Can Cats Eat Catnip?

What is catnip?

Catnip is an herb plant from the same family as mint. It is strong smelling and, as its slang name suggests, cats have an affinity for the smell! Its Latin name is Nepeta cataria. It contains the compound nepetalactone, which is responsible for causing behavior changes in some cats. If you want to give your cat catnip, you can buy seeds to grow your own plant. Or it is available in dried or powdered form for sprinkling on toys, beds, scratch posts, or cat trees.

When a cat smells catnip, the olfactory sense receptors in their nose transmit signals to their brain, causing them to feel happy, relaxed, or playful.

How does catnip work?

Cats are particularly sensitive to the scent of catnip, caused by the compound nepetalactone. When a cat smells catnip, the olfactory sense receptors in their nose transmit signals to their brain, causing them to feel happy, relaxed, or playful. Catnip doesn’t always change a cat’s behavior in a good way, though, and some cats can act a bit aggressive. This is probably because catnip enhances a cat’s mood. So, if they’re content, they’ll become happier, but if they’re feeling angry, they may become aggressive. It’s thought that nepetalactone’s scent is similar to feline pheromones, which are one way that cats communicate with each other. You can find out more about cat communication here.

What does catnip do to a cat’s behavior?

Catnip might make your playful puss feel even more active. In fact, you might notice them zooming around, rolling, bunny kicking their toys, or hunting for imaginary prey. Similarly, it could make your cat incredibly loving and affectionate. So, you might notice them purring, rubbing against your legs, or headbutting you (in a friendly way!). If your cat gets too wound up in the moment, they might become very vocal, and you might hear them growling. 

Although it’s considered a mood enhancer, it has been reported to help some anxious cats feel calmer. As a rule, it tends to have more of a calming effect when eaten, while inhaling it leads to excitement. Sadly, not every cat is affected by catnip. Around thirty percent show little or no interest in the herb. If this is the case, there are plenty of toys and activities to keep your kitty enjoying life.

If your cat struggles with anxiety or stress, you might find that catnip helps, either by stimulating them to play or by calming and relaxing them. 

When should you give your cat catnip?

Although catnip just seems like a way to give your cat a few moments of excitement, it can actually be really handy. For instance, it’s great for encouraging your cat to interact with or show interest in particular objects. If your stubborn Siamese refuses to acknowledge their cat tree or scratch post, you could try sprinkling some catnip onto them to get their attention. Equally, if your puss is a bit podgy, you could encourage some calorie-burning play by using toys that are filled with catnip. If your cat struggles with anxiety or stress, you might find that catnip helps, either by stimulating them to play or by calming and relaxing them. 

It’s best to avoid giving catnip late in the evening unless you want a night of disturbed sleep! This is because, although the effects of catnip wear off quite quickly, your cat may find it difficult to wind down and settle afterward.

How long do the effects of catnip last?

The effects of catnip are pretty short-lived. Once your cat has inhaled catnip, its behavior should return to normal within about 15 minutes, if not sooner. And it’ll be pointless sprinkling the catnip around again straight away, as they won’t be affected again for a couple of hours. Catnip has no long-term effects, though, and don’t worry; your cat can’t become addicted to it.

It’s very safe for your cat to eat catnip, and it’s unlikely they’ll eat enough to cause even a mild stomach upset.

Is catnip safe for cats to eat?

Although it’s more common for cats to react to the smell of catnip, they do sometimes choose to eat it. This is especially common if they’re rolling around in a place where it has been sprinkled. You shouldn’t worry if your cat does eat catnip because it’s perfectly safe in moderate amounts. Even if your crazy cat did decide to eat a lot of catnip, it shouldn’t cause anything more than a mild stomach upset.

If you’re concerned about which plants are safe for your cat, you can read Which plants are poisonous to cats, and Which flowers are safe for cats.

So, can you give a cat catnip?

Catnip can be helpful for training your cat or just making them feel more at ease in their home. Although their reaction to catnip might seem extreme, they’ll be enjoying it, and it won’t last for long. So, absolutely, you can give your cat catnip and enjoy watching their five minutes of fun. They might even rope you into playing with them or petting them. All in all, a little bit of catnip can be a great way to bond with your feline family member.