Anyone who has had a cat knows that their kitty likely reacts to catnip and catnip toys! I got back home a few days ago after a three day drive and my Mom’s cats always remember me. I feed them when I am home…and ALWAYS bust out the catnip for them! Commence the rolling around and eating the catnip and spreading it from one end of the house to the other!
But have you ever wondered exactly why catnip has an affect on cats? I hadn’t given it much thought really before but it piqued my interest!
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What Is Catnip?
Catnip is part of the mint family of plants. Its scientific name is nepeta cataria. And some other names for catnip include catwort, catswort and catmint. It is a perennial in certain planting zones (zones 3-7 – find your plant hardiness zone in Canada and the US in the Old Farmer’s Almanac HERE), and originated in Asia and Europe.
The term ‘catnip’ is thought to come from a cat’s response to it! And I’m sure every cat owner knows how their cat reacts to catnip as it is not only sold in dried form but spray form and in many (many) cat toys! Mine in particular love the long ones that they can kick the snot out of with their back feet…
Nepetalactone
The active ingredient in catnip is nepetalactone. This is the oil found in the catnip plant’s leaves and when smelled by your cat produce the changes in the behavior that we all know too well!
When the catnip is smelled, it produces a sexual response that is similar to a female cat in heat since catnip imitates the feline sex hormones! Cue the rolling around and affectionate kitty cat…This is also a reason why many cats don’t react to catnip until they hit sexual maturity.
Also, both female and male cats can experience the effects of catnip.
What Effects Does Catnip Have On Your Cat?
Catnip can have a variety of effects on your cat! My mom had a cat, Chubby, who would roll around on his back. But as soon as you got close to him he would absolutely shred you! I still have the scars…My Bubbles just eats a bunch and goes to sleep, sometimes swiping at her sister Miesha. Whiskers has a few sniffs and gets wild and runs through the house! The effects of catnip on your cat if sniffed include:
- Affection
- Aggression
- Playfulness
- Sleepiness
- Relaxed
- Rolling and rubbing
The effect that catnip has on your cat also depends on whether it is ingested or just sniffed. If ingested it is thought to be beneficial to your cat’s digestion! Much like how grass acts as roughage when they eat it. You can read more on why cats eat grass HERE. It is thought to mellow out your cat if ingested versus being inhaled.
Is Catnip Safe For Your Cat?
Catnip is safe for your cat! Your cat cannot overdose on catnip, although if ingested it can potentially cause digestive issues. If this turns out to be the case you can give your cat a catnip spray or catnip that is encased within toys. My one cat Chester got a hold of a bottle of catnip once and punctured a hole in it…I got home from work to him lying in a GIANT puddle of concentrated catnip and COMPLETELY out of it!
It took him a while to snap out of it after being exposed to so much, but it didn’t have any other effect on him! And in general the effect of catnip wears off rather quickly, after about ten minutes. I think Chester laid in it long enough for a continuous high though…who knows for how much of the day…
And no, catnip doesn’t affect all cats. I have seen estimates of anywhere from 60-80% of cats are affected by it, and that it can be influenced by hereditary genetics. I’ve never had a cat before who didn’t react though…
Can People Have Catnip?
Yes people can have catnip! There are actually a variety of uses for catnip for people in addition to those for our furry friends.
Catnip tea has been used as a mild sedative and have a calming effect on people. No, you won’t experience a “high” like cats will! Other benefits for people include:
- Aid with headaches and migraines
- Aids with the digestive system
- Sleep aid
- Used in the past to help with colic in babies
- Treat cramps
Types of Catnip
I tried growing fresh catnip in my garden but never had much success with it. In addition to fresh catnip, you can also find it in dried form, concentrated spray form and in cat toys.
Fresh catnip is stronger than dried catnip so you won’t need to give them as much. Catnip also loses its potency as it ages so if you have a large quantity you may want to consider freezing it in an airtight container.
The sprays are generally much more concentrated than in its powder form. I like to use the sprays sparingly on scratching posts and cat trees to encourage the cats to use that instead of carpets, chairs, couches…
Let The Play Begin!
So there is really no harm in giving your cat catnip! Aside from the effects on your cat, I was interested to learn how it can be used for people as well! And it provides us with and endless source of entertainment to watch our cats rolling around and playing like kittens again!
As I mentioned above, my cats in particular have always been drawn to the bigger, longer catnip toys that they can wrap themselves around, bite and kick with their back legs at the same time! And I’m not sure why, but my cats tend to really like the Our Pets Cosmic catnip brand!
However, don’t give your cats catnip more than once a week or they could become desensitized to its effects. You may already notice that they are less reactive to it immediately after having it.
Be sure to check out some of our favorite toys for your cat!!
