Sherry Chandler

A cat with catnip

Catnip and catmints are mainly known for, and named after, the effects they have on cats, particularly domestic cats. Approximately two thirds of cats are susceptible to the effects of catnip, as the phenomenon is hereditary.

Catnip contains nepetalactone, a terpene, that is thought to mimic feline sex pheromones. Cats detect it through their vomeronasal organs. When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they will rub in it, roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr. Some cats will also growl and meow. This reaction only lasts for several minutes before the cat loses interest. [citation needed] It takes up to two hours for the cat to “reset” and then it can come back to the catnip and have the same response as before. Young kittens and older cats are less likely to have a reaction to catnip but big cats, such as tigers, seem to be extremely sensitive to it. Cat toys can contain catnip and some cats love to play with them. Others are not interested. Cat owners do not need to worry about allowing their cats access to catnip because there are, for the most part, no negative side effects to doing so. However, some cats become overly excited when exposed to catnip, so aging cats with heart troubles should be kept away from it.

Other plants that also have this effect on cats include valerian and plants that contain actinidine or dihydroactinidiolide (Smith, 2005).

At least three species attract cats: Nepeta cataria, N. grandiflora and N. × faassenii, but most other species have not been tested. Of these, both true catnip and Faassen’s catnip have a sharp, biting taste, while the taste of giant catmint is bland.
— from Wikipedia [verbatim]

Bertie is perhaps a bit hefty for too much leaping about. He tends to buckle the roof of my car when he walks across it. For another, fairly typical, Bertie pose, follow the link to Rabbit’s Hidey-Hole.

Possibly related posts:

The Bertitudes

The Garden of Stubborn Cats

In a world of fenced and gated enclaves

Cats in the National Enquirer, a cat caught with feather

Cat and dogwood tree

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