What is Catnip?

​Catnip is a type of perennial herb from the mint family. It has a square stem, just like other mint plants, and a brown-green foliage. Its leaves are heart-shaped with scallop edges. Some also refer to it as catmint and are very efficient in getting cats high.

How Catnip Affects Cats

Most cats are highly susceptible to the hallucinogenic effects of catnip as more than 70% of the species have a hereditary trait that reacts with one of the plant’s volatile oils known as the nepetalactone. This substance is believed to bind to the cat’s protein receptors that are responsible for sensory neurons stimulation causing a chain reaction in their brain.

Some experts say that catnip has a similar effect to marijuana and LSD in cats. Its scent is very attractive to the feline species. Humans, on the other hand, don’t have the same brain structure as cats, so we don’t get “high” on catnip. It has, however, a calming effect that some cultures used to utilize the herb as a natural pain reliever.

However, attraction to catnip is a hereditary behavior in cats. About 33% of their total population don’t react to it at all. Also, cats who have only reached sexual maturity (6 months and older) are susceptible to its effects.

How Cats React to Catnip

The very reason why a lot of people give catnip to their cats is that of their funny and amusing reaction to it. Some people liken their pets’ response to the substance to drunkenness as they tend to vocalize, roll, and drool. Some tend to get energetic and do some jumps and exhibit some aggressive behavior.

There are also some cats that look as if they’re in heat after sniffing this herb’s scent. They’ll yowl, rub, and even slobber.

Haven’t seen a cat high on catnip yet? Check out this video and see just how funny they can be:

Is Catnip Safe for Your Cat?

While cats don’t look like themselves while high on catnip, it should be noted that this is not toxic to cats. It only has an effect on them for five to fifteen minutes. After this, they’ll have some immunity to the effects for about a few hours.

Once they stop getting the “high,” the cats will eventually lose interest in catnip, so you don’t have to worry about your puss overdosing from or getting addicted to it. However, your cat can be over-indulged in catnip.

This will make catnip impotent, and your cat won’t be able to enjoy its great effects. They might also get diarrhea if they ate too much of it. Their tummies can get irritated from a high dosage of the herb’s content, and it can lead to vomiting and loose bowel movement.

This should be avoided because dehydration is a threat to animals’ health. Catnip allergy is also a possible danger for cats. It’s also a uterine stimulant, so if your cat is pregnant, you shouldn’t give her some. If you’re thinking of introducing this herb to your fur baby, it’s best to do it with great care and consideration.

The litter box’s opening or entry points must also be considered when you are buying a litter box for your cat. It should be big enough for your cat to get through. If you have kittens, buy a litter box with a low entrance point so that he’ll be able to go inside with relative ease.

Should You Give Your Cat some Catnip?

If you’re starting to think that catnip is only beneficial for owners who like to watch their feline wards do silly things, hold that thought. Catnip is quite useful for your cat and experts do think that it has a good effect on these animals.

Catnip for Stress Relief

As this herb can effectively mildly sedate these balls of energy, it’s very handy in relieving their stress. Yes, cats get stressed. These creatures like routine and familiarity, so if there are things out of place, they start to get anxious.

They develop these rashes in their skin that causes shedding and bald patches. This can lead to infections and skin diseases, which is dangerous for a cat’s health. Their digestive system gets affected as well, and they tend to have upset tummies. 

Catnip can also be very beneficial to treat skin problems for your cat. Add this herb to their bath, and it can help calm and cure their skin rashes. With the scent it will give off, even cats who aren’t too fond of baths will come running for it, so you can be sure that it will be a better option than other topical creams for such ailments.

Catnip as Behavior Tools

Aside from being an effective stress reliever, catnip is also an excellent training tool for your pet. Anyone who has ever tried to train their feline friends will know how hard it can be. The tricks you use to teach your dog won’t be useful for most cats, so it’s either you live with your kitty’s personality, or you try for other ways to make them better “roommates.”

As they repeatedly respond to this herb, you can use it to train and condition your pet to do the right thing. So, yes, catnip, in general, can be good for your cat. While there are still a few things you have to be careful about, catnip is still an excellent herb that will help you keep your cat calm and happy.

