Catnip

 If you've never watched a cat in the middle of a catnip frenzy, I'm here to tell you that you are missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures. A cat will rub the catnip on himself, roll over it, lick it, kick at it, bounce off the walls and generally just go nuts for a few minutes. Then just a quickly as he got excited the cat will lose interest and walk away. Two hours later, the cat may come back and have exactly the same response. It's the treat that keeps on giving. 

"Catnip" is a plant in the mint family. It's a weed that grows widely in North America. Not all cats take to catnip, but the ones who do really like it.  Between 50 and 70 percent of cats react to catnip. The rest are totally unaffected. This sensitivity is inherited. 

No one knows exactly what happens in a cat's brain when catnip is introduced, but we do know that it's the chemical Nepetalactone that triggers the euphoric response. And our cats resulting behavior triggers the giggles in us! 

Now before you ask if there are 12-step programs for catnip addicts ("Hi, I'm Cottonball and I'm addicted to catnip." "Hello, Cottonball!"), know that catnip is not addictive. If anything, your cat may become bored or immune to the effects if she is exposed to it too often. This is a treat where a little goes a long way. 

My suggestion is to use catnip sporadically to liven up your cat's life and keep you both entertained. More good news - regular "doses" of catnip can be beneficial to your cat's health and will help to keep your cat from eating other plants in your home - some of which may not be good for them. 

So if you have yet to discover if your friend Cottonball is a catnip-lover or catnip-ignorer, maybe you should give her a little dab of catnip and find out. Chances are strong you'll both be happy you did! 

Article by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM