Can You Put Catnip In Your Cat’s Food?

In most cases, adding catnip to food is unnecessary because felines will gladly sniff or eat loose catnip sprinkled on the floor. However, it may be beneficial for picky eaters and cats lacking appetite because of an illness.

Although catnip is a popular cat treat generally considered safe, learn about the dosage and adverse effects before giving it to your pet.

Remember that each cat is unique, so no one can predict how catnip will affect your furry friend. Supervision is crucial every time a cat ingests catnip.

Is Ingesting Catnip Safe for Cats?

Catnip is considered safe for cats. There’s no scientific evidence of nepeta cataria, the active ingredient in catnip, being toxic to cats. Cat owners have been feeding their pets this herb for decades, and there are no known lethal cases.

However, that doesn’t mean that a cat can eat unlimited amounts of catnip daily without any consequences. While catnip isn’t poisonous, each cat’s reaction to the herb is different, and some felines may have a tummy upset.

We don’t know how much catnip causes overdose because it’s individual. Some cats may vomit, have diarrhea, and lose appetite from only a tiny bit of catnip, whereas others may ingest large amounts without any adverse effects.

The good news is that cats know when to stop eating catnip and are unlikely to overdose, especially if they’ve already had an unpleasant experience with the herb.

Another point to note is that while catnip is not harmful, cats may hurt themselves because of its sedative or stimulating effect. A cat zooming around the room or unable to walk straight may accidentally run into furniture or fall from an elevation.

For this reason, supervision is always necessary after a cat has ingested catnip. The effects of catnip on cats vary from sleepiness to hyperactivity.

Furthermore, catnip comes in different forms, and some ingredients added to loose catnip, catnip bubbles, and other catnip products may be harmful in large amounts. Carefully inspect the label on the package before giving any product to your pet.

Be careful when giving pregnant or nursing cats catnip because even minor adverse effects may affect the kittens. Don’t give catnip to kittens because it doesn’t impact them.

Know the Dosage

Like with any herb, the correct dosage is crucial when feeding your cat catnip. If you’ve tried to find out how much catnip to give a cat on the product package, you already know that manufacturers don’t provide any instructions.

And that’s because there are no universal guidelines regarding catnip dosage. The herb is generally safe for cats, and higher doses are unlikely to have serious adverse effects other than gastroenteric upset.

Cats seem to have an innate understanding of how much catnip is too much. They are unlikely to eat more than they should because their bodies shut down receptivity to catnip effects after they ingest the herb.

Still, that doesn’t mean you should let your cat freely eat as much catnip as it pleases, particularly if you’re giving it catnip for the first time.

Start with a small dose and watch your cat’s reaction. If catnip does not affect your cat, your pet is tolerant to the herb, or the amount is too small. Try increasing the dose and see if that helps.

Ideally, begin with a smell test before letting your cat eat catnip. Rub some catnip on your cat’s toys, bed, or scratching post and see how it reacts.

If your cat seems happy, you can add half of a teaspoon of dried catnip into its food. If you’re satisfied with the result, don’t increase the dose unless your cat becomes tolerant.

Be aware of tolerance. Cats that have catnip too frequently become unresponsive to its effects, so don’t give your cat catnip more often than once a week or two.

Will Catnip Force a Cat to Eat Its Food?

Cat owners give their pets catnip for different reasons, including a lack of appetite or pickiness in food. Catnip can help you force a cat to eat its food in two ways.

Firstly, catnip put in the cat’s food will attract it with its intoxicating smell. As the cat will attempt to eat catnip, it will have to also eat the food.

However, some cats outsmart the owners and lick the catnip off, leaving the food untouched. Secondly, catnip can act as an appetite stimulant. The herb contains nepetalactone, a mildly hallucinogenic substance known to increase appetite.

In the second case, there’s no need to sprinkle catnip on the food – the cat will likely eat voluntarily after ingesting some of the catnip.

The problem with using catnip to stimulate a cat’s appetite is that you can’t use it often. Suppose your cat is sick and refuses to eat. It’s an everyday problem, but you can only give your pet catnip once a week at most.

For other days of the week, you will have to find a different way to stimulate your cat’s appetite. And if you give your cat catnip every day, it will soon stop having any effect.

The same goes for forcing a picky cat to eat its food with catnip. A cat may eat food it doesn’t like, but only because of the catnip, so it isn’t a long-term solution to the problem.

Does Catnip in Food Have Sedative Effect?

Many cat owners don’t know what to expect after giving a cat catnip. When cats inhale catnip, it usually has a stimulating effect, making them rub against surfaces, zoom around the room, and vocalize excessively.

The chemical in catnip responsible for its effect is nepetalactone, mimicking feline pheromones and causing a response similar to mating behavior. In contrast, ingesting catnip typically has a sedative effect ranging from mild to extreme.

A cat may become very chill after ingesting catnip. Some cats may have trouble walking straight or jumping, appear disoriented and mellow, or become sleepy. The effects usually last for 10-30 minutes, after which a cat should get back to the norm.

However, not only how a cat is exposed to catnip affects the reaction but also an individual cat’s peculiarities. Some cats may become hyperactive from ingesting catnip and sleepy from inhaling it.

Adverse Effects of Ingesting Catnip

Before giving your pet catnip, learn about the adverse effects of catnip on cats. Abnormal behavior or physical reactions are indicators of an overly large dose or individual catnip intolerance.

Gastroenteric upset manifesting with flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea is a relatively widespread catnip adverse effect. But although it isn’t rare, it should not be ignored.

A cat with stomach upset should get enough hydration and see a vet if its health state doesn’t improve after several hours. Some cats have catnip allergies. Catnip isn’t a common allergen, but like humans, cats can have odd reactions to specific substances.

The symptoms of allergy in cats include but aren’t limited to gastroenteric upset, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing, runny nose and eyes, and skin rash.

A relatively common catnip adverse effect is aggression. Although most cats become mellow after ingesting the herb, some start growling, hissing, scratching, and biting the owner.

A cat “high” on catnip may attack another cat or a child. In that case, the best way to calm the cat is to leave it alone in the room and reduce any exposure to triggers.

Don’t let family members or other animals enter the cat’s space for about half an hour. If your cat has reacted to catnip poorly once, you can assume the same adverse effects will repeat again, so refrain from giving it catnip altogether.

Best Catnip Type to Put in Food

The best catnip type to put in cat food is loose dry catnip without any add-ons. The fewer ingredients in a product, the lower the risk of adverse effects. And if adverse effects occur, you know for sure what caused them.

Plus, mixing loose catnip with cat food is really simple. Catnip sprays are also a valid option, but not every catnip spray is equally safe and effective. Inspect the ingredient list on the label first.

Some catnip sprays contain dozens of chemicals that may cause adverse effects or an allergic reaction, whereas others only contain water and catnip oil.

Oil infusions are another catnip product suitable for adding to food. Same as with sprays, ensure that the product doesn’t contain chemicals but only natural catnip extract.

Another option is mixing catnip treats with cat food. They are delicious (for the cat) and can contain healthy microelements essential for your cat’s health, but be mindful of the ingredients.

Avoid cat treats with artificial flavorings. Opt for options made from high-quality animal products enriched with minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids. Be careful not to overfeed your cat with treats because they are calorific.

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