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 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.

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.

Catnip’s effect is caused by nepetalactone, which stimulates brain receptors and releases endorphins. Cats react by rolling on the catnip, and some become hyperactive or aggressive.

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?

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.

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.

Most cat owners know catnip as a treat for their feline friends to roll in and chew, but a new study finds that the common herb has qualities that repel mosquitoes.

In others, it can cause the opposite effect and make a cat mellow and sleepy. However, catnip has no effect on about 20-30% of cats. Interestingly enough, the response is hereditary.