I am NOT a pet lover and I ESPECIALLY don't deal with cats 🤮 BUT..... I started feeding a stray baby kitten that was left behind, stuck on the side of a empty house next door to me AND a year later she's now a part of my family 🤯😊 I never knew how smart cats are, I swear she talks to me🤭 and her fur feels so good when she rubs against my bare legs.
Other plants that cats respond to are dried valerian roots, matatabi sticks, and certainly a winner is fresh roots of a kiwi plant and kiwi berry, straight from the soil
Our cat can be indifferent to the store bought catnip, but if we give him fresh catnip we grew; he becomes a serious stoner kitty. He will eat the leaves after I crush them against his scratching pole, and he will rub his face and body on it dreamily to get the scent on him. It's hilarious to watch him. After a while, he just mellows out on his perch purring.
All of my under 2 yo cats react to catnip, they all have different reaction. Some like to roll in it, some calmly eat it, some become aggressive and would fight anyone touch them. Meanwhile my over 4 yo cats don't interest in catnip