How To Use Catnip (The Right Way)?

Catnip belongs to the mint family, along with peppermint, basil, thyme, and sage. This calming herb grows wild around the globe, including in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

Essential oil called nepetalactone is what makes catnip so attractive to cats. It’s meant to protect catnip plants from insects but is also known to mimic feline pheromones, making cats behave unusually.

When cats smell catnip, they become hyperactive, rolling and running around, but when catnip is ingested, it has a light sedative effect. It’s a versatile herb cat owners can use to their advantage.

How Much Catnip Is Safe for Cats?

Catnip is generally considered safe for cats because it doesn’t contain chemicals that could cause poisoning. Determining how much catnip to give a cat can be tricky because there aren’t universal dosage guidelines.

You’re unlikely to find any instructions if you check the label on catnip packaging. The good news is that cats have an innate knowledge of how much catnip is too much.

There’s no need to worry – your cat won’t sniff or eat more than it should. After a cat inhales or ingests catnip, its body temporarily turns off its receptivity to nepetalactone, causing the cat to lose interest in the herb.

After some hours, the cat’s body resets its receptivity to catnip, and the cat regains interest. But while catnip overdose in cats is highly unlikely, excessive catnip consumption can cause gastroenteric upset and lethargy.

If a cat has overeaten catnip, it may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and flatulence, which lead to dehydration and lack of interest in play. However, such symptoms can occur after ingesting any other herb in large quantities.

Diagnosing catnip overdose is complex – a vet may perform a complete blood cell count, urinalysis, and abdominal ultrasound.

Since catnip overdose isn’t actual poisoning, its treatment involves administering intravenous fluids and waiting for the body to remove the chemical.

Although catnip is often perceived as a feline equivalent of some club drugs, it isn’t addictive and has no lasting adverse effects. The effect of euphoria from catnip on cats is limited, predictable, and quantifiable.

Only about 60% of cats respond to catnip, and others have no reaction to it whatsoever. Furthermore, the ability to react to catnip tends to fade over time, so senior cats are less likely to be receptive.

Kittens aren’t equally receptive to catnip as adult cats either because their scent-analyzing organs aren’t yet fully developed, and their body doesn’t know how to react to pheromones.

As for how often to give a cat catnip, stick with occasional use. There are no known cases of brain damage or other lasting effects from daily catnip use, but cats can develop tolerance to the herb over time.

When to Use Catnip?

Since catnip has two effects on cats depending on the way its administered, owners can use it in various scenarios. Cat toys with catnip encourage lazy cats to play, boosting their hunting instincts and making them more active.

For a cat that prefers spending its time sleeping on a couch and eating, catnip can be a perfect solution, providing extra enrichment to its life.

However, catnip alone doesn’t make up for quality exercise, so owners should spend time playing with their pets regardless.

The effects of smelling catnip on cats end here – dried catnip is only beneficial for cats that need to be encouraged to play.

On the other hand, ingesting catnip has a sedative effect, making a cat calmer and, in large amounts, even sleepy. This effect is beneficial in many scenarios, for example, during a long car trip, on a flight, or when visiting a vet.

Catnip can also calm a female feline in heat, reducing vocalization, rolling, and rubbing, but only for a short time. Cats in heat only feel the effects of catnip for about 10-20 minutes.

Catnip is also a powerful training aid, but remember that cats can develop tolerance. Catnip should never be used on pregnant cats. It acts as a stimulant and can induce labor.

For the same reason, catnip shouldn’t be given to cats that experience seizures or have a history of aggressive behavior.

Choose the Right Catnip

Catnip comes in different forms, including toys, loose dried catnip, sprays, pills, oils, and treats. Catnip manufacturers constantly come up with new creative ideas for administering a dose of euphoria to our furry friends.

In general, all catnip can be divided into two categories: catnip that is inhaled and catnip that can be ingested. Catnip toys, sprays, and loose dried catnip are great for cats that need stimulation.

