Catnip, a perennial herb of the mint family that is native to Europe, causes strange reactions in cats. Not all cats are fans, but those that are will rub it, roll over it, kick at it, eat it and be wound up for a few minutes. The cat might walk away at that point, and come back two hours later and have exactly the same reaction.
A chemical found in the herb, nepetalactone is what causes the reaction, though it isn’t understood exactly how. For cats that are sensitive to the chemical, it begins a stereotypical reaction that lasts a few minutes until the cat becomes acclimated to it. It takes an hour or two for the sensitivity to catnip and a catnip bed to return, and the cat goes crazy all over again. Not all cats are affected, though - it is an inherited sensitivity. Even large cats like tigers can be sensitive to it. It also tends to only appeal to middle-aged. Kittens and older cats generally aren’t interested in the chemical.
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