The age at which cats respond to catnip is not immediate from birth. Kittens do not typically exhibit a reaction to the plant in their earliest months. This lack of response is due to the incomplete development of the olfactory receptors and neurological pathways responsible for processing the catnip’s active compound, nepetalactone.
The capacity to react to catnip is generally believed to be hereditary. Kittens acquire the gene responsible for catnip sensitivity, or they do not. Those that do acquire the gene will develop the capacity to response. Catnip’s primary effect is to create a temporary, euphoric state. This reaction has provided amusement and enrichment for both cats and their owners for many years.