What effect does catnip have on cats?

What effect does catnip have on cats?

Cats seem to go crazy for catnip, but not all of them are invited to the party.


Asked by: Rachel Coss, Littlehampton

The active ingredient in catnip is nepetalactone. This is a volatile oil, which binds to the sensory receptors in a cat’s nose that are normally used to detect sexual pheromones. This creates a ‘high’ that lasts for about 10 minutes and is perfectly non-addictive and harmless to the cat. But about a quarter of cats lack the gene that allows them to enjoy catnip, and kittens under eight weeks seem to be actively repelled by it.

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