Why Do Cats Love Catnip?

It doesn’t take a cat person to know that cats love catnip and show their admiration in the strangest of ways. It causes some cats to rub against everything, others roll around on the floor, pawing random objects, and just generally act strangely. But why do cats love catnip and what exactly is it? Read on to learn why your cat is obsessed with this common herb.

What Is Catnip?

Catnip (scientific name Nepeta cataria) is a plant that's part of the mint family and activates a cat’s “happy” brain center. This minty, lemony herb is strongly scented and is often used in cat toys.

You can easily grow catnip yourself or purchase it dried from the store. Just make sure the herb is in an airtight container away from your cat to minimize the scent when not in use.

Why Do Cats Love Catnip?

Cats love catnip because of the active ingredient in it - nepetalactone. There's no consensus as to exactly why cats react the way they do to catnip, although some theorize that the nepetalactone might be interpreted in the brain of cats as cat pheromones - a scent that cats use to communicate with each other. Once a cat smells the nepetalactone, it takes over the olfactory senses and can generate some odd behaviors. 

Interestingly, catnip can affect cats of all sizes - not just our small, domesticated felines, but big cats such as lions and tigers too!

Another fun fact about catnip is that the nepetalactone compound is an insect repellant the plant uses to help protect it from insects. 

How Does Catnip Affect Cats?

Catnip affects cats in different ways, and it doesn't affect all cats. Whilst catnip effects vary from cat to cat, they'll generally show a lot of interest in the catnip, licking and rubbing against it. Some may be more relaxed, acting calmer and laid back. Others can enter a hyperactive stage where they run, jump and roll around, meow loudly, drool, growl or even become a little aggressive (although you might want to consider not giving your cat catnip in the future if they become hostile or aggressive). 

Though it’s a bit of a stereotype that all cats go crazy over catnip, this isn’t true. In a Scientific American article, vet Ramona Turner suggests that 70-80% of cats exhibit new behavior after smelling catnip. Before you buy some to test out, note that you won’t know if your cat enjoys catnip until they reach around 3-6 months of age - the sensitivity doesn’t show up in young kittens.

How Long Does it Take for Catnip to Kick In?

The effects of catnip kick in almost immediately - it takes mere seconds for a cat to smell catnip and begin to show the new behavior brought on by the herb.

How Long Do Catnip Effects Last For?

The effects of catnip tend to last for around 10 minutes, or slightly longer. After this, cats aren't susceptible to the effects for a longer period of time, usually somewhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours. 

Can Cats Eat Catnip?

While sniffing catnip tends to make cats energetic, eating it has the complete opposite effect. Catnip is, believe it or not, a calming herb — similar to chamomile. Humans often use catnip to curb anxiety and insomnia, and if your cat ingests it too, they may experience similar results. So when a cat eats catnip, it acts as a mild sedative. You may find your cat taking a long cat-nap after ingesting some. But just like any other herb or food, overeating catnip can cause your cat to have an upset stomach, so it's best to limit exposure.

So, why do cats love catnip? While the exact reason is a mystery, we know that the compound nepetalactone has a large part to play. Because catnip can cause hyperactivity in some cats, a little catnip now and then could help encourage exercise in cats that need to lose weight. Even if they aren’t overweight, playtime is a good stress-buster! Shop our Cats Collection to find cat portrait apparel, cute cat doodle shirts, and more.