Catnip

Cats and Their Sense of Smell

Cats have an extra special gland called the Jacobson’s organ (or the vomeronasal organ) found on the roof of the mouth and near the nasal cavity. It allows cats to essentially “taste” scent particles that they pick up in the air.

Have you ever seen your cat stick her nose on something (maybe a spot on your carpet or even your sock) and smell it for a while and then sit up with her mouth partially open? This is your cat using her Jacobson’s organ and really getting her smell on. That reaction is called the flehmen response. This allows that very interesting scent to go through the organ instead of her normal airway so she can get a good whiff.

This is our long-winded way of explaining that cats not only have an amazing sense of smell, but they are uniquely wired to enjoy certain scents.

The Effect of Catnip on Cats

We know that cats love catnip so let’s look briefly at what happens when your cat encounters some of that herbaceous goodness.

Catnip contains an oil called nepetalactone, which is the primary suspect in how cats react to this herb. It has been studied, and the results have shown that it is actually the cat’s primary olfactory system, or good old-fashioned sense of smell, that causes the catnip reaction.

The Effect of Catnip on Humans

Many people take catnip for its sedative and calming effects, but there’s no actual scientific evidence to support this. However, the nepetalactone that makes the cats go crazy has similar properties found in valerian, which is also a popular botanical sedative. People take catnip to help with insomnia, help with gastrointestinal issues (have some with that mexican bean dip, and the next day is MUCH better), diuretic (great as a quick cleaner or if you have kidney stones), toothaches (it’s antibacterial), and its 10 times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitos!

Catnip is generally safe for humans to take in small doses (like a cup or two of tea). It should not be consumed by children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and is best taken in tea form.