(Image credit: Getty Images) Many pet parents wonder what catnip does to cats and the truth is that the effects can vary from cat to cat. Some will become super playful, others will get completely ...

A herb from the mint family, catnip contains an ingredient known as nepetalactone, which can act as both a stimulant and a sedative for cats. This unusual reaction isn’t recorded in any other species ...

Persian cat sniffing dried catnip. Image via Depositphotos. One of the compounds, called nepetalactol, has been found to increase the endorphins (“happy” hormones associated with pleasure) in cats..

Why Cats Like Catnip. Put simply, cats like this plant because they enjoy how it makes them feel. When your cat likes licking the herb, ... typically also pick up those cardboard scratchers where you ...

Studies show that cats, like all animals, need mental and physical exercise to be happy, and an engaging experience like sniffing or eating catnip could be part of that enrichment.

When a cat finds catnip they may rub, roll in, chew, bite, or lick it, causing the herb to take effect, entering the brain by way of the nose. Researchers are not totally sure how catnip affects ...

Catnip's active ingredient is nepetalactone, which can cause your cat to drool, roll around, meow, rub, and act playful when inhaled. In others, it can cause the opposite effect and make a cat mellow ...

If you own a cat, you’ve probably been tempted to see their reaction to catnip, the naturally growing herb that provokes a rather frenzied response, as though the cat were a stockbroker in the ...

Most cats prefer getting the euphoria hit that catnip offers through playing with the best catnip toys, but for some cats, eating it produces a calming effect similar to chamomile.. According to ...

If you are a cat owner and want to keep your pets happy, catnip is a good choice, while keen gardeners who are more interested in aesthetics and a plant's color and form – and don't want the ...