What Is Catnip?
In its natural form, catnip is a relatively small herbaceous plant that is very similar in appearance to mint. It grows small white flowers that are quite fragrant and usually appear from late spring into the autumn.
The reason that it is often used in cat toys is because it contains nepetalactone, which is a feline attractant that not only works on domestic animals in our homes, but has also been found to have an effect on big cats such as tigers and leopards. Once the scent of the plant has entered the cat’s nose, it will usually be affected for around five to fifteen minutes; although some cats will not be affected at all.
Why Are Cats Affected By Catnip?
No one really knows why cats are affected by this plant, but it appears that it is something that is passed on genetically (explaining why some cats aren’t affected at all).
Various neurological tests have been carried out to see why cats react the way they do and it’s believed that it may cause a reaction similar to that when good ph