If you have ever watched your cat roll around in a blissful daze after a whiff of catnip, you are not alone. Catnip has long fascinated pet owners for its strange, almost magical effect on felines.

Poor kitties—they often get a bad rap! While dogs are hailed as bubbly bundles of love, cats are sometimes labeled “grumpy” or “aloof." But anyone who’s spent time with a feline knows how affectionate ...