Catnip and Its More Esoteric Cousins

Not all cats have the gene to be affected by catnip, but those who do will roll, sniff, pounce, bat, and generally act like little kitty goofs. 

And then they get that stare. 

And indeed, it is a kind of kitty high, but has more to do with a chemical called nepetalactone, which stimulates the sexual gratification feel-good areas of the brain. This may explain why some cats become aggressive, as they would also be the cats more likely to be so inclined during mating.

After the initial "rush," which only lasts maybe 10 minutes, catnips effect is sedative. Your cat will tend to sleep it off. This can be quite good for cats who are under stress, are in new situations, are being introduced to new family members, etc.

Catnip is easy to grow. The leaves and buds are the parts you will want to use or save. Dry them by hanging upside down, then store in an airtight container.  Freezing works as well, and bruising the leaves before giving them to your cats releases the oils and makes them irresistable.  

Honeysuckle causes an even greater reaction, and works with cats that do not react to catnip—no genetic predisposition needed. Be careful, however—honeysuckle has many varieties and some of the berries can be quite toxic to cats. So, search for toys available from pet stores or folks who package honeysuckle for this use.  Interestingly, honeysuckle can be "rejuvenated" by getting it damp, so it loses its potency much less quickly than catnip.

Valerian root is another great alternative. Just as it is a good tonic for people, it is also a useful herb for cats. They love to play with it, and it is calming and a good light sedative. Like honeysuckle, many cats who never react to catnip do react and have great fun with valerian. Valerian root is available in health food stores, and you can use any of the human grade preparations to make cat toys. I'd hazard an opinion that cats actually PREFER valerian to catnip.  

Lemongrass drives some cats to frenzied dances of apparent joy as well, but fewer than the other plants mentioned above. It is easy to find, and if your cat is resistant to the joy of herbs, you may want to try this.  

Whatever you do, don't get the old dry weak form of any of the above. Just don't bother. That little plastic bag at the checkout counter of the big chain supermarket? Nevermind. Most likely, it is from China, may have been irradiated, probably has been treated with chemicals and pesticides and all kinds of nasties, and isn't even potent enough to be worth the money or effort. Put it back. Go get some seeds. Grow your own. Or find a good source for your cat's habit!

-Woof