As its name suggests, catnip is a plant that cats find irresistibly appealing, producing euphoric effects in them. A recent ...

There's a scientific reason for the feline reaction: Catnip contains the oil nepetalactone, which binds to the cat's olfactory receptors in the nose and throat and causes a euphoric reaction for cats.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll say it’s a feeling of extreme wellbeing and happiness – a ‘euphoric’ reaction. In this case, I think we can safely say catnip gets cats high.

Catnip can drive kitties of all sizes a little crazy, and its effects have led feline lovers to wonder what makes this little green plant so attractive to them.

Cats' reaction to catnip and silvervine is so ubiquitous that lead author Masao Miyazaki, an animal behavior researcher at Iwate University, had to know what was going on.

Anyone who has seen a cat experience catnip knows that it makes them go a bit wild – they rub in it, roll on it, chew it, and lick it aggressively. It is widely accepted that this plant, and its ...

Cats go mad for catnip because chemicals released from the plant protect them against mosquitoes, according to new research.

Catnip may look like an ordinary herb, but for many cats it’s a powerful source of bliss. Just a whiff can send even the most composed feline into a playful, wide-eyed frenzy. But what’s actually ...

Catnip’s status as kitty kryptonite is due to a specific chemical compound called nepalacatlone that the plant naturally releases when its leaves or stem are bruised.

Cats may display varying reactions to catnip – or none at all. A 2017 study on cats' reactions to different types of cat-stimulating plants found that about one in three cats had no reaction to ...