Catnip - The Herb for Cats (and Dogs?)

Catnip is an herb that most Cats love -- it's a member of the mint family of plants. Spearmint and oregano are related to Catnip and has the same type of intense aroma and strong flavor. Whenever a cat smells or tastes catnip, special receptors in their nose and mouth receive stimulating signals and can energize even the most inactive kitty. This is one of the reasons vets often recommend catnip for over weight cats - it can get them up and MOVING!

Catnip has a natural chemical compound called nepetalactone. Basically cats sniff, rub against, and even eat catnip to immerse themselves in the scent. Think aromatherapy - the effect of catnip can bring about any of several responses in a cat: wiggling and wriggling, head nodding, rolling, licking, body rubbing, and happy frolicking. The reaction can last up to 20 minutes with about an hour delay before there is another response. The stimulating effect can be very healthful, especially in sedentary or overweight cats.

Kittens do not show sensitivity to catnip until they are about 12 weeks old. Their olfactory receptors need to develop first before they can produce the classic kitty reaction to catnip. But due to genetics, some cats lack the special receptors necessary to experience the effects of catnip, so don’t be surprised if you have a cat that has no reaction – 20-30% of cats fall into this category. The sensitivity to catnip is inherited; if a kitten has only one parent who is effected by catnip, then that kitten has a one-in-two chance of growing up to enjoy catnip.

Certified Organic Catnip is harmless to cats but they can become "immune" to its effects with extended exposure. If your cat suddenly seems unaffected by catnip, try putting away all items containing catnip for a week or two.  Then bring them back out and your cat should be able to enjoy them again.

At Cause to Paws we carry a variety of catnip toys as well as loose catnip.
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What about the Dog?

The herb is less widely used for dogs because it is often ineffective, and people are afraid of potential side effects. The effects of catnip on dogs are generally fairly mild and certainly not as dramatic as with cats, but the herb can be beneficial for the dog's digestion, mental health (has a calming effect) and minor wounds, as an antiseptic treatment.

And oh by the way - Humans can make a tea out of catnip which helps with digestion, too,

Tips and Tricks:

If you buy the catnip in a plastic bag be sure to put them into a sealed container. Store the container in a cool dark place to maintain the potency of the catnip.

You can put loose catnip into a sock or stocking and give it to your catch to play with.  Many cat toys have pockets where you can add new catnip as the potency of the existing catnip diminishes. You can also store small cat toys in the container with catnip so that the toy gets “infused” with the catnip essence/oils.

You can put loose catnip in to a cardboard box and let your cat roll around and play in it.  In this way it keeps the catnip contained and a little less messy.