What Does Catnip Do to Cats?

Catnip can do so much more than make your cat go wild. From inducing a safe and non-addictive euphoric state to repelling mosquitoes, catnip is a wonder herb! Don’t forget to roll it between your fingers to release the nepetalactone oil before presenting it to your kitties.

The following video — which includes catnip toys from our online Best Friends Store — explains catnip's function and what it does for cats.

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About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in part by getting more pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

We’ve come a long way since the first known city reached no-kill in 1994, and now we’re closer than ever to making the entire country no-kill. Of the roughly 3,900 shelters operating in America today, 1,300 of them are not yet no-kill, but nearly half are close with 100 or fewer additional pets to be saved, and we know what to do to get them there.

Best Friends is committed to working with passionate people like you to save homeless pets through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocacy. In addition to our lifesaving centers around the U.S, we also founded and run the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Working together, we can save homeless pets in our communities and secure a better future for our best friends. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill.