What is catnip and why do cats love it?

You’ve likely laughed watching a cat react in strange ways to an herb called catnip, but have you ever really considered – what is catnip used for? Cats are known to go crazy over catnip leaves when sprinkled on their toys or baked into treats. And yet, these aromatic leaves and volatile oils don’t tantalize every kitten. Let’s talk more about what exactly catnip does to cats, and why it doesn’t affect all of our feline friends.

Catnip, known by the scientific name Nepeta cataria, is a member of the expansive mint family. There are over 250 varieties of the herb, hailing from Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and China. The aromatic leaves tickle your cat’s nose, and that’s when the magic starts.

Cats under the influence of catnip often roll around or rub against the plant, while others may become quite energetic and hop around excitedly. Their enthusiasm is short-lived, though, since most cats lose interest after about 10 minutes. However, it may take a couple of hours for them to completely return to normal.

Nepetalactone is as powerful as it is hard to pronounce. As the main active chemical responsible for catnip’s potency, it causes neurons in the brain to light up, setting off the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and behavior. When cats ingest or inhale the chemical, there’s a simultaneously anxiety-reducing and stimulating effect on cats, making it a great way to entertain and calm your furry friends.

Despite its psychedelic reputation, catnip is nonaddictive and completely safe for your cat to inhale, eat, or drink. The only possible side effect would be an upset stomach with signs such as vomiting and diarrhea if your cat ate a serious amount. Catnip can also make cats slightly dizzy as it produces a type of high.

Benefits of catnip

While their day may be dominated by napping in sunbeams and eating expensive food, many cats still struggle with stress and anxiety. Rubbing dried catnip on their bedding, scratching posts and pads, or on the ground is an easy way to provide some stress relief to your cat, as long as you don’t mind bits of the dried plant left over after playtime.

Some sources say that catnip can even provide pain relief, and a 2012 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Go to source found that catnip oil reduced pain and inflammation in rats. However, you should always consult your vet before using any essential oils on your cat since they have sensitive skin and some of these oils can be toxic to cats.

👉 If you notice your cat becoming more agitated or irritable (or any other behavioral changes) after using catnip, consult your veterinarian. 

The short answer is yes, catnip is safe for cats. The herb has long been employed by cat owners to provide energy and stimulation for furry feline friends. However, before you use catnip on your pets, it’s important to understand how it affects them, and how much you should expect to use to see any effects.

Can kittens have catnip?

While catnip is considered safe to use on kittens, they won’t typically react until they are at least 6 months old. Cats aren’t receptive to nepetalactone, the oil in catnip that does the trick, until they are around 6 months old–if they are at all. The timing suggests that sexual hormones may play a role in catnip reactivity since that’s around when cats reach puberty.

A cat’s response to catnip often mimics the behavior of a female cat when she’s in heat. However, male and female cats can both respond to catnip, regardless of whether they’re altered or not.

Cats can eat, drink, and roll in catnip all they want without risking addiction or withdrawal symptoms. Although there isn’t a set recommended amount of catnip to give your cat, you should still only give them a pinch at a time to reduce the chance of stomach upset or other gastric distress in the event of consuming too much.

How to make catnip tea

Humans have long been brewing the leaves of this herbaceous perennial to ward off coughs and cold symptoms. The tea has an herbal, grassy taste that pairs well with natural sweeteners like honey.

Note that catnip is a diuretic, which means that you’ll likely need to use the bathroom soon after. Drink it in small doses to avoid possible side effects like headache and upset stomach. Now, you and your cat can enjoy tea time together with this purrfect recipe that’s safe for you both.

1. Boil water — Start by bringing a cup or two of water to a boil.
2. Measure 3 teaspoons of catnip — Pour the hot water into a cup with the 3 teaspoons or so of catnip.
3. Steep the mixture — Once the mixture steeps for around 3 minutes and cools to room temperature, it’s ready to be served!

Straining the leaves out is an option, but leaving them in will make the drink even more potent. Both options are completely safe for your cat.

It’s best to make catnip tea out of leaves that you’ve grown and dried yourself. Otherwise, try to buy organic catnip leaves or pre-packaged catnip tea so that you know it’s food grade for humans.

Add catnip to toys

Many cat toys can be infused with catnip to make them even more entertaining and alluring to your furry friend. These toys target your cat’s hunting instinct and often come with little vials or packets of catnip you can slip behind a zipper or into a pouch to make your cat go after it even more ferociously.

For more basic toys like teasers or yarn balls, rub some catnip all over to make them immediately more entertaining and engaging.

Use catnip as a handy training aid

Want to encourage your cat to scratch the brand new scratching post or cat tree instead of the door frame or your favorite chair? A generous application of catnip is all it takes to direct those clawing instincts to something more decor-friendly.

Catnip can make for a nice distraction, too, if your cat seems fixated on playing with your blinds or engaging in other undesirable behavior you want to curtail. However, don’t do this often since you might end up reinforcing the behavior with the reward of catnip.

Catnip toys can also aid in the socialization Trusted Source American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Not-for-profit organization representing 97,000+ vets. Go to source of new cats into a household. Placing catnip on either side of a door or a similar barrier between two unfamiliar cats can help them associate the pleasant feeling of the catnip with the smell of the new kitty.

Try it as a pest deterrent

While catnip is irresistible to many felines, many other animals are repulsed by the stuff. Growing the herb in your backyard garden or planters can repel common pests like tiny mosquitoes and even animals as large as deer.

You can also make a natural insect repellent spray by brewing catnip tea overnight and then misting the area with a spray bottle. This makes catnip an eco-friendly alternative to chemical deterrents.

Use catnip as an appetite stimulant

If your cat disdainfully swats away their food, catnip can inspire them to form a positive association with mealtime and encourage them to eat. Be sure to talk to your vet, however, if you notice negative changes in their appetite, or if they get an upset stomach after eating.

Grow your own catnip

Catnip is great, so how do you get some? You can buy dried catnip, but growing a fresh supply is hard to beat and cheaper and more convenient than repeated runs to the pet store. Catnip is a relatively hardy plant that’s easy to grow in zones 3-9. You can even buy planting kits to make the process simpler if you don’t want to start with seeds.

Despite its intense effects, catnip is perfectly safe to give to your cat. It’s non addictive, and can even help calm anxiety and reinforce positive behaviors. You’ll still want to limit their portion to a pinch at a time to reduce the chance of stomach upset, though. If your cat doesn’t care about catnip, silver vine is a comparable alternative that’s more likely to elicit a response.