While catnip is non-addictive, its effect can dull due to overexposure. So, while the occasional catnip “high” might be fun, it's best to avoid a daily catnip routine with your cat. The effects also start to decline as your cat ages. You won't see the overly exaggerated response you're used to with older cats.
Stop worrying - it's 100% safe and non-addictive for all cat breeds. There's absolutely no ingredient in catnip that can harm your cat. The only danger of your cat eating too much catnip is that it might get an upset stomach. Other than that, there are zero reasons to worry if catnip is bad for cats.
If cats are given nepetalactone often and consistently, they may become less sensitive to it. It's recommended to limit the use of catnip with your furry friends to about once every two to three weeks in order to prevent habituation. It should also be noted that very young cats may not appear sensitive to catnip.
Be mindful of overindulgence though—cats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, but they can get sick if they eat too much. Trust your kitty to know when they've had enough. Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of important information about keeping your cat healthy and happy.
Fortunately, the answer is simple. Cat owners don't need to worry about how much catnip they give their cat because the feline body naturally regulates its catnip intake.
Is catnip safe? A cat overdose won't happen if you give your kitty too much catnip. But, if your cat has too much of it, she may get sick. The catnip affects cats' digestive systems, giving them upset stomachs.
How long does catnip last. The effects of catnip vary depending on the individual cat and how they respond to the herb. For most cats, effects and behaviors associated with catnip will last around 10-15 minutes. Once catnip has worn off, it may take around 30 minutes to an 1 hour for your cat to respond to it again.
Catnip might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking catnip along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
Catnip is generally safe and non-toxic, Simmons says, but it is possible to give your cat too much catnip. This can cause various symptoms, depending on how your cat takes the catnip. Eating too much catnip can cause digestive upset like diarrhea. Smelling too much catnip can cause dizziness or trouble walking.
If your cat becomes overstimulated by too much catnip, they may become anxious, hyperactive, zoom around, nibble or bite at your hands, scratch, or growl. However, some cats may become very sleepy. If they ingest too much, they may drool, vomit or have diarrhea.
While your cat might “go crazy” for a short period of time, catnip is ultimately calming for them, and many cats enjoy it. Of course, there are some cats that should not have catnip. Cats with aggressive behavior could become more aggressive on catnip.
Is catnip safe for cats? There's no evidence that catnip is harmful to cats or young kittens. However, if they eat a lot of the fresh or dried catnip leaves, they can get an upset tummy along with vomiting or diarrhea.
It contains a chemical called nepetalactone in its leaves and stems that can impact your cat's behavior. When cats are exposed to nepetalactone by smell, it acts as a stimulant, causing some cats to have an uptick in activity. When ingested, nepetalactone has a sedative effect.
Nepetalactone, an essential oil found in the catnip plant, stimulates cats in ways that are similar to how cannabis affects humans, according to MyPetNaturally.com. When cats ingest or rub themselves with catnip, nepetalactone triggers a euphoric reaction, which makes cats feel good, according to Purina.
Catnip's Benefits for Cats
When ingested, catnip acts as a sedative, reducing anxiety, stress and depression. Catnip can reduce stomach pain and bloat. It's also a great way to get your cat into a bath if they have irritated or inflamed skin.
Cats love catnip because it makes them feel good. As your cat licks and rubs on the herb, the release of nepetalactone sets off a euphoric reaction. Scientists aren't sure exactly why this happens, but many believe cats are responding to the nepetalactone as though it is a pheromone.
Catnip is commonly used to encourage cats to explore and play, but it can also be used as a training aid. Place a small amount of catnip on your cat's scratching post to encourage scratching, or in their carrier to encourage them to enter, thereby creating a positive association.
Tina Wismer, DVM, MS, DABVT, is the senior director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. She says both fresh and dried versions of catnip are considered safe for dogs. That said, if your dog chows down on a catnip plant, its essential oils might cause him to feel icky.
While there's no general agreed-upon consensus on how much too much, try to limit your kitty's exposure to catnip to once a week. The last thing you want is for your cat to become desensitized to catnip, thus taking away the excitement of the toys and treats.
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The catnip in no way enters the cat's blood stream, unlike human street drugs. A human analog that causes similar effects [as catnip on cats], as in a comparable high, would be LSD or marijuana.
If you're wondering how long catnip lasts, the effects of catnip usually wear off within half an hour, but your furry friend is likely to be in a much calmer mood afterwards too. After the effects have worn off, it will take another couple of hours before your cat can be affected by catnip again.
Its calming properties come from its nepetalactone and nepetalactone acid compounds. In animal studies, catnip reduces anxiety. While there isn't enough research to determine if this is the case in humans, the nepetalactone in catnip may reduce nervousness, anxiousness, and restlessness.
There's no hard fast rule for how much catnip is safe to give your cat, but it's non-addictive and safe for cats to eat or sniff in small amounts.
You can purchase dried catnip from pet shops, as well as cat toys that already have catnip within them. Catnip may also be available in a spray form.