What Makes Happy Cats Hallucinate on Catnip?

If you’ve seen a cat inhaling catnip, they seem to go into a euphoria. It is like a drug for a feline. They roll in it, rub their cheek against the catnip, and sometimes look intoxicated. What is it about catnip that makes them so happy?

Nepeta Cataria

Catnip, sometimes called cat mint, is a member of the mint family of aromatic herbs. In gardens they are grown as ornamental plants because of their showy flowers. The common catip, Nepeta Cataria, is found in a lot of gardens, along with commercial varieties such as Walker’s Low and Blue Wonder.

How Does Catnip Work?

When a cat inhales catnip, it behaves like a mild hallucinogenic that has a quick acting effect on their behavior and mental state. This is caused by a combination of aromatic oils that act on the cat’s Jacobson organ.

The Jacobsen organ, or the (VNO) vomeronasal organ, is part of the sensory cells in the cat’s nose and mouth. When the cat holds its mouth open, the moisture inhalation of the substance triggers a rapid effect on the cat.

Flehman Response

When the cat inhales catnip, they appear to have a smiling face. This is because the herb makes the cat respond by pulling its gums back from its teeth. This is called the Flehman Response.

You will see the cat pressing its tongue against the roof of its mouth. In so doing this, the air inhaled is forced over the VNO that supercharges the smell and absorption of the catnip. The catnip goes straight to their head!

Behavioral changes

There’s other behavior you might notice. Cats not only sniff and inhale the catnip, but they might also rub their cheek and chin over the herb, roll in it, and sometimes nibble at it.

The effect of inhaling catnip can cause cats to look like they’re in a trance or other-worldly state. They are not the same cat they were before!

They also might get aggressive towards you or other animals. Should this happen, you should not give your cat toys that contain catnip.

Sexual arousal

Cat breeders use catnip for the benefit it gives in breeding cats. When inhaling the herb, some cats show signs of sexual arousal and start rolling around in ecstasy. The unique rolling pattern is a side-effect of catnip intoxication. In this state, cats will often seek a mating partner.

How Long Does It Last?

For most cats, the the catnip intoxication usually lasts for 10 minutes. The euphoria might last longer, but the intoxication usually doesn’t last more than 20 minues.

After taking catnip, they won’t be a rush to take more afterwards. It might be another 2 hours before the cat has any more interest in catnip.

The effect of catnip doesn’t show on cats until they are between ages of 3 and 6 months. The breed of the cat will also have some variation on how they are effected by catnip.

There will be also a some variation in how the cat has inhaled or ingested the catnip. The catnip might be put in their food, toys, or rubbed on their scratching post.

So you know now that catnip should be used in moderation. If the cats behavior gets too wild or erratic, then it’s a good idea to stop with the catnip. Instead, channel the cat’s energy into activity that involves toys and exercise.