Catnip bubbles? Who knew?

By Dr. Beth Leermakers

Your cat races around wildly before rolling onto her back, drooling, licking the catnip-filled toy and rubbing it on her face. She may look like she’s high after sniffing catnip, but is she really? Yes, according to a recent study. 

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a common herb that belongs to the mint family. Not just for cats, catnip can be made into a calming tea that helps with nausea and headaches. Nepetalactone — the oil found in the catnip plant’s leaves — causes behavioral changes in most cats. When cats smell catnip, the scent travels to their brain, triggering a feeling of euphoria that typically lasts about 10 minutes before gradually wearing off. After the effects wear off, it takes about 30 minutes without smelling catnip for cats to become susceptible to that “high” feeling again.

Catnip mimics feline sex hormones, so male and female cats “on catnip” often display behaviors like those of a female cat in heat: signs of affection, relaxation and happiness. Other cats show more active behaviors such as playfulness or sometimes aggression. Catnip relieves anxiety and pain in some cats and is sometimes recommended by vets for cats who experience separation anxiety when left alone. 

A cat’s behavioral response to catnip looks similar to a narcotic drug response in people. Cats become playful and get agitated, they get excited, and then they go to sleep. When people consume alcohol, marijuana, heroin or cocaine, their brain cells release mood-altering dopamine (a chemical messenger that’s released when your brain is expecting a reward). Until recently, scientists haven’t known how catnip affects a cat’s brain. 

Japanese researchers studied the effects on cats of the silver vine plant. Silver vine contains Nepetalactol, a chemical that closely resembles the active chemical in catnip (Nepetalactone). When cats sniffed the silver vine, Nepetalactol increased their plasma levels of beta endorphin (a hormone and endogenous opiate — your body’s natural pain killer). Endorphins make people (and apparently cats) feel calm and happy. 

When the cats were given naloxone (to block the opioid receptors), it suppressed the rubbing response that cats typically display when they smell catnip. Bottom line: catnip appears to give cats a natural high. In this study, Nepetalactol also had an unexpected side benefit for the cats. It acted as a repellent against A. albopictus, a mosquito common in Japan and China.

Catnip doesn’t make your cat hallucinate. It just makes her feel happier. Catnip doesn’t have any known long-term effects on a cat’s brain or any other part of her body, and it isn’t addictive. 

Scientists originally thought that only about two-thirds of cats respond to catnip. However, a 2017 study suggests that some cats may exhibit milder reactions, assuming a Sphynx-like pose and vocalizing less. According to this study, a much higher percentage — if not all cats — are somehow affected by catnip. 

Some big cats — jaguars, lynx and leopards — react just like domestic kitties when exposed to catnip. Although catnip is safe for kittens, most cats won’t react to it until they are 6-12 months old. 

Is catnip safe for cats to eat? Yes, in limited doses. When it’s ingested, catnip has a sedative effect on cats, unlike the stimulant effect when it’s sniffed. Small amounts of catnip may be good for cats’ digestive tract. However, eating too much catnip can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and difficulty walking. Use a little catnip at a time, and ask your vet how much to give your cat. Fresh catnip is more potent than dried, so give your cat less. Avoid feeding highly-concentrated catnip oil due to its potency. 

Does catnip affect dogs? Catnip is safe for dogs, but it affects them differently. In cats, catnip is a stimulant (at least for 10 minutes before it calms them down). 

In dogs, catnip is a sedative. Because it calms them down, catnip is used for dogs who have anxiety. In dogs, catnip can be used as a diuretic and to soothe a dog’s intestinal issues. It can effectively relieve gas, soothe a dog’s stomachache, reduce cramps, reduce spasms and curb diarrhea. Consult your veterinarian before giving your dog catnip. As in cats, too much catnip can cause intestinal problems. 

If your cat enjoys catnip, you can give her toys stuffed with dried catnip or use catnip sprays or bubbles. 

Let the good times roll! 

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