What is catnip?
Catnip, Nepta cataria, belongs to the mint family. The compound in catnip, called nepetalactone, is what cats react to. Also known by the English name catnip, catnip is available fresh, liquid and in dried form. In dried form, catnip is also a popular filling for cat toys and cushions.
Tip: A little catnip or a catnip-filled toy is a great way to lure cats into transport boxes. Catnip can also be used to make other "unloved places" more palatable.
What effect does catnip have on cats?
The aromatic scent is long-lasting and has a stimulating effect on many cats, encouraging their urge to move. This is expressed, among other things, by cats rubbing themselves on catnip-filled toys or rolling around on them. Active cats can become even more active with catnip, but the opposite effect, that cats become more tired with the toy, can also be observed. Only with a few cats does catnip have no effect at all. If cats do not show any particular reaction to a catnip-filled toy, this may be related to the special ingredients of catnip.
The plant Nepta cataria from which catnip is extracted contains the ingredient actinidin. This is excreted in the urine of female, unneutered cats. This also explains why male cats in particular usually react strongly to catnip. Whereas a weaker effect can often be observed in young and very old cats. The duration of the effect of catnip can vary greatly from cat to cat. Depending on the cat, it can last only a few minutes or an hour. After two hours at the latest, there is usually no longer any effect on the cat's condition. After playing with a catnip toy, many cats like to rest with a little nap.
What effect does catnip have on the health of cats?
Catnip is one hundred percent natural and completely harmless to healthy cats. Even if catnip is eaten, it is harmless for healthy cats. Only if a cat has serious pre-existing conditions, such as heart problems or circulatory problems, should a veterinary consultation take place before use. As catnip has a euphoric effect and puts the cat in a stimulated state, catnip should not be used excessively. It has not been clearly proven whether excessive use can produce a type of addictive state in cats.
What should I look for when buying catnip?
As catnip is a plant-based product, you should pay particular attention to the manufacturing conditions of the catnip as well as the filled toys. All our products are guaranteed to be grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Furthermore, our catnip toys are 100% filled with catnip without any additional filling materials.