Melinda cowers in the deepest recess of the cage. She is trembling; eyes huge with fear.  She doesn't know why she is here, or what will happen next, but she does know this is not her home and there are other cats nearby.  The noises and smells and strange surroundings are terrifying, and for days, Melinda has refused to eat.

Someone is coming… a person.  The person has an object, it looks strange, unfamiliar.  The cage door is opened and the object placed gently inside.

Suddenly, Melinda smells something interesting – VERY interesting.  There is an intriguing aroma emanating from somewhere…..irresistible. She moves forward slowly, until she can give the object a curious sniff.  She touches it with a paw, tentatively.

Before long, she's feeling better, much more relaxed.  Melinda has almost forgotten where she is, because she has wrapped herself around the object and is happily licking it while kicking it vigorously with her back feet.

The object is a Happy Sock catnip toy, made by little girls in an American Girl Scout troop. They collected unwanted socks from friends and family and, with a handful of polyfill and a pinch of catnip, created a simple toy to be given to cats in animal shelters.  For scared, homeless shelter cats like Melinda, Happy Sock catnip toys are a real comfort.

But what is this mysterious thing called catnip? 

Technically, catnip is an herb in the mint family, a close relative of basil and oregano that looks very much like other kinds of mint when growing.  But to most cats, it is something much more special – a terrific recreational drug, (and legal, too!)  One whiff and even a complacent codger cat can become a frisky fur ball, first sniffing the catnip toy, then licking and chewing it, and ultimately rubbing it and flopping over happily. 

This reaction usually lasts less than 20 minutes, after which time the cat returns to normal.  But an hour or two later, the same results can be seen all over again -- and apparently catnip never induces a hangover!

The chemical in catnip that brings this ecstatic reaction is called nepetalactone, and its power is released when the herb is rubbed or crushed.  Very young or old cats are unlikely to enjoy its effects, and an estimated 20% of the adult cat population is immune to it, a genetic trait that has nothing to do with the animal's sex or breed.

Catnip isn't addictive or habit forming and it has no known ill effects on cats.  Some cats even eat catnip, although it's probably not wise to let them ingest too much of it since an excess can bring on digestive discomforts.

Unfortunately, humans don't experience the same effects that cats enjoy when whiffing catnip. However, some people enjoy herb tea made from catnip, and it has a calming effect similar to chamomile tea.  Catnip has also long been used in a variety of herbal folk remedies.

Over time, the chemical effects of the nepetalactone will deteriorate, so it's best to store your catnip supply in the freezer.  When giving your cat a catnip toy, be sure to massage the toy first to crush the catnip slightly and activate the effective ingredients.  Your cat will appreciate it!

Catnip toys are available in most veterinary clinics and pet supply stores.

Martha Powers is a Protecting Animal Welfare Society contributor. Operation Happy Sock was founded by Martha in 2004, expressly for the purpose of providing catnip toys to shelter cats. Martha's Operation Happy Sock girl guide helpers donated Happy Socks to Feline Friends sheltered cats. Martha founded Operation Happy Sock in the United States in 2004. Her charity now involves thousands of youngsters all over the US, who produce the sock toys, while learning about responsible pet attitude and the importance of spaying and neutering pets. Visit Martha and Operation Happy Sock online at www.operationhappysock.com