2007-02-10 23:57:23 · 12 answers · asked by linso 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Its a bit like a drug. It sends them crazy. My cat has a cat nip mouse and she takes it everywhere. I have asked the vet if its OK for them to have cat nip and she said ye. Not too much though.
2007-02-11 00:05:13 · answer #1 · answered by Pip 23 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one knows for sure.
Domestic and many wild cats (including cougars, bobcats, lions, and lynx) respond to the nepetalactone in catnip. However, not all cats react to catnip. The behavior is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene; 10-30% of domestic cats in a population may be unresponsive to nepetalactone. Kittens will not show the behavior until they are at least 6-8 weeks old. In fact, catnip produces an avoidance response in young kittens. The catnip response usually develops by the time a kitten is 3 months old.
When cats smell catnip they exhibit a range of behaviors that may include sniffing, licking and chewing the plant, head shaking, chin and cheek rubbing, head rolling, and body rubbing. This psychosexual reaction lasts for 5-15 minutes and cannot be evoked again for an hour or more after exposure. Cats that react to nepetalactone differ in their individual responses.
The feline receptor for nepetalactone is in the vomeronasal organ, located above the feline palate. The location of the vomeronasal organ may explain why cats do not react from eating gelatin-enclosed capsules of catnip. Nepetalactone must be inhaled for it to reach the receptors in the vomeronasal organ. In cats, the effects of nepetalactone can be moderated by several drugs acting upon the central and peripheral nervous system, and by several environmental, physiological, and psychological factors. The specific mechanism governing these behaviors has not been described.
2007-02-11 08:03:27 · answer #2 · answered by cs 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catnip to cats is like MARIJUANA to humans it gives them a HIGH
2007-02-11 13:47:57 · answer #3 · answered by kim h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like a Class A drug to cats. They get high and dopey on it. It's the funniest thing to watch. xxxx
2007-02-11 10:37:31 · answer #4 · answered by catwoman6942 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some cats are saucy and like to lap up ketchup.
2007-02-11 10:00:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its like happy pills r to humans -my cats go mad when i spray the scratching post with it they end up biting it and cuddling it lol
2007-02-14 20:09:40 · answer #6 · answered by Miss Karen Roe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cos its a cat
2007-02-11 07:59:53 · answer #7 · answered by andrew h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it makes them frisky; it's a bit of a high for them..
2007-02-11 08:01:09 · answer #8 · answered by madfairy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not my cats
2007-02-11 08:50:15 · answer #9 · answered by anma 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gets them drunk and crazy !
2007-02-11 11:07:52 · answer #10 · answered by Lady Claire - Hates Bigotry 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