Stupid question.. Catnip?????????

I am sure this has been asked a thousand times and I tried to find an article on it, but I couldn't find any in the site.

1. Why do cats like Catnip?

2. Do they get "high" ?

3. How much is too much? Can my kittie Pepper get sick if he gets into when I am not home? ( I try to put it up high.. but you never know.. cats are sneaky..even with cupboards)

4. How does it help their health/stomachs?

Originally Posted by Andrea77

1. Why do cats like Catnip?

2. Do they get "high" ?

3. How much is too much? Can my kittie Pepper get sick if he gets into when I am not home? ( I try to put it up high.. but you never know.. cats are sneaky..even with cupboards)

4. How does it help their health/stomachs?

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Cats love catnip ("nepeta cataria", aka a mint plant) because the leaves contain aromatic oils that can attract and stimulate cats.

Yeah, some cats do get high and others don't, like ours: Sully turns freaky after smelling it, but Ari can't stand the smell. Go figure.

Catnip should be used sparingly though, like as a treat, or sprinkling and mixing it well into a cat's wet food in small amounts to entice the cat to eat. It also aids in digestion.

If used too often, some cats become immune to the herb's effects.