When cats smell catnip they experience behavioral changes which can mimic a female cat going into heat, but male cats can also be affected by catnip.

As its name suggests, catnip is a plant that cats find irresistibly appealing, producing euphoric effects in them. A recent ...

Cats' reaction to catnip and silvervine is so ubiquitous that lead author Masao Miyazaki, an animal behavior researcher at Iwate University, had to know what was going on.

Catnip and silvervine leaves contain the compounds nepetalactol and nepetalactone, iridoids that protect the plants from pests. To see how cats’ behavior was affecting the chemicals released by ...

According to new research, when cats lick and chew catnip it leads to the release of certain compounds that might protect them from pesky mosquitoes.

According to new research, when cats lick and chew catnip it leads to the release of certain compounds that might protect them from pesky mosquitoes.

There's a very scientific reason cats go wild for catnip, and it's all about smell.

According to new research, when cats lick and chew catnip it leads to the release of certain compounds that might protect them from pesky mosquitoes.

Catnip isn’t just intensely pleasurable for cats. It’s also practical – chewing and licking the leaves of the plant releases compounds that repel pesky insects like mosquitoes.

Very similar to catnip, valerian contains compounds that can trigger playful and energetic behavior in cats. This makes it a good enrichment tool, especially for cats that don’t respond to catnip.

According to new research, when cats lick and chew catnip it leads to the release of certain compounds that might protect them from pesky mosquitoes.

According to new research, when cats lick and chew catnip it leads to the release of certain compounds that might protect them from pesky mosquitoes.