Catnip is a herb in the mint family. It has a natural mood-enhancing effect on most cats. Some cats are very strongly affected by catnip, while a minority don’t really experience any effect from catnip at all. It’s not uncommon for cats to gather in groups around patches of catnip in gardens or in the wild, rolling in the plants, nibbling the leaves and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Catnip oil products can be used in various ways, such as to make a toy or scratching post more enticing. You can also give your cat the herb to consume, as a treat or to help a nervous cat relax.
How often can you give cats catnip? No more than once a day. It’s not bad for them but the effects can decline if you give it too often. It’s good to use catnip sparingly.
You’ve come to this page because you have questions about catnip and your cat.
- Is catnip safe for cats?
- How early can you begin to administer catnip?
- Can catnip be mixed with food?
We’ll answer these questions and more. Just read on to find out everything you need to know about catnip and your cat.
How often can you give cats catnip?
It’s fine for cats to enjoy a daily dose of catnip but you should not give your cats catnip to consume more than once a day. Similarly, if you’re treating toys, scratching posts, bedding or other equipment with catnip oil or spray, you should not do so more than once a day. Your cat will not overdose on catnip but they can become desensitised to it, making the herb less effective.
The effect of catnip is usually very positive, helping cats to relax and feel happy and contented. In some cases, however, cats can demonstrate less desirable behaviours when under the influence of catnip. If your cat becomes agitated or aggressive after consuming catnip, you may wish to reduce the frequency with which you give it and the amount they receive.
Because they are so deliciously attractive to cats, catnip and catnip products should be kept out of your pets’ reach. They may learn to identify the bag or container where you keep the catnip and try to raid it. Catnip is very easy to grow and useful to have around (and looks very pretty when it flowers) but if you decide to grow your own catnip you will need to keep the plant somewhere your cat can’t get at it. It’s very common for cats to completely destroy catnip plants in their quest for the sensations the herb produces. If you don’t want your catnip plant gnawed down to the stalks, rolled on and dug up until it gives up the ghost, keep it in a room where your cats aren’t allowed. If you have indoor kitties and grow catnip in the garden, you will still need to defend it from the neighbourhood cats with some sort of structure. An unprotected catnip plant won’t last long when the local cats discover it; you will also have to the problem of strange cats in your garden, which can be a nuisance.
If you have a catnip-stuffed toy or pillow, it’s fine for your cat to play or snuggle with them as often as they want. Unless the toy is ripped open (which can happen) your cat won’t be getting a significant dose of catnip from it. The amount used in stuffed toys is quite small — enough to make the item attractive to the cat but not so much that your cat will experience much of an effect.
Different forms of catnip have different effects on cats. The fresh herb is the most desirable, as it has the richest concentrations of nepetalactone (the active ingredient that makes cats feel good). Next is dried catnip, which has slightly less nepetalactone. The weakest concentrations are found in liquid formulations like oils and sprays, which sometimes have too little nepetalactone to produce any effect.
Can you mix catnip with cat food?
It’s fine to add a small pinch of catnip to your cat’s food from time to time. This gives your pet a nice treat and can be very helpful for cats who are under the weather and off their food. It’s also a handy solution for picky eaters: cats who turn their noses up at a bowl of food may happily wolf it down when it’s seasoned with a pinch of catnip. I find this doesn’t work as well with the sprays or oils; in addition, they’re sometimes manufactured with substances that aren’t great for cats to eat. Use fresh or dried catnip instead.
The dried herb is most convenient for adding to food — you can just sprinkle a pinch over the food and stir it in. You can also chop up fresh catnip and mash it into the food. I prefer to mix the catnip into the food quite thoroughly so the cats don’t just eat the top layer and leave the rest. If your cat doesn’t immediately go for the seasoned food, you can try warming it gently on the stove or popping it in the microwave for a few seconds. The heat liberates some of the volatile components in the catnip and makes it more attractive to the cat. I’ve managed to get even the faddiest feeders to enjoy their meals in this way. Once they’ve eaten a particular type of food with catnip in, cats are often more inclined to take the same food in future even if you don’t add the catnip.
Note that this may not work very well if you have a senior kitty who you want to feed up. In older cats, catnip sometimes ceases to have an effect or may even become actively repellent. Tempt your cats with the herb first to see how they respond, then add the catnip to the food if it meets with their approval.
At what age can cats have catnip?
Catnip isn’t dangerous to young cats. There is no minimum age when you can begin offering catnip to your pet. That said, kittens and younger cats are often repelled by the scent at first. Their olfactory systems are highly sensitive at this age and not fully mature so they may find the smell of the herb overpowering; they also lack the response that adult cats have to the herb. If you find your young cat baulking at dried catnip or catnip toys, wait a few weeks before trying again. Catnip sensitivity can kick in between eight and eleven weeks.
When the cat is a little older, catnip may become more appealing. You will be able to tell that your cats are ready when they start showing an interest in catnip-stuffed toys and other items that have come in contact with the herb. Once they’re old enough to enjoy it, you can start offering your young cat a small pinch of catnip flakes or a drop of oil on a toy to sniff. In my experience, younger cats are more strongly affected and require smaller doses to experience an effect. Younger catnip users seem especially prone to getting lively and rambunctious under the influence of the herb, with lots of wide-eye “zoomies” (running around furiously with no particular objective insight).
As mentioned previously, you may also find that elderly cats lose their fondness for catnip as they age. Instead of enjoying the fragrance and the psychoactive effects of the herb, your cat may start avoiding items that contain catnip or its main active compound, nepetalactone. Even cats who were inordinately fond of catnip in their younger days can develop this aversion. This isn’t something you need to worry about, just a natural part of the ageing process in cats.