by Betty Carew

Created on: November 07, 2009   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

If your cat suddenly turns from a refined indifference into a tumbling, energetic playful fool that will keep you in stitches with laughter watching him he has probably encountered catnip. What is it about cat nip that makes cats go crazy? The answer to this lies in the catnip leaf.

What is catnip?

The catnip plant derives from the family of mint plants. It can be found growing in parts of North America in the wild. The plant contains oil called nepetalactone. In order to benefit from the plant its leaves have to be shredded or crushed to release the oil. When this oil is released in your cat's presence it interacts with the cat's brain to give him a pleasurable high. Catnip will change your cat from His Majesty to His Maniac for a short period of time.

Fresh catnip

Although it is possible to buy catnip at almost any pet store or shopping mall it is somewhat watered down from its original potency. It is possible to grow this plant right at home in your garden but if you can't do this your next option for getting fresh catnip is organic cat nip. A little of the oil will be gone but it is the closest to fresh that you're going to get without growing it.

Other types of catnip

Non- organic catnip is the easiest to find although almost all the oil is missing but it is certainly strong enough to give kitty a buzz. There are also catnip sprays on the market which comes in pure sprays and artificial. The cost of these catnips will depend on the type you buy although any of them will cause a reaction in the behavior of your cat. If you can't afford the expensive catnip you can find toys at the mall that contains catnip but without the high price. These suffice very well and will still send kitty into kitty heaven for a short while.

Kind of behavior you should expect

At first cats will spend some time sniffing at catnip. They will roll in it and from there the fun begins. You will notice they have suddenly developed a lot more interest in their toys and will bat them here and there. Even fat cats that ordinarily moved very slowly will become cats of the Athletic Club by jumping, running and playing in sweet abandonment. It is hilarious to watch as they just about turn themselves inside out, oblivious to anything or anyone around them.

The length of reaction time

The reaction to catnip can last anywhere from ten minutes to thirty minutes. After the fun has ended your cat may look at you as if asking what happened? and will sneak away for a well deserved nap. Catnip is

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