How does catnip affect cats?
Many cats, not just domestic, respond to catnip including wild cats like cougars, bobcats, lions, and lynx. Catnip has an active ingredient named Nepetalactone that affects a cat’s olfactory system as a mild hallucinogen. Located at the back of a cat’s nose is the vomeronasal organ (also known as Jacobson’s organ) which almost allows cats to taste smells and smell tastes. When the aromatic oils with Nepetalactone are inhaled into the vomeronasal organ some cats respond dramatically. How Do Cats Act When Affected By Catnip? Cats react differently depending on the cat and the quality of the catnip. Some cats seem to have no reaction what so ever to catnip while others carry on quite comically. Kittens less then 3 months old and senior cats often respond less or even not at all and some cats never respond to catnip no matter what the age. A catnip response is hereditary. Cats that are affected by catnip can exhibit a range of behaviors that may include sniffing, licking and chewing the pl
