What Does Catnip Do to Cats? Why Do Cats Like Catnip?

Many cats love catnip and others don't respond to catnip at all.

Catnip is a rather remarkable plant. It produces a euphoric state in 2 out of 3 cats, is safe, non-addictive, has no harmful side-effects, and is relatively inexpensive.

Catnip: Wonder Plant

Here are some other interesting catnip facts:

Do All Cats Respond to Catnip?

Did you know that not all cats are affected by catnip? It's true! Here's more on that plus some other surprising catnip tidbits:

How Does Catnip Work in Cats?

Here is how catnip has its effect on cats:

What are the Effects of Catnip on Cats?

Cats may react to catnip in one or many of the following manners:

Beneficial Uses of Catnip

There are some times when catnip can have benefits beyond simply being fun. These benefits include:

Even if there is no "special reason," you can always offer Monsieur Kitty a paper plate of "Catnip du Jour" for a fun after-dinner treat. How about a Sunday afternoon romp with a catnip-filled sock to make your older cat feel like a rambunctious kitten for a little while?

Catnip Tips

Here are some tips, tricks, and hacks for getting the most out of your cat's catnip experience.

Alternatives to Catnip

Should you find that your cat is one of the few that becomes antagonistic or hostile when under the influence of catnip or is not affected by it at all, there are a couple of alternatives to try; honeysuckle and valerian.


You May Also Like These Articles:

How to Keep Playtime Fun for Your Cat

Honeysuckle: An Alternative to Catnip

How to Play With Your Cat- Part One

How to Play With Your Cat- Part Two

Interactive Playing with Wand Toys

Cat Aggression Overview

Play Aggression in Cats

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