Catnip contains nepetalactone, an essential oil found in the catnip plant. Here's how it affects your cat and why it makes them feel so good.

Not all cats have a reaction to catnip — about 70% of cats carry a gene that's linked to the catnip response, says Mikel Delgado, PhD, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant at Feline Minds.

Thankfully, the manifestations of overexposure to catnip don't tend to last. "If you believe your cat has ingested too much, you should just give your cat some time. Effects of catnip are ...

Is it possible to give a cat too much catnip? "It's always possible to give too much of anything, so using catnip as directed by each specific product is recommended," advises Dr. Crow.

If your cat loves the taste of catnip but you don't want them ingesting too much of it, these lick balls are a great solution. The balls easily stick to wall and can rotate a full 360 degrees.

Catnip can drive kitties of all sizes a little crazy, and its effects have led feline lovers to wonder what makes this little green plant so attractive to them.