There Are Many Misconceptions About Catnip
We love selling our toys at our local summer market because it lets us talk to hundreds of fellow cat people, we can exchange pictures of our little kitty babies, tell stories of them being cute or misbehaving, and sometimes we get to meet cats in strollers!
At least once a week, however, one cat guardian will pop into our tent and say something like "Oh, I don't give my cat any catnip, I don't want them getting hooked on it, they're crazy enough already" and even though we try to tell them that they've fallen for misinformation, that catnip is totally safe, many just walk away. If you believe this, we're happy to say that a whole world of herbal bliss awaits your kitty!
How Do Cats Respond to Catnip?
When the lucky cats who react to catnip get a whiff of its active ingredient, nepetalactone, they exhibit what is called the "catnip response." The "catnip response" can be a variety or a combination of the following behaviors:
- Biting of a catnip-containing toy
- Rubbing their head on the toy
- Shaking their head
- Holding the toy with their paws
- Licking the toy
- Bunny kicking the toy
- Rolling on their side
- Twitching or rippling of the muscles of their back
This behavior may look like the cat is "getting high" or "tripping", but these are not good descriptions of what is happening. All observations indicate that these are blissful experiences for the cat, there are no known "withdrawals" or negative effects. Catnip and other cat-attracting plants can be used to make kitties more comfortable with new situations or just be a daily fun experience. We get videos from customers all the time telling us that our herbaceous toy is their new favorite.
Is Catnip a Drug? (No!)
Catnip is not addictive, and does not induce any long lasting negative effects. Equating catnip to drugs may be harmful because it causes some people (like the people who we meet every week at our market, for example) to deny their cats a euphoric, natural experience and important olfactory enrichment that contributes to a healthy, comfortable home environment.
Reputable scientist Sebastiaan Bol has studied hundreds of cats and their reactions to cat-attracting plants, in one of his published studies, he states that he "did not observe any withdrawal, abnormal behavior, or changes in behavior of any of the participating cats after the cat attractants had been taken away from the cats." He also believes that it improves relationships in a multi-cat household, stating "we believe that we observed more positive interactions between the cats in the testing area when the cat-attracting plants...were present”
Does Catnip Make Cats Crazy?
We get this question all the time. Many people will tell us "My cat is already too crazy, they don't need catnip!" What they don't realize is that cat-attracting herbs may help your cat release their playful energy by focusing it on an herbal toy, scratching pad, or cat bed. If they are bored, this energy may come out in less desirable ways, such as acting out destructively or stalking their siblings.
The key is to give cats an object to put that energy into. A fragrant herbal toy that can be gripped, bitten, kicked, licked, and tossed around is a great way to ensure that your cat has something to capture their attention when they are experiencing the "catnip response", so that they don't go crazy on something (or someone) else. Some cats love rolling their whole bodies on herbal blankets or dig their claws into a scratch pad with herbs sprinkled on it. Just make sure that you have enough toys and herbs for each cat to keep the peace!
Do all cats respond this way to Catnip?
No, and don't worry if your kitty doesn't react to catnip, about 1 in every 3 cats does not have the correct receptors in their nose to react to catnip. Luckily, we know of a few alternative cat-attracting plants that elicit the same "catnip response." Silver Vine, Tatarian Honeysuckle, and Valerian Root are well-know cat-attractant plants that have different active ingredients which can elicit the same "catnip effect" in cats. You can try them all with one of our Sample Packs!-attracting components.
Is all Catnip the same?
We hear from customers all the time that they thought their cat did not respond to catnip because they got a cheap toy from their big box pet store and the cat was not impressed, but then they tried our catnip and their cats were rolling around and covering themselves in it! The reason for this is that the active ingredient in catnip, nepetalactone, is volatile, meaning that over time it is released into the air. This is what allows cats to detect it with their sensitive noses, but it also means that if it is left open to the air for a long time, it loses its potency.
Cheap catnip toys are sometimes left open to the air for months, plenty of time for the volatile nepetalactone to drift away. We keep all of our herbs and toys in airtight containers at all times, so that the volatile cat-attracting compounds are at high concentrations. Even when we ship our herbs and toys in airtight bags, the scent finds its way out, and our kitty customers can smell our quality herbs through the package!
Ok, but Why Do Cats React This Way To Catnip?
Although we don't know exactly why cats have a "catnip response", we do know that it is harmless, beneficial, and enjoyable for them. They are a great form of enrichment and should be available in any cat-loving home.
If you want to enrich your kitties' lives, we have all the herbs and magical mixes you will need. Our organic Catnip is top-notch, but we also offer the other cat-attracting plants for those who want to experience all that nature has to offer. We offer all parts of the Silver Vine plant, Tatarian Honeysuckle wood, and Valerian Root, either by themselves or stuffed in refillable toys of multiple shapes, sizes, and textures. Shop around and feel free to contact us with any questions!
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