What Happens When Cats Meet Catnip
Cats often react to catnip within 30 seconds to 2 minutes of sniffing. The reaction can include rolling, rubbing, purring, chirping, or meowing, and may be hyperactive or mellow. Hyperactive cats may zoom, leap, kick a toy with their back legs, or show wide pupils, while mellow cats may flop, close their eyes, and blink slowly. The “high” lasts 5 to 15 minutes, after which a cat is temporarily immune to catnip for about 30 minutes to 2 hours.
About half to seventy percent of adult cats show a reaction, a trait passed down genetically. Kittens under 3 to 6 months typically do not react. Sneezing can occur but is harmless and does not indicate discomfort. The compound nepetalactone in catnip binds to nasal receptors, triggering the observed behaviors.
Key takeaways
- Cats react to catnip within 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Reactions last 5-15 minutes and can be hyperactive or mellow.
- 50-70% of adult cats react; kittens under 3-6 months usually do not.
- Sneezing is a harmless response to the scent.
- Nepetalactone binds to nasal receptors to trigger the effect.
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Originally reported by iHeartCats. Read the full article.
Cover photo by Thiago Rios via Pexels.
