If you give a cat a pinch of catnip or a toy that smells like catnip to sniff, you will see that their response could be very dramatic, and even crazy or silly. Cats sometimes roll on their backs, or spin wildly, sometimes drooling, as they entertain themselves by licking catnip and rubbing it all over their face and body. There are also times when they just lie there next to the grass, purring very quietly. At the end of this article I will leave you a couple of videos in which you will see the effect as it is, but first I will tell you more about «marijuana for cats».
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Does catnip really get cats ‘high’?
It happens that this herb, very similar to the mint that we all know, has an active ingredient called nepetalactone. This substance is chemically related to a similar compound found in their urine, and that is it stimulates them in an excessive way as if they were in the process of mating. This is why his actions seem goofy and comical, somewhat resembling the uncoordinated and cheerful demeanor of someone who has had too much to drink or is pleasantly under the influence of recreational drugs.
This plant has a history of use in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments. The plant has been consumed, taken as an infusion, applied as a poultice or smoked. However, its medicinal use has practically disappeared with the development of more common drugs in traditional medicine.
It is also known as cat basil, catnip, catnip, high catnip, catnip, catnip, catnip, cat-mea, catnip, catmint, catmint, catnip, catnip, catnip, yerba of cats, yerba del asthmatico, yerba de los gato, yerba cattera, yerba ñeta, or catnip.
Why do cats look drugged?
catnip (Nepeta cataria) belongs to the family of Lamiaceae mints, which includes aromatic herbs such as rosemary, sage, oregano and basil. The compound that plays the most important role in the so-called catnip effect in domestic cats.
There are other compounds in catnip that are similar to nepetalactone in their molecular structure, and some can even stimulate a response on their own, but nepetalactone is the strongest of the bunch. Cats are attracted to the scent of nepetalactone, which binds to receptors in their noses and often produces behavior that appears euphoric.
Other compounds in catnip affect neurotransmitters, resulting in inhibition of central nervous system activity.
Superficially, a cat’s response to catnip resembles a narcotic’s response in people. They get frisky and fidgety, get excited, and then fall asleep. But there is no data showing that catnip works the same way as medical cannabis, marijuana, or cocaine.
happy cats
In humans, the use of alcohol, marijuana, heroin, or cocaine stimulates brain cells to release mood-altering dopamine. But while cats appear to be enjoying themselves when they’re rolling around in catnip, scientists can’t say for sure what’s going on in the cat’s brain and how it’s being affected by the plant. However, some studies have shown that when cats are given compounds such as naloxone, which block opioid receptors in the central nervous system, the effects of catnip are minimized or even eliminated, suggesting that opioid receptors could be involved.
Not all cats respond strongly to catnip. But many more cats may be susceptible to the plant than was once thought. In fact, it is between close to 80% of felines that are stimulated by the plant.
It was believed that about two-thirds of adult adult cats respond: cheek rubbing, rolling on the floor, vocalizing. But a study published in 2017 in the journal Behavioral Processes suggests that some cats may exhibit a less active response to the plant.
In fact, as you will see in this video, there are products for cats to which Catnip is added to generate satisfying effects in pets.
Here we leave you another video where you can see the effect of catnip on kittens.