Why Do Cats Like Catnip?
Catnip! Cats roll in it, rub their cheeks on it and paw at it... but what is it about this stuff that gets our feline friends caught up in such a frenzy? Hosted by: Olivia ...
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Ever seen a cat dip into some recreational catnip? It usually makes the cat act a little strange. It rubs up against the catnip, rolls in it, and paws it. It's clearly enjoying itself. And all because of a compound that's a little too similar to it's natural biological signals. Catnip, AKA Nepeta Cataria, is a plant that's a memer of the mint family. When cat's react to catnip they're really reacting to an organic molecule released by the plant known as nepetalactone. Nepetalactone is made up of two connected rings of mostly carbons. And the plant uses it to repel insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and mites. But most cats are attracted to the stuff. They'll first start sniffing the catnip, then lick and chew it, sometimes rubbing their cheeks and ch...
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Ever seen a cat dip into some recreational catnip? It usually makes the cat act a little strange. It rubs up against the catnip, rolls in it, and paws it. It's clearly enjoying itself. And all because of a compound that's a little too similar to it's natural biological signals. Catnip, AKA Nepeta Cataria, is a plant that's a memer of the mint family. When cat's react to catnip they're really reacting to an organic molecule released by the plant known as nepetalactone. Nepetalactone is made up of two connected rings of mostly carbons. And the plant uses it to repel insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and mites. But most cats are attracted to the stuff. They'll first start sniffing the catnip, then lick and chew it, sometimes rubbing their cheeks and ch...
