Caring For Your Cat

Is Catnip Bad For Your Cat And Why was written by Elise Rogers

 Most people are familiar with the affinity cats have for catnip.
After viewing your cat’s reaction to catnip, you may become
concerned and ask some common questions in relation to products
composed of this substance. Here are a few facts and answers to
common questions about catnip.

What exactly is catnip? Catnip is an herb from the Lamiaceae
family group, and it is known as Nepeta cataria in scientific
terms. It originated in the Mediterranean area, but is now
commonly found in England, North America and Canada, though it
can be grown almost anywhere. Most of these plants are
herbaceous perennials, but some grow annually as well.

What does a catnip plant look like? It has a thick and sturdy
stem, with heart shaped green to grayish leaves. The catnip
plant has flowers, and they are usually pink, lilac, blue, or
white in color. The flowers are tube shaped, and are sometimes
flecked with tiny purple dots.

What are the effects of catnip on cats? Some cats react more
dramatically to catnip than others. Common effects of catnip
include running, jumping, excessive meowing or growling,
licking, salivating, sniffing, pupil dilation, and rubbing or
rolling on catnip. Instead, some cats may become sedated,
tranquilized, or tired. Once a cat experiences a reaction to
catnip, they lose interest and cannot be affected by it for at
least an hour, sometimes two after their original exposure.

How does catnip work? The primary active ingredient in catnip is
called Nepetalactone, which stimulates a response from the cat’s
olfactory system. Some people believe that catnip may also be
tied to stimulating a cat’s pheromonic receptor. That is, a
pheromone produces a chemical reaction within a body (or plant)
and produces an effect on behavior. Some common pheromones
include: aggregation, primer, territorial, and sex pheromones.

How does catnip effect kittens and elderly cats? Catnip does not
effects kittens under the age of 3 months, and elderly cats are
generally not effected either. In fact, approximately ten to
thirty percent of the entire cat population does not respond to
the effects of catnip, no matter what their age. The reaction to
catnip is also genetically based. Some cats are “made” to
respond to catnip, while others simply aren’t.

Can catnip be dangerous? Catnip is often inhaled by cats, not
ingested. This means that they cannot “overdose” or consume too
much. If a cat happens to consume catnip, they may vomit, but it
is not harmful or toxic. Most times, when you see a cat nibbling
on catnip, it is not because they want to eat it; they are
simply trying to release the scent of the plant that activates
their senses.

Cats love catnip. It is an herb that triggers their senses that
elicits a playful response. It is not dangerous or toxic to your
cat, as the scent is inhaled and the plant is not usually
consumed. So, catnip toys and scratch posts are fine for your
kitty; let them have a little fun, and enjoy their treat of
catnip!

About the author:
Elise Rogers is an avid pet enthusiast who writes articles for
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