What is catnip?

Question

I purchased a scrathcing tower for my kitten and it says treated wwith catnip. Is this safe? I read where its some kind og herbal aprodiasiac? He seems to like it? What do others think? How did your cats react?

Answer 1

it's a plant of the mint family, with downy leaves, purple-spotted white flowers, and a pungent smell attractive to cats....
it's natural and cats just love smelling it

Answer 2

"Catnip" is the common name for a perennial herb of the mint family. It is native to Europe and is an import to the United States and other countries. The catnip plant is now a widespread weed in North America.
Given to the right cat, catnip can cause an amazing reaction! The cat will rub it, roll over it, kick at it, and generally go nuts for several minutes. Then the cat will lose interest and walk away. Two hours later, the cat may come back and have exactly the same response.
Because there really isn't any scent that causes this sort of reaction in humans, catnip is hard for us to understand. However, it is not an uncommon behavior in animals that rely heavily on their noses. For example, there are many scents that will trigger intense hunting behavior in dogs, and other scents will cause dogs to stop in their tracks and roll all over the scent.
Although no one knows exactly what happens in the cat's brain, it is known that the chemical nepetalactone in catnip is the thing that triggers the response. Apparently, it somehow kicks off a stereotypical pattern in cats that are sensitive to the chemical. The catnip reaction is inherited, and some cats are totally unaffected by it. Large cats like tigers can be sensitive to it as well.
The reaction to catnip only lasts a few minutes. Then the cat acclimates to it, and it can take an hour or two away from catnip for the cat to "reset." Then, the same reaction can occur again. Very young kittens and older cats seem less likely to have a reaction to catnip.

qualified veterinary nurse UK

Answer 3

Hi there ...catnip is not only safe but great treat for all cats. Every cat responds differently to catnip. Some cats find it makes them feel euphoric and others angry. However, very young kittens may not respond to it until they are little older if they possess the gene for it.

CATNIP: (Nepeta cataria--also part of the mint family of plants) contains a substance called cis-transnepetalactone which when inhaled or eaten is thought to be hallucinogenic through the stimulation of centres in the brain--it gives some cats a europhoric high. Not all cats are responsive to catnip and here's why:

1. Reaction to catnip is genetic (see last paragraph). Cats must possess a gene for it. While most cats do, about 15 percent reportedly do not. Kittens, whether they possess the gene or not, generally do not react to catnip until they are from six to nine months old. Try reintroducing the catnip then and you will probably find that your cat will greatly enjoy it. If your cat is an adult, you may have one of the few adult cats that do not possess the gene.

2. Inferior quality catnip. Many other catnip brands are "cut" with straw, stems and other filler. This may fool the cat owner, but it doesn't fool kitty! Try some Certified Organic Catnip or fresh Catnip.

It's not known why the reaction to catnip seems to occur only among the feline species. What is known is that the ability to react to catnip is a genetic one. Cats that react to catnip possess a gene that programs them to react to catnip. The gene does not develop until after six months of age or so, and not ALL cats possess the gene. About 15 percent of the cat population does not possess the gene, so this may explain why your cat does not react. If they do possess the gene, cats of all sizes - from housecats, cheetahs, mountain lions, pumas, etc. - will love catnip.

Answer 4

Catnip is perfectly safe for your kitten. All cats and kittens love catnip because it makes them feel good. Catnip is like a drug, but for cats and kittens, it gets them high. Its like weed, but its for cats and kittens. I have heard that kittens don't get the full effect until their at least 6-8 weeks old. If you have another cat or kitten then I would give them their own separate catnip because it could lead to fights, cats get very possessive over catnip. It makes them do weired things.

1. A hairy aromatic perennial herb (Nepeta cataria) in the mint family, native to Eurasia and containing an aromatic oil to which cats are strongly attracted.
2. Any of various other mostly aromatic plants of the genus Nepeta, cultivated for their ornamental foliage and clusters of blue, lavender, or white flowers.

Answer 5

It's perfectly safe for them. Only about 30% of cats have a strong reaction to catnip. My six cats have only a mild reaction to it.

You can grow it in your garden or buy it dry at any pet store. Sometimes it's hard to find in nurseries as if they carry it they have cats coming from everywhere to get to it. Like all members of the mint family it is very aggressive in the garden so if you grown it it is better to have it in a pot or some place where it won't interfere with other plants you want to have.

Aphrodisiac doesn't apply with cats as it not sexually arousing to cats. They like to roll in it and get it all over their bodies, they eat some too. If cannot harm them at all. Sometimes cats can become aggressive while under its influence so it was never given at any shelter where I volunteered.

Answer 6

catnip is a plant in the mint family. It gives off an aroma that drives cats wild. They will actually eat the live plant if you have it in your garden. It grows like a weed and will take over unless carefully tended. I cut it and dry it for my cats. They are funny to watch when they have it.

Answer 7

My cats love catnip. It just kinda like caffeine. They dont get too hiper, it just kinda makes them frisky. I have some toys where they play with catnip and i have a bowl of it that i give it to them as a treat.

Answer 8

Catnip is an herb. You can buy a plant and put it n your garden. My cat rolls in it and goes crazy! That is why it is named after cats, I think.

Answer 9

it just smells like catnip (catnip is a fanncy cat food)

Answer 10

Its a plant that cats love. They get all playful. Its really cute!