I just adopted 2 kittens and my husband brought home 2 toys for them and they are with catnip. I was wondering I can just leave them lying around the house? Will it be bad for them? I have never had catnip around with my last cats. I dont even know what the purpose of catnip really is? would someone explain it better? I know what catnip is but will it harm them or not with lond exposure to these toys be ok is a concern.
2007-07-20 15:12:08 · 9 answers · asked by Teny A 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Cats are unique in their response to catnip, and the response can be very dramatic in some cats - rolling, licking, rubbing, drooling, jumping, running. Other cats appear to become very sedate after exposure. And, as mentioned above, up to 30% of the cat population does not respond at all to catnip. In any case, for all of the (sometimes entertaining) behaviors seen, catnip is completely nontoxic to cats. If a large quantity of fresh catnip is consumed, you may see some vomiting or diarrhea, but this is rare and self-limiting. If your cat experiences this, limit or withhold catnip.
2007-07-20 15:16:04 · answer #1 · answered by Save the Whales. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The toys from the store don't have all that much catnip in them. They'll start to ignore it after a while.
Catnip is a mint, and it has an oil in the leaves that cats love. I grow and pick it here, make toys to sell and our guys are so exposed to it that they don't even react anymore. Catnip can't hurt a cat at all, they can eat the leaves and flowers, and they get high but they fall asleep right after, then wake up like nothing happened.
Catnip in toys only lasts about 6-8 months so eventually there won't even be a smell from it anymore. If you want to keep the toys exciting and new, take them away for a week, then bring them out for a few days. You can rotate toys like this and they'll think they're getting new ones all the time.
2007-07-20 16:25:00 · answer #2 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Young kittens probably won't respond and many cat nip toys on the market have little (sometimes no) catnip in them. If your cats end up responding to catnip, they can have their toys a couple of times a week (or you can grow fresh which they might even eat). Too much exposure causes them to lose the ability to react to it.
If your cats really like it, you don't want to put your hand between them and the toy as they can become quite rowdy. It seems to be harmless fun for them.
2007-07-20 15:45:28 · answer #3 · answered by WooHoo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats can't OD on catnip. It's an herb in the mint family. It makes cats act silly and often stimulates their appetite (no, it's not related to marijuana) but has no harmful side-effects.
About 10% of cats don't seem to get any effect from catnip, and usually kittens under about six months old don't, either.
2007-07-20 15:35:50 · answer #4 · answered by Kayty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sweet Pea to much of anything is bad for you these day's. I would not leave the catnip toy out to long just let the precious kitty's play with it only when they are suppervised.
2007-07-20 15:20:59 · answer #5 · answered by b n real 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catnip isn't bad for cats but they'll eventually become immune to its effects if given too much.
2007-07-20 15:40:44 · answer #6 · answered by ƙʀɨʂʂɨ ᴌɨᴛɀ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catnip doesn't usually have any affect on young kittens. It won't harm them but if they have it frequently they'll become immune to it
2007-07-20 15:16:32 · answer #7 · answered by Debi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its something cats crave, they love it, and yeah. its fine, I left it with my cat Shamrock, and he had about 7 catnip toys.
2007-07-20 15:16:11 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Lindsay♥ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but probably so because too much of anything is bad
2007-07-20 15:22:00 · answer #9 · answered by sha scrilla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