Why cats love catnip

[TexasTowelie]

A few whiffs of catnip can kindle a frisky frenzy in your tiny tabby.

Interestingly, catnip has the same effect on tigers, lions and panthers.

Response to catnip is an inherited trait so only about 70 percent of adult cats react, and kittens do not respond until they are 2 to 6 months old.

Catnip, Nepetacateria, is a perennial herb in the mint family that is native to Europe and Asia, but was introduced to North America by colonists in the 1600s where it now grows wild. The Latin-derived name cateria, means "of a cat," and indicates the herb's long association with cats. The true catnip plant has a square, hairy stalk, green/grey heart shaped leaves with scalloped edges and a spike of white flowers.

Read more: http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2015/mar/09/why-cats-love-catnip/

[font color=green]This public purrvice ameowncement was brought to you by TexasTowelie. No cats were harmed when the photos were toke'n.[/font]

[MrMickeysMom]

1. kewl….

[fizzgig]

2. the dim one just eats it and lays there for a bit.

i'd put it on the cat tree for the fat cat, she'd claw the crap out of it, roll in it and then bliss out. she loved her nip toys, too.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Faaaaaaaaaaar out!

[Xyzse]

4. Soooo, I don't have cats, or a pet for that matter, but I feel like growing catnip on the garden.

Just for kicks and giggles of course.
I don't even have a green thumb, so I think it might be fun to see what happens when I place one in a prominent place near the window.

I wonder how much hilarity will ensue.

It looks like a hardy plant that I can't kill with my black thumb(I avoid the garden since I kill plants, I don't even have to try). Sounds like a good thing.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Cats don't always like fresh catnip

Many of them prefer it dried.

However, there are some cats who will lie down on top of the plants, roll in them, pull them up by the roots and devour everything.

[Xyzse]

7. Well, I do have a black thumb so...

[shanti]

5. i've never had a cat that liked it

and i've had a lot of cats. weird...

[KamaAina]

8. I always wondered why MooMoo turned her nose up at it

even while Buddi happily indulged.

[hifiguy]

9. They get stoned on it.

Weirdly, both of my kittehs were catnip-negative. They couldn't have cared less about it.

[rurallib]

10. not addictive????

So why does the Mook damn near kill me every morning until he gets his weed?
It is not funny any more.

[Arugula Latte]

11. Two of mine love the nip, and one is indifferent...

[blue neen]

12. Catnip is really easy to grow.

Our kitty loves it.

We pick oodles of it and let it dry. He has catnip all winter.