | | | | catnip may also be tied to stimulating a |
| concerned and ask some common questions in | | | | cat's pheromonic receptor. That is, a |
| relation to products composed of this | | | | pheromone produces a chemical reaction within |
| substance. Here are a few facts and answers | | | | a body (or plant) and produces an effect on |
| to common questions about catnip. | | | | behavior. Some common pheromones include: |
| | | | aggregation, primer, territorial, and sex |
| What exactly is catnip? Catnip is an herb | | | | pheromones. |
| from the Lamiaceae family group, and it is | | | | |
| known as Nepeta cataria in scientific terms. | | | | How does catnip effect kittens and elderly |
| It originated in the Mediterranean area, but | | | | cats? Catnip does not effects kittens under |
| is now commonly found in England, North | | | | the age of 3 months, and elderly cats are |
| America and Canada, though it can be grown | | | | generally not effected either. In fact, |
| almost anywhere. Most of these plants are | | | | approximately ten to thirty percent of the |
| herbaceous perennials, but some grow annually | | | | entire cat population does not respond to the |
| as well. | | | | effects of catnip, no matter what their age. |
| | | | The reaction to catnip is also genetically |
| What does a catnip plant look like? It has a | | | | based. Some cats are "made" to respond to |
| thick and sturdy stem, with heart shaped | | | | catnip, while others simply aren't. |
| green to grayish leaves. The catnip plant has | | | | |
| flowers, and they are usually pink, lilac, | | | | Can catnip be dangerous? Catnip is often |
| blue, or white in color. The flowers are tube | | | | inhaled by cats, not ingested. This means |
| shaped, and are sometimes flecked with tiny | | | | that they cannot "overdose" or consume too |
| purple dots. | | | | much. If a cat happens to consume catnip, |
| | | | they may vomit, but it is not harmful or |
| What are the effects of catnip on cats? Some | | | | toxic. Most times, when you see a cat |
| cats react more dramatically to catnip than | | | | nibbling on catnip, it is not because they |
| others. Common effects of catnip include | | | | want to eat it; they are simply trying to |
| running, jumping, excessive meowing or | | | | release the scent of the plant that activates |
| growling, licking, salivating, sniffing, | | | | their senses. |
| pupil dilation, and rubbing or rolling on | | | | |
| catnip. Instead, some cats may become | | | | Cats love catnip. It is an herb that triggers |
| sedated, tranquilized, or tired. Once a cat | | | | their senses that elicits a playful response. |
| experiences a reaction to catnip, they lose | | | | It is not dangerous or toxic to your cat, as |
| interest and cannot be affected by it for at | | | | the scent is inhaled and the plant is not |
| least an hour, sometimes two after their | | | | usually consumed. So, catnip toys and scratch |
| original exposure. | | | | posts are fine for your kitty; let them have |
| | | | a little fun, and enjoy their treat of |
| How does catnip work? The primary active | | | | catnip! |
| ingredient in catnip is called Nepetalactone, | | | | |