Technically, you can smoke catnip, but you won't get a psychoactive effect. Still, the herb, a member of the mint family, is thought to have benefits for humans.
Catnip is actually a perennial herb belonging to the mint family Nepeta cataria. It's the chemical nepetalactone in catnip that triggers a response in the brains of susceptible cats. The response seems to be a kind of euphoria, similar to how humans respond to hallucinogenic drugs.
Catnip is a bizarre phenomenon for a few reasons. It's the only recreational drug we routinely give to animals, and though it basically makes them freak out — rolling on the ground, drooling, and mashing their face into wherever the catnip was sprinkled — it has essentially no effect on us.
The human equivalent to catnip could be the hallucinogen LSD, although the effects on your cat are much shorter, lasting about 15 minutes.
By ingesting catnip (up to one tablespoon per day), your indoor cat gets a bit of the greens she needs to stay healthy that outdoor cats consume on their prowls. Also, if your cat gets frisky when playing with catnip, it can also give her a bit more exercise to help keep her fit.
Giving catnip to your pet is unethical, says expert. Would you give your baby crack cocaine? Debra Merskin, a professor at the University of Oregon, argues that it is unethical to give cats catnip, and that doing so — even if the cat enjoys it — denies them “the same moral consideration” we give to humans.
Cats seem to have visual and acoustic hallucinations, but at all times seem to be experiencing extreme pleasure. This response is typical in cats and in some other members of the Feline family.
Researchers suspect that catnip targets feline "happy" receptors in the brain. When eaten, however, catnip tends to have the opposite effect and your cat mellows out. Most cats react to catnip by rolling, flipping, rubbing, and eventually zoning out. They may meow or growl at the same time.
Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, catwort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America.
Catnip is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in small amounts. However, catnip is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when smoked or taken by mouth in high doses (many cups of catnip tea, for example). It can cause headaches, vomiting, and a feeling of being ill.
For some, the euphoria translates into aggressive playfulness. At the same time, it makes others mellow and calm. But no matter what reaction your cat has, once the pleasure passes it'll be about two hours before kitty responds to catnip again.
Gurney's Herb Catnip (100 Seed Packet)-62331 - The Home Depot.
Catmint the cat's meow. For those of you with cats, it's no secret that they love catnip. Whether they eat it or just roll around it, this herb is plain irresistible to our feline friends. Nepeta faassenii, commonly called catmint, often proves as much of an aphrodisiac to cats as its better-known species mate.
For indoor cats, especially, catnip can be a very healthy addition to their lives. By ingesting catnip (up to one tablespoon per day), your indoor cat gets a bit of the greens she needs to stay healthy that outdoor cats consume on their prowls.
Cats get high off catnip by inhaling the nepetalactone — whether from a live plant, dried plant material, or an oil extract. The chemical binds to receptors inside a cat's nose, which stimulate sensory neurons leading into the brain.
