Cats and catnip have a special connection that has fascinated pet owners for centuries. Whether it’s a playful roll on the floor or an intense sniffing session, catnip seems to bring out a unique excitement in cats. But what exactly makes this plant so irresistible to our feline friends? In this article, we explore why cats love catnip and how you can use it to enrich your pet’s life.
Catnip has an intoxicating and stimulating effect on house cats. We explain why cats react to the scent of the plant and how you can use this to your advantage.
Sexually mature cats, whether neutered or not, are magically attracted to catnip. It doesn’t matter whether it is a domestic house cat or big cats like lions and tigers. They become euphoric, rub themselves against the plant, and nibble on the flowers and leaves. Even if gardeners don’t like it, there is a very clever spreading strategy behind this: when cats roll around in the plant, tiny seed pods called nutlets stick to their fur. These fall off during the next grooming session and are spread around the garden by the cats.
One reason why house cats are drawn to the plant seems clear: the plant contains among other things a substance called actinidin, which female unneutered cats excrete with their urine. This may also explain why male cats react strongly to catnip. The effect is less pronounced in young and very old cats. The greatest attraction seems to be the white-flowered true catnip (Nepeta cataria – called “catnip” in English). The effect of the popular garden perennial blue-flowered hybrid catnip is not quite as strong.
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Effect Is Not Fully Understood
Although scientists are almost certain that the substances actinidin and nepetalactone, two chemically closely related alkaloids, are the reason for cats’ often strong reactions to the plant, this does not explain the differing effects on individual animals. When cats come into contact with a toy scented with catnip, some rub themselves vigorously with it. Especially noticeable is that for many cats, the toy also activates their play instinct—even in indoor cats that are usually rather lethargic. With so-called catnip pillows, for example, they often romp wildly through the apartment and play very exuberantly. Similar behavior is shown by big cats like lions and tigers.
When encountering the plant in the garden, it’s similar: cats rub themselves against it or roll completely in it. They also sometimes chew on the leaves and flowers. Because of this conspicuous behavior, most experts now believe that catnip has an intoxicating, if not even narcotic, effect on the velvet paws.
Catnip Is Non-Toxic and Very Practical
Some cat owners fear that catnip might be dangerous or even poisonous. This is not the case. The effect is actually very beneficial because indoor cats often gain too much weight. The substances increase the cats’ play drive and urge to move. Also, catnip can help with a bit of training: many cat owners are familiar with the problem of their beloved cat obsessing over a piece of furniture, preferring to scratch it rather than the designated scratching post. This can be remedied by treating the scratching post with catnip. For this purpose, there are sprays with catnip extracts as well as dried leaves and flowers available in pet stores. If you have catnip in your garden, you can also dry it yourself or rub fresh leaves over the desired scratching surface. The effect doesn’t take long, and suddenly the beloved piece of furniture is no longer interesting.
Besides this trick for the scratching problem, catnip can also be used for another problem familiar to cat owners: the trip to the vet often becomes difficult as soon as the beloved cat sees the transport carrier. Even lethargic cats become whirlwind-like and refuse to get inside. Here too, catnip helps in two ways: first, it makes the cat carrier so interesting that the cat has to check it out and goes in voluntarily. Second, the scent of catnip calms the animal after some time.
Catnip in the Garden
Catnip (Nepeta) belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Depending on species and variety, the perennials grow up to one meter high and bloom from July to September in white or light blue. Their slightly sharp, lemony scent resembles mint—hence the name. In earlier times, catnip was used as a medicinal plant against colds and fever. The essential oils in the plant have antispasmodic and detoxifying effects and are said to help with bronchitis and even toothache. For this purpose, a tea is made from the dried leaves with hot but not boiling water.
Catnip is more than just a fun treat for cats — it’s a safe, natural way to stimulate their playful instincts, encourage exercise, and even help with training challenges. Whether grown in your garden or used in toys and sprays, catnip can add joy and enrichment to your cat’s daily routine. So next time your furry friend goes wild for catnip, you’ll know exactly why!
