If you're a cat lover, you know that your furry friends can go absolutely wild for a sprinkling of catnip, the green herb that can be found in many cat toys or even grown in your own garden. Once a ...

Catnip's active compound, nepetalactone, triggers a euphoric response in cats by activating their brain's opioid reward system. This hereditary trait, affecting 60-70% of felines, provides stimulation ...

Cats have funny reactions to catnip as some roll on the floor and others run around like they are wild. Catnip is no magic ...

Your cat probably knows it as Catnip or Catmint. But the stuff that drives your kitten crazy goes by the Latin name Nepeta cataria, and it's a member of the genus Nepeta (derived from Nepete, the ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images/Svetlana Popova When you’re watching your cat play with some catnip you ...

Catnip is a plant—known scientifically as Nepeta cataria—that is a member of the mint family. The active ingredient is called nepetalactone, which many domestic cats respond to in a variety of ...

Catnip is one plant that has a special ability to send some cats into a euphoric frenzy. But what exactly is catnip, and why does it have such a dramatic effect on our cats? The secret behind catnip's ...

Valerian for cats has recently gained popularity as a potential alternative to catnip, but just how effective is it, and is it safe for your feline friend? If your cat doesn’t respond to catnip, you ...