Catnip or Not?
People often joke about cats getting “high” on catnip, but some people have noticed that their cats may just ignore the catnip toys they’ve carefully picked out for them and maybe get a little disappointed that now they can’t make a cute video to garner views on social media.
The Science of Catnip
While it is true that there is a chemical in catnip—nepetalactone—that affects cats, it really only affects about 50% of them. Your cat’s genetic makeup will determine whether or not it likes it. Their taste for it also won’t be determined until your cat is about six to eight months old. The effect of it on a cat’s behavior also depends on how the cat interacts with the herb. It can cause them to be sleepy if they eat it, but if they smell it, that is when they can act silly or crazy and make you laugh at their antics.
The Cat’s Behavior
With fresh catnip, the cat will rub against or roll around on the leaves and stem to release that chemical. Catnip should only be a sporadic treat, every few weeks, because otherwise the cat may either develop a habit. They could also stop responding to it completely.
The effects of catnip will only last about 10 to 20 minutes, so keep that in mind and have your phone ready to record. Of course, being cats, they do have that ability to not do what you want them to do, and might just wait until you aren’t ready.
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