Anyone who has a cat or kitten knows how crazy their feline friend goes for catnip. What is catnip, though, and why does it drive cats crazy?

Cats can eat catnip too, and it may even help their digestive tract. However, in large quantities, there can be negative effects such as vomiting and dizziness.

Why and how does catnip make my cat high? As Dr. Kristi Crow, DVM, explains, "the compound that is most notorious for making our cats 'high' is called Nepetalactone, which is found in the leaves ...

Cats act high when they're given catnip because, well, they are. Researchers say that catnip and another plant, silver vine, produce a chemical that activates their opioid reward systems.

There's a very scientific reason cats go wild for catnip, and it's all about smell.

Chewed and Rolled: How Cats Make the Most of Their Catnip High A new study finds that the feline reaction to catnip and silver vine helps to stave off mosquitoes and other bloodsucking insects.

Superficially, a cat's response to catnip looks similar to a narcotic drug response in people. "They become playful and get agitated, they get excited, and then they go to sleep.

A cat chews up and rolls around in the leaves of the silver vine plant. Masao Miyazaki For even the most aloof cats, just a few leaves of catnip can trigger excited fits of chewing, kicking and ...