All it takes is a whiff, a little sniff, and they’re bouncing off the walls and tearing across the floor. No toy is safe, no suspicious spot left un-pounced on. Yes indeed, that magical, hilarious mania you see in your cat’s saucer-round eyes can be credited to one thing, and one thing only: catnip.
Cats usually respond to catnip by becoming hyperactive, playful, and wild; even big cats can be affected, such as lions and tigers (oh my!). Nobody is really sure why catnip has the effect that it does, but it’s been theorised that the nepetalactone it contains might mimic cat pheromones. This would certainly explain why a cat on catnip can often behave the same as a cat in heat, regardless of the cat’s sex.
Nepetalactone is an organic compound that binds to cats’ olfactory cells (those dealing with the sense of smell), which send signals to their brain.This compound is stored in microscopic bulbs on the leaves, stems, and pods of catnip. These bulbs then burst when crushed, chewed or rubbed. Interestingly enough, there doesn’t seem to be an effect from cats eating catnip, only smelling it.
The effect generally wears off in around 10 minutes, and cannot take hold again for 30 minutes. Reactions do actually vary, with some cats having the opposite reaction to what you might expect and becoming very still and mellow. On the subject of reactions, it’s worth noting that Kittens younger than 3 months and senior kits are resistant to catnip, and some cats are seemingly never affected by it at all.Overall susceptibility is thought to be genetic, but the science isn’t currently well studied.
Naturally, many of us are concerned about the safety of catnip. Pop culture has drawn many parallels between catnip and the recreational drugs used by some humans, but the similarities are mostly imagined. Catnip never enters your kitty’s bloodstream and is absolutely not addictive. Overdosing doesn’t happen, but cats exposed to catnip too often can develop a resistance to its effects. As a rule, catnip is safe for cats unless they are pregnant, since it’s a uterine stimulant.
Since cats enjoy using it, catnip can actually be a valuable tool for encouraging certain behaviours and increasing exercise. It also promotes interaction with whatever object contains the catnip, such as toys, pillows, or scratching posts. Ultimately, the stimulation can help get your kitty moving, grooving and burning off excess energy when they might otherwise be lazing about. Not so bad after all, eh? So, despite the hearsay, catnip may not be the disastrous, pet-ruining substance you may have been led to believe – and we’re happy to nip that in the bud.