Catnip is named for the intense attraction about two-thirds of cats have to the plant due to the terpene nepetalactone, which acts as a natural insect repellent and induces playful, euphoric behavior in cats.
Are you still unsure what catnip does to cats? Known by its botanical name 'Nepeta cataria', many claim catnip is essentially a drug for cats.
As we can see from the illustration, Anxiety In Sensory Sensitive Cats Catnip has many fascinating aspects to explore.
The roof of your cat's mouth has a "sensory device" called the vomeronasal organ. When your cat sniffs the catnip, the scent molecules are detected by the receptors of this organ, and the effects of catnip kick in. It creates an immediate and intense sense of excitement and happiness.
When cats smell catnip, nepetalactone molecules bind to receptors in the nasal tissue that then stimulate sensory neurons connecting to the brain. The signal travels to the olfactory bulb and then to the amygdala and hypothalamus...
About one cat in two inherits a sensitivity to the herb. But you won't know if your kitten is one of them until sometime between ages 3 and 6 months . Catnip's allure is in its volatile oil, specifically one chemical in that oil -- nepetalactone.
Many cats love catnip, whether it gives them the zoomies or the dozies. Read on to find out how you can use catnip for training, playtime and more.
