Though we may call catnip "kitty crack," the herb is non-addictive and isn't even a drug (so it's perfectly safe to give to your kitty, big or small). But how does it work? And why doesn't it have ...

Catnip drives her wild and seems to give a wonderful euphoric feeling, whether it is sprinkled around her or buried within an unsuspecting toy. But, why exactly does catnip have this effect on her?

The dose of catnip and how your cat consumes it will result in different responses: The more your cat eats or inhales it, the stronger the effect.

Cats on catnip are clearly having a wonderful time – but does it get them high? Our vet explains more… ...

Catnip isn’t just intensely pleasurable for cats. It’s also practical – chewing and licking the leaves of the plant releases compounds that repel pesky insects like mosquitoes.

After those two hours a cat can be affected by catnip again. Not all cats exhibit the same effects from catnip, with about 20 percent not being attracted to the plant, according to Petmate.

What does catnip do to cats? Catnip has different effects depending on the individual cat and the way the cat takes the drug. "It either ramps cats up, or it mellows them out," Wooten says.

The effects of catnip typically last about 10 minutes. Though cats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, they can get sick if too much of the herb is eaten.

A new study hints that plants like catnip and silver vine may also protect your feline friend from mosquitoes.

Some cats love catnip, but if yours doesn't, there are plenty of alternatives including lemongrass and valerian.