can cats eat catnip?

Question

can cats eat catnip my cat is eating it so is it to smell or eat

Answer 1

Effects on cats

A domestic cat demonstrating the effects of catnip: rolling, pawing, frisking, etc.Catnip and catmints are mainly known for, and named after, the effects they have on cats, particularly domestic cats. Approximately two thirds of cats are susceptible to the effects of catnip, as the phenomenon is hereditary.

Catnip contains nepetalactone, a terpene, that is thought to mimic feline sex pheromones. Cats detect it through their vomeronasal organs. When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they will rub in it, roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr, often salivating copiously. Some cats will also growl and meow. This reaction only lasts for a few minutes before the cat loses interest.[2] It takes up to two hours for the cat to "reset" and then it can come back to the catnip and have the same response as before. Young kittens and older cats are less likely to have a reaction to catnip but big cats, such as tigers, seem to be extremely sensitive to it.

Cat toys can contain catnip and some cats love to play with them while others are not interested. Cat owners do not need to worry about allowing their cats access to catnip because there are, for the most part, no negative side effects to doing so. However, some cats become overly excited when exposed to catnip, so aging or obese cats with heart troubles should be kept away from it. A diabetic cat can also experience complications from catnip.

Answer 2

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Catnip is fine and safe for him to eat, but he won't get high from eating it. The ability to get the catnip high is inherited and only about 50% of cats (including some tigers and lions!) react to catnip by getting the "catnip high". Cats that haven't reached sexual maturity don't react to it. The active substance in catnip is nepetalactone and it's a sedative when eaten. Catnip tea is used by humans to help get a good night's sleep. Maybe Louie is one of those cats that doesn't get the catnip high. Instead, he likes to chew it or eat it in the same way he'd chew or eat grass. It may taste nice to him and may also act as roughage in his gut as well having a calming effect. Keep the catnip as a treat though and don't let him overdo it! You could try making him some catnip tea from dried catnip leaves and letting him drink some once its cooled down. I used to grow large amounts of catnip for making cat toys for a cat shelter and had to keep it in a cage. Some of the neighbourhood cats used to roll in it and flatten it and others used to graze it right down to the ground. Either way, the cats in this street must have been hardened catnip junkies :)

Answer 3

cats eat catnip

Answer 4

The majority of cats love catnip. It is quite alright for them to smell it, eat it, roll around in it, and get quite a buzz from it too.

Answer 5

Yes. Cats can eat it. Its a scientific fact that they do eat it, and don't get injured.

Answer 6

Will it calm a cat down if they eat it?

Answer 7

Yep! It's harmless to them. They actually get the charge they get out of it from the smell, but they can eat it and not have any ill effects at all.

Play on!!!

Answer 8

Both. My cats roll in it, smell it and ingest it. It doesn't harm them in any form.

Answer 9

they don't call it CATnip for nothing!

Answer 10

Of course they can eat it! They love it, and they get a little high off of it!