TIL : Why Cat nip makes cats go crazy
Ever wondered why cats portray almost high like behaviours when around catnip ?
Well I did, and thats why im writing this post.
Firstly, not all cats are effected by cat nip. Scientists say around 65-80% of cats react to cat nip and that the trait is inherited.
If you have ever seen a cat on catnip they seem to seem stoned or tripping on lsd.
To be completely honest, its awesome. I can watch cat videos for hours of cats tripping out on cat nip.
The reason behind this strange behaviour is that cat nip has an oil in the plant called Nepetalactone. This oil is absorbed through the nasal tissue of the cat and binds to protein receptors that stimulate sensory neurons. When a cat is effected by cat nip the "high" only lasts a few minutes and then the cat will acclimate to the cat nip and become unaffected. Most cats require a few hours away from the cat equivalent of devils lettuce before they will be effected again.
Cat nip has little to no effect on older and younger cats, so you will only know around 7 months if your cat can become an addict.
Scientists Don't know exactly what nepetalactone does to the cats brain, and why their behaviour becomes so strange, but least we get a show and i'm sure they cats love it.
Below is a video of a bunch of cats on cat nip, I'd suggest indulging in this video as it is a bunch of cats, on cat nip - What more do you need?
if you enjoyed my post, please follow me @warrensteem
Sources:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/jcoates/2011/june/cats_and_catnip-does_it_really_get_them_high_and_why-11271
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-how-does-catnip-work-on-cats/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepetalactone
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/question303.htm
that pic at the top is hilarious
Im Glad you liked it haha. Spent a good while looking for it :P
I am a recent cat lover! I am over 40 and never really like them till about 6 months and now I think the world of that fat cat! Lol
I have had cats all my life and oddly enough never heard of this expression cat nip. I am in the UK. Is this cat nip just prevalent in your country
insanely enough, its actually illegal in the UK.
Most places in the world, they carry it in most pet stores.
No it's perfectly legal in the UK. They even sell it in Sainsburys. I get it for my cats they go mad for it:)
really... i remember reading months ago that it was illegal there... i could be wrong though
I think you may be thinking of Khat which contains Cathinones. That was made illegal not too long ago.
Wow, i wasn't aware it was illegal in the UK.
We have some actually growing in our garden in the UK and the cats go mental for it even in it's natural form! Currently drying some to use in something that I haven't decided on yet!