Catnip

Catnip is a legal and safe high for your cat. If you've never given your cat a "taste" of this wonderous magical herb, then get ready to see a whole other side of your cat.

Originally called "Nepeta cataria", this substance has long been used to coax your cats into a sublime submission. It doesn't matter whether your cat is a tiny kitten, or a roaring tiger, it seems all kinds of cats love this minty herb.

Amazingly, not all cats are receptive to this herb. Actually only about 50% of cats are sensitive to cat nip. You won't know until your kitten is around 6 months old. So what is it about this herb that makes your cat go crazy? Well, it's the nepetalactone oil that is found in the leaves, stems and seeds of the herb. The oil is highly volatile and so just one or two sniffs of this oil can cause your cats to go into a state of high euphoria.

Though intense, the euphoria lasts for about 10 minutes and during this time, it can transform your otherwise muted cat into a highly aggressive and playful cat. It won't be for another couple of hours before your cat will respond to the catnip again.

The great thing about catnip is that it can be used as a tool for training. For instance, if your cat keeps clawing your sofa, then you can rub the catnip on a scratching post to encourage your cat to use that instead. If your cat refuses to sleep in a new cat bed, then put some catnip on the cusion and your cat will find it much more appealing.