Catnip spray can be applied to a cat’s favorite toy, bed, or scratching post to encourage the kitty to play.

Loose catnip is typically cheaper, and cat owners can simply sprinkle it around the place, run it against surfaces, or give their pet to sniff it from the package.

Pills, oils, and treats are perfect for cats that need relaxation. Some may think that forcing a cat to ingest a pill is a challenge, but not if the pill smells of catnip.

There’s no better or worse catnip type, so you can try different form factors to determine which one your kitty prefers. When choosing catnip, be aware of the labels “natural” and “organic.”

Claims like “organic” and “natural” should be possible to verify, so look for catnip labeled “USDA Certified Organic.” Even if the product is certified by a different body, it should be explicitly disclosed on the label.

Start Small

Although catnip is non-toxic to cats, don’t let your pet eat an entire pack of catnip treats if you’ve never given it the herb before. Each cat’s body and reaction to catnip is different, so start with a small dose.

Even better, conduct a smell test before administering your cat catnip orally. Spray or rub some catnip on toys, scratching posts, or the cat’s bed and see how it reacts.

If your cat starts rolling around and rubbing against furniture, you can assume that your pet is receptive to catnip effects. If you notice no behavioral changes, the chances are that your cat is tolerant to catnip or the dose is too small.

Some cats may exhibit aggressive behavior after sniffing catnip or become hyperactive, crashing into everything and risking hurting themselves. If that’s the case with your cat, it’s best to refrain from giving it catnip.

When giving pills or treats, begin with half a serving. Then, monitor your cat’s reaction. If you notice any adverse gastroenteric effects, the dose is too big, or your cat is intolerant to catnip altogether.

Catnip and Feline Aggression

Catnip stimulates the nervous system, so some cats behave aggressively after sniffing or ingesting it. This catnip side effect may occur in any cat but is prevalent in cats with a known history of aggressive behavior.

The course of action depends on the severity of this side effect. Playful aggression is common and normal for young cats. A cat may pace, run around, bite mildly, and pounce on anything that moves.

To distinguish playful aggression from actual aggression, look at your cat’s ears and overall body language. A playfully aggressive cat shouldn’t have flattened ears, tense or trembling body movements, or a tail pressed between legs.

If your cat begins hissing, scratching, biting, and otherwise expressing aggression after consuming catnip, give it time to calm down. The effects usually don’t last longer than 15 minutes.

Give your cat space, and don’t attempt to touch it or take away the catnip because your cat may become defensive. If your cat’s aggression is directed toward another animal, bring the second animal into another room.

Usually, catnip aggression in cats occurs due to overstimulation but may also be a result of fear. So, when giving your cat catnip, ensure that the environment is comfortable and there are no triggers.

Don’t Force It

Suppose you’re going on a long car trip, and your cat is nervous. You’re trying to give it some catnip to relax, but your cat is reluctant to sniff it. Many owners in this scenario would try to force their cats to smell the herb.

However, if a cat doesn’t exhibit any interest in catnip, it most likely isn’t receptive to its effects. Even if you force your cat to sniff the herb, it’s unlikely to show any behavioral changes.

So, if your cat doesn’t like catnip, try catnip alternatives, such as valerian, Tatarian honeysuckle, or over-the-counter medications.

Tips on Using Catnip

If you want to ensure your kitty has a good time, you may benefit from some tips on using catnip. Stale catnip doesn’t work, so don’t waste your money on toys filled with catnip. You need to change them regularly to see the effects.

Catnip sprays are significantly handier because you can spray them on any toy at any time, ensuring maximum effect. If you use loose dry catnip, store it airtight in a fridge to maintain the freshness.

After your cat has played with catnip toys, remove them for some time to allow its receptors to reset.

Consider growing catnip at home – it’s effortless; all you need is a pot and a windowsill with sunlight. However, place the pot away from your pet because it may crawl into it!

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