Are Catnip Bubbles Safe For Cats?

Unlike cheap bubbles sold in dollar stores, catnip bubbles are made with cat safety in mind from pet-friendly ingredients that are safe for inhaling.

The verdict is – catnip bubbles are safe for pets. However, even mild foaming agents and natural preservatives may irritate the eyes and stomach or have lasting effects if consumed regularly.

Catnip bubbles are a harmless, fun entertainment for your pet, provided the play session isn’t too long, and your kitty doesn’t eat the product in large amounts.

Is Catnip Safe for Cats?

Catnip is the primary cause of concern among feline owners in catnip bubbles. Cats have such an odd reaction to catnip because of a chemical nepetalactone contained in the herb. Nepetalactone is an essential oil that mimics feline mating pheromones.

Nepetalactone is perfectly safe for cats, the same as other elements in catnip. The plant isn’t toxic to cats of any age and does not cause poisoning symptoms.

In the worst-case scenario, a cat may have an individual intolerance or an allergic reaction to the herb and experience gastroenteric upset or respiratory symptoms.

Because catnip is a stimulant, some felines behave aggressively from inhaling catnip, but the adverse effect isn’t as widespread as with ingesting catnip.

A cat hyperactive from catnip may hurt itself while zooming around the room and crashing into furniture.

Catnip isn’t recommended for pregnant and nursing felines because it may induce premature labor, affect the placenta, or harm the kittens.

Senior cats can safely use catnip. Catnip bubbles are a perfect way to encourage an old, lazy cat to play to promote a healthier lifestyle. The frequency and severity of catnip adverse effects don’t depend on a cat’s age.

Kittens can also safely play with catnip toys and bubbles. But while they’ll find the toys attractive, they won’t experience catnip effects.

Catnip doesn’t go old in the traditional sense, nor do other ingredients in catnip bubbles. Therefore, expired catnip bubbles are unlikely to make a cat sick, but they will lose their potency.

Can A Cat Have Catnip Overdose?

Because catnip isn’t toxic to felines, a cat cannot overdose on catnip, but it can get sick from eating a large amount of catnip because it may irritate the stomach.

A cat playing with catnip bubbles is unlikely to overdose because they aren’t very potent. The cat will become tired sooner than it will have too much catnip.

You may have noticed that catnip bubble and other catnip product manufacturers don’t provide any dosage guidelines because the dosage is individual. Cats seem to have an innate knowledge of how much catnip is too much.

In other words, you can safely play with catnip bubbles as much as your cat pleases. When it has had enough, it will lose interest in playing. There’s no need to count how many bubbles your pet has popped.

If your cat doesn’t lose interest in play, limit the session to five minutes daily to prevent your pet from ingesting large amounts of chemicals and oils.

Another point to note is that cats can develop tolerance to catnip if exposed to it frequently, so don’t play with catnip bubbles daily. Let your cat’s olfactory receptors reset for several days or a week.

Like catnip toys or loose catnip, bubbles should be an occasional reward rather than daily entertainment.

What Are Catnip Bubbles Made of?

The primary ingredient in catnip bubbles is catnip essential oil. Apart from the active ingredient, catnip bubbles should contain something to make them foam. The precise ingredient list varies.

Most manufacturers mix catnip essential oil with water, glycerin, and mild amphoteric surfactants such as Tego Betaine. Foaming agents used in catnip bubbles should be safe for inhaling and ingestion.

Tego Betaine is a common ingredient in human shampoos, shower gels, foam baths, and dish soaps. It’s a very mild chemical that doesn’t cause poisoning symptoms when inhaled or ingested but may give a gastroenteric upset if eaten in large amounts.

Another common ingredient in catnip bubbles is Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB), a pale-yellow solution derived from coconut oil. The chemical is safe both for cats and people.

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) is an emulsion stabilizer and foam enhancer commonly used in addition to Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB).

