When do cats start liking catnip

If you offer a little bit of the stuff for your kitty to smell, he might caress his wee body all over it, chew on it, lick it and just act like one happy camper. The joy typically ends within minutes.

And it usually takes at least one hour for a cat to regain those warm and fuzzy feelings if exposed to the herb again, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau. Small kittens not only don't usually notice the effects of catnip, they sometimes even go out of their way to ignore it, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau. The marked herbal odor just might not be to a little fluff ball's liking.

Cat Vs Cat Revised and Updated! The Catnip Response Catnip is a perennial herb and a member of the mint family. Why Cats React to Catnip There are several schools of thought as to why catnip creates a response in cats. How Cats React to Catnip The typical behavior of a cat reacting to catnip includes sniffing, licking, head shaking, eating the herb, body rolling and head and cheek rubbing.

There are a couple of precautions though to be aware of: Cats Can Lose Their Ability to Respond to Catnip First, if exposed to catnip too often, there is a risk of your cat losing his ability to respond to it. Some Male Cats May React Too Enthusiastically It has been my experience that there some male cats who, when exposed to catnip, get a little too rambunctious and can even border on being aggressive.

Quality of Catnip When buying dried catnip, look at the packaging and try to find brands that state they use only leaves and blossoms. Pages: 1 2 3. Pam Johnson-Bennett. Have a point of view to share? Let us know! Select Dog or Cat. Watch the Latest Vetstreet Videos Check out our collection of more than videos about pet training, animal behavior, dog and cat breeds and more.

You need JavaScript enabled to view this video. Find a Veterinarian Near Thank you for subscribing. All rights reserved. Powered by Brightspot. Catnip is one of the approximate species in the mint family and has a leafy green appearance. Nepetalactone , the essential oil in catnip, can turn even the laziest couch potato into a crazy furball—if said furball happens to have inherited the sensitivity to its effects.

The trait doesn't emerge until a cat is between three and six months old; until then, a kitten will not have a response. Catnip sensitivity is hereditary—an estimated 50 percent of cats have no reaction. The most intense catnip experience starts with the nose—one whiff of the stuff and your cat promptly goes nuts. Researchers suspect that catnip targets feline "happy" receptors in the brain.

When eaten, however, catnip tends to have the opposite effect and your cat mellows out.