
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a plant in the mint family that grows wild as a weed.
Cats under three months of age usually do not respond to catnip. Most older cats typically become excited or aroused as they smell, chew and eat catnip.
They will frequently salivate, roll and rub, and sometimes run and leap in the air when responding to the catnip. It may be applied to scratching posts or used in stuffed toys.
Not all cats are stimulated by catnip to the same degree, and over a third of cats will not respond at all. Strange as it may seem, the different responses are probably due to environmental factors, and the gender of the cat, (males are more likely to respond than females). If a cat that normally responds to catnip is in a strange environment or is anxious, she may not react to the catnip. Cats in certain genetic lines do not react to catnip. No one really understands the genetic trait, but it can be bred into a line through genetic selection.
The cat active ingredient in catnip is nepatalactone. This substance closely resembles a chemical found in the urine of female cats.This would explain why unneutered males generally have more of a reaction to catnip than females and neutered males.
Give catnip no more than once a week or the effects may diminish. Cats love it green and fresh. Bruise it slightly before giving freshly cut stems or leaves. If using dried catnip, store it in a sealed container in the fridge and give up to a teaspoon per cat weekly.

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