I, like my cousins absolutely LOVE catnip (some might refer to this as feline marijuana, LOL). Catnip is also known as catswort or catmint. It is from the plant species Nepeta. Catnip contains the feline attractant nepetalactone. We don't actually smell catnip with our vermeronasal organ, like we smell our food. We detect is through our olfactory epithelium where the nepetalactone binds to it.
Our main response time is 5 to 15 minutes, during which time we might become a bit aggressive and nip or bite, growl or even hiss at one another or even our humans. We can also drool and succumb to sleepiness. As you can see, one likes to roll in it and one likes to eat it!
Domestic kitties are not the only ones susceptible to the effects of catnip! If you search on popular video sharing sites, you can find one particular video in which a kiddie pool with catnip laced toilet paper rolls is the main attraction. The big cats LOVED it! It was comical to watch.
I hope you've enjoyed this little tidbit on catnip. Hmmmm.......think I'll go see if I can find some. MEOW!!
