Give it some Catnip!

It’s just as much fun for the humans watching the reaction as for the cat in catnip paradise. This member of the mint family is native to Europe, Asia and Africa and is now widespread in North America. Cats love the stuff! The leaves of the catnip plant contain an oil called nepetalactone, released by shredding the catnip leaves into small pieces. When cats smell this oil, it stimulates something in their brain and their reactions tell you how it feels.

Cats can be attracted in large numbers to wild patches and will chew and lick the catnip. They rub their heads in the leaves and then start to roll in it. Around the house they will play with their toys and other objects. They can get very silly, meow and flex their paws ecstatically. If they eat too much, they can suddenly come out hissing and fighting. The effect will wear off after a short time - usually the cats then get sleepy and take a catnap.

The catnip reaction is inherited, 2/3 of cats are susceptible to catnip, while some cats are totally unaffected by it. Large cats like lions and tigers can be sensitive to it as well, as experiments in zoos have shown.