Some catnip bubbles also contain artificial flavorings, coloring, and preservatives. Unfortunately, not every catnip bubble manufacturer considers its responsibility to mention ingredients other than catnip on the package.

Cat owners concerned about their pet’s health can make DIY catnip bubbles from water, catnip, and castile soap. Castile soap is also sometimes used in commercially produced bubbles.

Castile soap is made from vegetable fat. It’s simultaneously strong and gentle to the skin. This soap is safe for ingestion and inhaling and is commonly found in body washes, shaving creams, and eco-friendly dish soaps.

Note that DIY catnip bubbles still contain soap and essential oil and should not be ingested in large amounts or get into the cat’s eyes.

Potentially Dangerous Ingredients in Catnip Bubbles

The foaming agent is the first ingredient to inspect on the catnip bubble label. Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC), and Tago Betaine are among the most popular foaming agents safe for cats when diluted.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureate Sulfate (SLES) in catnip bubbles should be avoided and never ingested. Even some people refrain from using shampoos with SLS and SLES because they cause irritation.

Propylene Glycol ingested or inhaled in large amounts can cause poisoning in cats, so avoid catnip bubbles with this ingredient.

Avoid catnip bubbles with preservatives such as Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Sodium Benzoate. Many pet shampoo and catnip manufacturers use Methylchloroisothiazolinone in their products to prolong their shelf life.

Unfortunately, the research shows that Methylchloroisothiazolinone safety for cats is doubtful. The chemical has been banned from pet products in Canada and Japan because of its carcinogenic properties.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone is still allowed in the U.S. but may affect a cat’s health in the long term. The ingredient is generally safe for inhaling but should not be ingested, which is difficult to ensure when a cat plays with bubbles.

Numerous studies have linked Sodium Benzoate, also known as E211, with increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and allergies and may be carcinogenic.

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is another surfactant and foam enhancer that should not be ingested because it may be toxic to felines. The chemical is safe for inhaling.

Other ingredients to avoid in catnip bubbles are Ethoxyquin, Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) because their effects on cats are still being studied.

To choose the best catnip bubbles, check every ingredient through a search engine to ensure it’s safe for cats. As a rule of thumb, the fewer ingredients, the safer the bubbles.

Choose bubbles with water, glycerin, castile soap, Tago Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB), and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) to prevent adverse reactions. Avoid any products with artificial preservatives and colorings.

Preservatives may make catnip bubbles last longer, but usually, this is unnecessary because the base ingredients already have a relatively long shelf life, and the product will be finished before it goes bad.

Vivid purple, blue, or red catnip bubbles may look appealing, but your cat doesn’t care about the color. Coloring agents are common allergens and should be avoided in pet products, including catnip bubbles.

However, even ingredients potentially dangerous to felines are unlikely to cause adverse reactions because they are consumed in small amounts, and the products undergo numerous inspections before being released onto the market.

Of course, even the most natural catnip bubbles can irritate your cat’s eyes. If catnip bubbles get into a cat’s eye, the right thing to do is flush the eye with plenty of clean water or artificial tears for pets.

What If a Cat Is Sick After Eating Bubbles?

How much catnip is too much is a tricky question because each cat’s organism is unique. Cats are unlikely to have any adverse effects from playing with catnip bubbles as long as they don’t contain toxic chemicals.

But while catnip bubbles are intended for inhaling and soap isn’t particularly tasty, some cats still manage to eat some bubbles and experience gastroenteric symptoms.

In most cases, if a cat is sick from catnip bubbles, the adverse effects go away after a short while. When a cat vomits or has diarrhea, owners shouldn’t feed it but should ensure the cat has access to clean water.

If a cat suffers from gastroenteric upset for over 12 hours, the best solution is to bring it to a vet to administer intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration and find suitable medications.

However, a cat is highly unlikely to become severely sick from catnip bubbles because the dosage is tiny. Still, supervision is necessary to prevent your cat from ingesting soap.

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