Catnip For Cats

Cats and catnip go together like peanut butter and jelly. Most cats love catnip and will go crazy for it. When they smell it, they’ll start to roll around and rub their faces in it. Some might even start to drool.

Catnip is a member of the mint family and its scientific name is Nepeta cataria. The active ingredient in catnip is nepetalactone. It’s a volatile oil that is found in the leaves and stems of the plant. When cats sniff it, it binds to their olfactory receptors and causes a reaction.

Most cats will lose interest in catnip after about 10 minutes. After that, they’ll need to take a break for a few hours before they can get excited about it again. Some cats may not react to catnip at all. This is thought to be due to a genetic difference.

So, if your cat goes nuts for catnip, don’t worry, it’s completely natural. Just be prepared for a lot of zoomies and maybe some drool.