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