![Why cats go so crazy for catnip](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/220614133014-04-catnip-study-super-tease.jpeg)
Why cats go so crazy for catnip
CNN
Catnip isn't just intensely pleasurable for cats. It's also practical -- chewing and licking the leaves of the plant releases compounds that repel pesky insects like mosquitoes.
When your feline friend rubs, rolls against, chews and licks catnip leaves, it's not just playful high jinks sparked by the plant's intoxicating qualities. The behavior leads to the release of certain compounds that might protect cats from pesky mosquitoes, according to new research out of Japan.
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