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Catnip
Friday, May 4, 2012    
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What is it about catnip that makes cats go crazy? 

There is a substance called ‘nepetalactone’ which seems to have a hallucinogenic effect on cats.  From what I’ve read, it’s similar to something in a female cats urine, and may explain why unneutered males may react more than neutered and females (although both of ours go nuts-oh!).  Looks like lions, pumas and leopards like it too, but not every cat “gets off” on it.  Kittens usually don’t react to it until they’re older, and there is a percentage of cats that never react to it.  Giving your cat a buzz from this stuff is harmless, and non-addictive, so you’re not creating a drug addict cat.