Is Catnip Okay For Cats
Catnip is a perennial herb which means it grows through more than one growing season and it contains an ingredient called nepetalactone.
Is catnip okay for cats. There s absolutely no ingredient in catnip that can harm your cat. As mentioned above up to 30 percent of the cat population does not respond at all to catnip. Yes catnip is safe for cats to eat. The only danger of your cat eating too much catnip is that they might get an upset stomach.
Catnip can be found in a variety of pet stores too so it s not surprising that many people believe it to be harmless. Thus if it was one of the 30 50 of cats who react to catnip in a hyperactive manner your cat may not react in such a way over time if you give your cat a lot of catnip without waiting long between. Stop worrying it s 100 safe and non addictive for all cat breeds. In fact some cat owners vow that catnip is actually healthy for lethargic cats since it can stimulate movement which can promote exercise.
Is catnip bad for cats. If you have a multi cat household. Some cats become like a lazy drunk while others get a wired up crazy. If you give your cat catnip quite regularly your cat may develop an immunity to its effects.
In fact catnip can even be safely ingested by humans especially when the dried leaves are made into a tea. Final words about catnip and cats. Credit a substance called nepetalactone which is found in the leaves and stems and causes the mood altering behavior. Catnip is a herb that s a cousin to mint basil and oregano herbs we humans regularly use in the kitchen for cooking and seasoning.
The reaction can be intense but it s relatively short lived and after it s over the cat cannot get high again for an hour or so. Cats are unique in their response to catnip and the response can be very dramatic in some cats. While nobody knows the exact amount of catnip to give so a cat doesn t become habituated and immune. It s found to be neither toxic nor addictive so you can freely use it as a reward or training aid.
He does mention that catnip sometimes makes cats aggressive though. This is a. Ingestion is not a problem. Catnip has been proven to be safe for cats although excessive amounts may result to a short spell of diarrhea.
While it s available in. The intensity of kitty s response to toys and training will be affected by the type of catnip you use. Other than that there is zero reason to worry if catnip is bad for cats. Among those cats who do like catnip you ll find two basic kinds of reactions.
Is catnip bad for cats. Is catnip safe for cats to eat. Fortunately for kitty catnip which is non addictive and safe to eat is easy to grow in a sunny window. While most cats enjoy the herb dried or fresh they re usually less interested in catnip sprays which generally don t contain enough nepetalactone to appeal to most felines.
It is this naturally occurring chemical that kittens and cats react to by becoming more active purring and rolling or even licking and drooling some may eat the catnip as well. However the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals aspca actually lists catnip as toxic to cats. Other cats appear to become very sedate after exposure. Although catnip may seem like a drug rotman confirms that it s not addictive for cats.
In any case for all of the sometimes entertaining behaviors seen catnip is completely nontoxic.