Is Catnip Ok For Older Cats

Also 10 percent to 30 percent of the cat population does not respond to catnip at all at any age.

Is catnip ok for older cats. Hey it s not easy to run a household and find time for yourself. Just ask your cat. If you give your cat catnip quite regularly your cat may develop an immunity to its effects. Some cats become like a lazy drunk while others get a wired up crazy.

In fact catnip can even be safely ingested by humans especially when the dried leaves are made into a tea. Yes catnip is safe for cats to eat. Catnip can make cats meow purr growl roll on the ground zip about and even drool. They have to be near sexual maturity for it to have effects.

The do s and don ts of catnip we all need time to unwind. Sniffing catnip has more of a stimulant effect whereas eating it is more likely to make a cat all sorts of relaxed and sleepy. Among those cats who do like catnip you ll find two basic kinds of reactions. 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.

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. 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. I only use catnip to help my cats relax when they re home alone when we have to travel or see the vet. She deserves a treat too.

A little treat after a full day is well deserved sometimes necessary. While you re at work your cat is busy at home reigning over her kingdom hunting down pests and marking her territory. I know that catnip is safe for kittens but i don t give it to my kitten because i don t want to expose him to it just yet. Even then about 1 3rd of cats won t react at all and another 1 3rd are moderately affected.

Credit a substance called nepetalactone which is found in the leaves and stems and causes the mood altering behavior. Very young under 3 months old and senior cats do not respond as much or at all to catnip. Also catnip doesn t make all cats relax. It can also have a mild hallucinatory effect which helps explain why a kitty on catnip might bat at the air or dodge something that isn t there.

While nobody knows the exact amount of catnip to give so a cat doesn t become habituated and immune. Some kittens don t like catnip until they re older others start playing with it when they re around 3 months. Is catnip safe for cats to eat. Only about 1 3rd of cats react strongly to catnip.

This is due to genetics as reactions to catnip are hereditary. I always carry some dried fresh catnip in my backpack and with my client s permission give some to the cats i care for during my visits. Most cats must be at least six months old before they ll react. I am always surprised that people will give their cats catnip toys but not the real thing.

My own cats absolutely love catnip so. I would guess that 95 of my clients don t think about it until i ask them. Some cats can react to catnip. Ingestion is not a problem.