It might also help you entertain and keep them fit, depending on how you use it.

What’s the Best Way to Use Catnip?

There are lots of different ways how you can use catnip that will help you make your cat more manageable. The best way would be the one that will suit yours and your pet cat’s need the best. To help you find the right one, though, here are three ways to use this herb that could make you realize why cat lovers also love catnip.

1. Serve it fresh

Some folks choose to cultivate their very own catnip plant as these herbs can also be beneficial to a human’s health. If this appeals to you, you won’t have to worry about where you can find fresh catnip leaves as you already have them on hand.

A few freshly cut leaves can be fed to your fur baby directly, and it will give them a few minutes of fun and relaxation. You can also pound them to release the aroma better to attract your cat with its scent better.

2. Rub or sprinkle it on the things you want them to use

Dried catnip is another very strong option that you can easily buy. It will still have significant effects on your cat so you can use it to relax your feline friend or train them a bit.

Most people use dried catnip to introduce new things to their cats. Rub the dried catnip into the new items or sprinkle it to new toys. The scent will attract your pet to the item you bought for them, and they’ll develop a liking for it over time.

May it be a cat post, tower, pet bed, or a new toy, they’ll surely be more attractive to the things you just bought if you add some catnip to it. Experts also suggest sprinkling catnip into pet carriers.

This will especially prove to be useful if your pet hates traveling and the sight of their crate make them frantic. The catnip will help them relax a bit as they’re being transported to the vet, helping you get their medical procedures done scratch-free.

3. Sprinkle it around a new home or environment that you want them to get familiar with right away

Moving to a new place? Make it more welcoming for your cat by adding some whiffs of catnip in the air by sprinkling dried catnip in areas where your cat will love to stay in.

Keep Your Cat Interested: Limit their Catnip Dosage

The most important thing about giving catnip to your cat is to limit their exposure to it as much as you can. You’ll want catnip to be highly potent when given to your cat so you both can enjoy its benefits so make sure only to give them some once a week.

6 of the Best Catnip Products in the Market Today

1. Kong PREMIUM ALL NATURAL CATNIP

2 SmartyKat Organic Catnip

3 Yeowww Catnip Bags

4 Catnip by Cat Crack

5 Pet Magasin Canadian-Grown Fine-Grind Catnip

6 OurPets Premium North-American Grown Catnip

Our Recommended Product

The first thing we want to note after listing down six catnip for cats reviews is the fact that not every catnip is made equal. Some are just better than others, as some plants are just healthier and cultivated in optimal conditions compared to others. This is why some brands will tickle the fancy of your kitty, while others won’t. You just have to find one with ample potency to get your pet going.

These six, however, have some of the best feedback and are highly popular among pet parents. They’re noted for their potency, with some even capable of captivating their audience while they’re still sealed and unopened.

They might have different effects - some go crazy while others mellow out - but all of them are effective on a lot of cats, so they’re easily great picks if you’re looking for a great brand to get for your pet.

If we’re to choose which one to go for, however, we’ll pick the Yeowww Catnip. This particular product is made from premium organically grown catnip, so it guarantees potency like no other. It also has a very friendly price tag, so you can be sure that you can afford it.

What makes us declare it as a winner in this list is its use of flowers and leaves. A lot of catnip products add twigs and stems that can be too rough for cats who like actually to consume the catnip, so this can be a great choice for those cats. Catnip Flower also contains more oil in them, so with more of these, the more potent the blend will be.

Of course, it’s still up to your pet which product will have the potent effect on them. These six are just some of the top picks for most cat lovers, so if you don’t know where to start looking, this list will be a great place to start. Combined with our catnip resource, you might just be able to find the best catnip for your fur baby easily.

Additional Resources:

http://catniptoy.co.uk/health-benefits-catnip-cats/

https://www.avma.org/news/pressroom/pages/Catnip.aspx

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-how-does-catnip-work-on-cats/

http://www.myhealthycat.com/catnip-addiction.html