| We have all heard the stories about cats gone | | | | Researchers have shown that cat each react |
| wild, strung out on catnip, while my cat | | | | differently to catnip. Some seem to go into |
| could care less about the stuff. Why is it | | | | a catnip high, while others become more |
| then that some cats take one whiff of catnip | | | | aggressive and others become more sexually |
| and seem to defy gravity and other cats seem | | | | aroused. |
| unaffected by its magic? Well, its time to | | | | |
| separate fact from fiction when it comes to | | | | So why does my cat not react to catnip? New |
| catnip and cats. | | | | studies have proven that one in three cat |
| | | | don't respond to catnip because of an |
| Depending on whom you ask some might say that | | | | inherited gene that not all cats have. |
| catnip is like kitty cocaine, but the truth | | | | Another factors that helped to determine a |
| is catnip is an herb from the mint family. | | | | cat's reaction to catnip included age. |
| Catnip's botanical name is Nepeta cataria. | | | | Kittens don't seem to be affected by catnip |
| Within Catnip there is a compound called | | | | until they are around 9 to 10 months old. |
| monoterpene nepetalactone that has a strong | | | | |
| effect on some cats. Monoterpene | | | | Although cats respond to catnip like a drug |
| nepetalactone is present throughout the plant | | | | it has been shown that catnip has no |
| but is especially strong in the plant's | | | | addictive properties. There have been no |
| leaves. Monoterpene nepetalactone reduces | | | | known reports of cats no being able to make |
| cats' inhibitions and may cause cats to have | | | | it through the day without a catnip fix. |
| mild hallucinations. Some people compare | | | | Capnip has a low toxicity level and the |
| cats' reactions to catnip to that of humans | | | | capnip high only lasts about 10 minutes so as |
| on LSD or marijuana and catnip does have some | | | | long as it doesn't make your cat more |
| similar chemical characteristics. | | | | aggressive there is no harm is allowing your |
| | | | kitty to enjoy a little catnip now and then. |