Is Your Cat Addicted to Catnip?

Lots of cats really love catnip, including many of the BCR cats!  Your cats probably like it, too, and it's fun watching them play with a catnip toy or even roll around in dried catnip. 

What makes cats love i tso much?  When a cat smells catnip, which is an herb from the Labiatae mint family, the scent heads for the brain and triggers the behaviors we all know - rolling, drooling, rubbing and licking.  Cats have a special scent receptor in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal organ, which makes them super sensitive to the chemical in catnip, nepetalactone. 

Scientists think their reaction to catnip is similar to what humans experience when using marijuana - feeling really good and relaxed.  They've noted that only 50-60% of cats actually react to catnip and sometimes kittens and older cats may not at all. 

So, is catnip addictive?  Not really because it's an herb and not a true toxin.  HOWEVER, if your cat consumes a lot of it frequently, it can cause symptoms that may look like poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhea and possibly lethargy.  So, the lesson with catnip is let your cat enjoy it but only in moderation!

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