What Does Catnip Do To Kittens

Not all cats respond to catnip.

What does catnip do to kittens. The herb s influence is genetic so not all cats respond to it according to the humane society of the united states. If a kitten is going to be a catnip lover you usually can tell that when he is 3 to 6 months old. Additionally kittens less than three months old don t respond to catnip and often even. It is this naturally occurring chemical that kittens and cats react to by becoming more active purring and rolling or even licking and drooling some may eat the catnip as well.

Catnip is a perennial herb which means it grows through more than one growing season and it contains an ingredient called nepetalactone. Even though catnip makes him act a little crazy it s a perfectly safe natural herb. Well according to science buffs cats react to catnip after a volatile oil in it called nepetalactone interacts with the nasal tissue. Nothing is lasting about the effects of catnip.

Cats may react to the plant by rolling around flipping over and generally being hyperactive. It s estimated that roughly 50 of cats will have a hyperactive reaction to catnip while the other 50 will simply be calmed by its smell and taste. So when they bite and swallow it it is to consume this natural oil. Giving it to him too early isn t a concern although he may not respond to it if he s still really young.

The catnip response is hereditary. Generally all its effect resides in the nepetalactone an oil that contains the plant and that in the cats generates great happiness and pleasure. A cat will not respond again to catnip for at least a couple of hours. But why does this happen.

Usually when a cat finds catnip tends to smell it it rubs with the plant and finally eats it. What does catnip do to cats. Yep they re pretty much. Catnip is safe for cats that do react in a hyperactive way to it and safe for cats that don t.

Although catnip is totally harmless and safe around kittens both to smell and to eat it isn t necessarily effective. This out of fur experience is due to the active ingredient in the oil. Catnip s allure is in its volatile oil specifically one chemical in that oil nepetalactone. It is thought to mimic feline pheremones and trigger those receptors.

Watching your kitten entertain himself for hours with his catnip toy is truly entertaining. When cats get a whiff of catnip they behave similarly to female cats in heat erratic movements strange howls and all. It is estimated that about 1 3 of the cats lack this gene. Found in catnip s leaves stems and seeds it only takes one or two sniffs of that wondrous oil.