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Why Catnip Makes Cats Go Crazy!

© Maureen Fleury

When you go to a store that sells pet supplies, you will most likely see toys filled with catnip, ground catnip in a bag and catnip spray. Most cats go silly when they come into contact with catnip. Do you know why?

What is catnip?

It is a plant that is a member of the mint family. Some people grow it in their gardens. Catnip is also a weed that grows wild in North America. The leaves of the catnip plant contain an oil called nepetalactone. To release the oil, you have to shred the catnip leaves into small pieces. If you buy the ground catnip, it is already crumbled. When cats smell this oil, it stimulates something in their brain which gives them a feeling of pleasure.

How do Cats React?

Cats will start to chew and lick the catnip. They will rub their heads in the leaves and then start to roll in it. They may start to play with their toys or objects around your house. They can get very silly!

This will last for a short time and then the effect will wear off. Usually the cats will get sleepy and take a nap.

Some cats will not react to catnip, usually if they are very young or very old. The fresh catnip usually brings the best results.

What is the Best Catnip?

If you are able to get fresh catnip, it works the best. If you are not able to get the fresh stuff, you can get dried organic catnip. It is almost as good as the fresh stuff, but a little bit of the oil is gone. The non-organic dried catnip is the cheapest, but most of the oil is gone. There are toys stuffed with catnip, but they are not as effective because the leaves are too dry and most of the oil is gone. You can buy catnip spray to use on scratching posts. This helps gets a cat interested in using the scratching post. There is a pure spray and an artificial spray. The price of the pure spray is much higher, but you don't need to use very much of it.

People can buy catnip seeds and grow it in their garden. That way, there is always a fresh supply.

How much catnip should be given?

You only need a little bit. If you are using the fresh catnip, you may need just enough to fill the palm of your hand. If you are giving them the catnip that is still on the stem, only one sprig should be fine. The lasting effect of the catnip is anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. After that, the cat usually walks away or takes a nap. The cat may come back for more a few hours later.

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