Ever wonder what about catnip drives cats so crazy? I try sniffing at it myself but I don't find anything special about the smell.

Catnip is a perennial aromatic herb belonging to the mint family. The active ingredient in catnip is nepetalactone. Cats have a special receptor in their olfactory system that responds to this. When cats sniff at it, their behaviors dramatically change (If you own a cat, I'm sure you think that's an understatement...)

However, some cats don't respond to catnip at all. First, kittens and senior cats don't seem to respond well. Second, because of genetics, a certain number of cats are "immune". If your cat doesn't care about catnip, you may feel like you're missing out on all the "fun." But don't worry, cats have all sorts of other quirks...I'm sure yours does, too.

Catnip is safe for cats.

To get the best potency out of catnip (in other words, to get the craziest behaviors), crush the buds between your fingers before giving it to your cat. Does your cat scratch your important couches and sofas? Try sprinkling (or rubbing) catnip directly on the scratching post. This may help distract your cat from the furniture. It worked for my cat, at least.

Care about the health of your cat? Please buy "organic" catnip. This will help you avoid pesticides. You can usually get organic catnip from a health food store.

Here are some websites providing information about catnip:

Kooky Kat Catnip Company

About.com

Kitty Hooch