Cat toys, scratchers, or ground up in bags — you can find catnip pretty much anywhere. Most cats love catnip, eager to sink their claws in during playtime or roll around in the loose leaves. But why do cats love catnip, and why do some cats ignore catnip entirely?
What is Catnip?
Before worrying whether or not catnip is artificial in any way, rest assured that catnip is a naturally growing plant similar to mint. Known in the scientific community as Nepeta cataria, catnip grows around the world, both in the wild and in people’s gardens.
Usually when you buy catnip, you purchase bags of ground or crushed catnip leaves. However, you can always choose to grow your own catnip at home. Some cats may prefer freshly grown catnip, and growing it at home saves you from worrying about where and how the plant was grown.
Why Do Cats Love Catnip?
Why do cats love catnip so much? The true answer is that nobody really knows for sure, other than guessing that cats just like how it smells and tastes! Perhaps part of the reason that cats love catnip is an active organic compound in catnip: nepetalactone. It’s possible that nepetalactone releases a specific scent that only cats react to.
Can cats get addicted to catnip?
Despite your cat loving catnip, your cat will not get addicted to catnip and will not experience any negative side effects associated with addiction or withdrawal. Catnip doesn’t habit-form like some drugs do for humans, though your cat can build a tolerance to catnip. If this happens, just give your cat a catnip break for a month or two until its tolerance starts to drop.
How Does Catnip Work?
Nepetalactone occurs naturally on catnip leaves. In-store catnip is just ground-up leaves from the plant. If you choose to grow catnip at home, you might notice that your cat only reacts to the leaves.
Your cat feels the euphoric effects of catnip when nepetalactone is inhaled, sort of like how humans might feel relaxed from the scent of lavender. Again, the specific reason why catnip makes cats feel good is unknown. Because we don’t know exactly why catnip only has this reaction with cats, we also don’t know why cats show different reactions.
Once inhaled, catnip’s effects vary from cat to cat. Some cats may experience a burst of energy while others may feel more relaxed. Some cats show no reaction to catnip at all!
So, if you’re worried about how your cat reacts to catnip, just know that there’s nothing wrong with your cat!
How Long Does Catnip Last?
The duration of catnip depends on how much catnip your cat had, but effects generally last fewer than 15 minutes. In some instances, the bursts of energy or sudden waves of relaxation could last just a few minutes.
In terms of when catnip expires, that depends entirely on how you store the catnip, though estimates range from months to over a year.
What’s the Best Way to Give Your Cat Catnip?
Cats react to catnip by inhaling nepetalactone, and the compound is released when catnip leaves are crushed. If you have dried, ground catnip from a store, your cat can release nepetalactone by rolling, scratching, or rubbing their head in the leaves.
If you have fresh catnip leaves, your cat might prefer to chew on the leaves to release the compound. You can also rub the leaves on surfaces to release nepetalactone.
Because all cats are different, your cat might prefer catnip in a specific way. For example, one cat might like to eat dried catnip while another may like to scratch it out of a scratcher. Try different methods to determine the best method for your cat!
Catnip Safety FAQs
Yes, catnip is entirely safe for cats! If you’re worried about where catnip comes from, you can always choose to grow your own at home.
Catnip is safe for kittens, though kittens tend to have little to no reaction to catnip. So, while you can give a kitten catnip, don’t expect any reaction. As your cat grows, it will probably become more interested in catnip.
Yes, catnip is safe for humans. In fact, you’ve probably come across naturally occurring catnip at some point! While we don’t experience the same pleasure from catnip as cats do, you don’t have to worry about any adverse catnip effects (aside from any potential allergies).
- Can Cats Eat Crab Meat? - January 25, 2024
- Which Cats Are Hypoallergenic? - January 13, 2024
- What Does It Mean When A Cat Winks At You? - December 19, 2023