Nepetalactone is a name for the multiple iridoid analog stereoisomers produced by Nepeta Cataria, or Catnip. Through binding to olfactory protein receptors and thereby stimulating sensory neurons, Nepetalactone affects the amygdala and hypothalamus (the brain’s master-gland) resulting in the onslaught of insanity seen in most fur balls. In other words, it simply targets the ‘happy’ receptors in the cat’s brain.
Surprisingly, not all felines are affected by this cat-drug. It is an inherited gene that makes some extra susceptible to flipping, rolling and overall hysteria that catnip incites. This gene only presents itself once a cat is between 3 and 6 months old - kittens, after all, do not need any added incentive for chaos.
So, when your cat has its next catnip fix, you know what’s happening and why.