Why Does Catnip Affect Cats

So, why does your cat react to catnip?

The short answer is that no one knows exactly, although we do know that the nepetalactone in catnip can have a powerful reaction in the brains of cats that are susceptible.

Not all cats exhibit the characteristic euphoria we associate with catnip exposure, but the 70 to 80 percent that do are probably reacting to what their systems believe is a cat pheromone, and they're having a . . .well, romantic response to the slightly skunky aroma of catnip.

To learn more about the science, head over to Scientific America for a great article about: How Catnip Works its Magic on Cats

To learn more about growing and using catnip, take a look at:

Growing Catnip
Catnip and Termites
Make a Catnip Mouse