Some cats roll, rub and flip over the second they smell catnip. Others sniff it and walk away. Both are normal. Catnip has been studied for decades, and here's what researchers have actually found, not folklore.
Why cats react to catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) releases volatile compounds called iridoids, especially nepetalactone. The reaction starts through a cat's ordinary sense of smell, the main olfactory system. Classic experiments found that removing the vomeronasal organ did not stop the response, while disrupting the main sense of smell did.1
What happens after they smell it
For a sensitive cat, the scent can trigger rubbing, rolling, licking, pawing, chewing, play or other changes in behavior. The response comes and goes, and it differs a lot from one cat to another.1,2,4
Not every cat responds
In one controlled 2017 study, 68 of 100 domestic cats responded to catnip.2 That number describes that study's cats. It's not a promise that every cat will react.
A response can also look surprisingly quiet. A separate study of 60 cats recorded both active and passive patterns: some cats became less active rather than more.3 So a calm, melted cat may be enjoying it just as much as a rolling one.
More is not better
In a 2022 laboratory study, larger tested amounts of several cat-attracting compounds were not linked to longer or more frequent responses.4 That experiment wasn't designed as a formal dose test, so treat this as guidance, not a hard rule.
Getting the best response
- Start with a light application. Apply a small amount to the toy or surface, let the scent spread, and give your cat time to investigate.
- Watch the cat, not the bottle. Rubbing, rolling and play are the obvious signs, but some cats show quieter changes. If your cat is already interested, more isn't needed.
- If there's no interest, don't just keep spraying. Some cats simply don't respond, and more scent may not change that.
- Give the scent a break between sessions. Repeated exposure can reduce the response over time. Breaks help keep it interesting.
Where to use it: toys, scratchers, cat trees, bedding and enrichment surfaces. Spray the object, not the cat, and keep it away from fur, eyes, nose and mouth.
Our PURR RIZZ Catnip Spray is real catnip in a spray, made with this research in mind.
Published studies cited
- Hart, B. L., & Leedy, M. G. (1985). Analysis of the catnip reaction. Behavioral and Neural Biology.
- Bol, S., et al. (2017). Responsiveness of cats to silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, valerian and catnip. BMC Veterinary Research.
- Espín-Iturbe, L. T., et al. (2017). Active and passive responses to catnip. Behavioural Processes.
- Bol, S., et al. (2022). Behavioral differences among domestic cats in response to cat-attracting plants. BMC Biology.
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