What is Catnip?
Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb that is a member of the mint family. Originally native to Europe and Asia, the plant is also easy to grow in Australia and has light-green foliage with pretty lavender flowers.
The Active Ingredient in Catnip
For cats, the active ingredient is called nepetalactone, which is an oil that is found within the catnip plant’s leaves. It is this nepetalactone that causes behavioural changes in cats. Once a cat smells the catnip, they may begin to rub themselves against it, or kick it or chew it, to help release the oil trapped in the plant’s leaves.
Behavioural Effects of Catnip on Cats
Once released, the nepetalactone can induce great affection, relaxation, and happiness in your cat. Some cats will display very active behaviours, such as extreme playfulness. For other cats, the catnip can help reduce anxiety or even relieve pain.
How to Use Catnip for Play and Training
You can use catnip to encourage your cat to exercise, play and explore. Catnip can also be used as a training aid. For example, place some catnip on a scratching post to encourage scratching in one particular place (rather than your sofa!), or put catnip in the cat’s carrier to encourage them to enter. Or, when your cat displays a behaviour you would like to see repeated, reward them with a catnip treat. Your cat will associate the behaviour with the catnip reward, and you will see more of the good behaviour!
Duration and Safety of Catnip Effects
The duration of catnip effects varies depending on the cat, but typically they last for around 10-15 minutes and then wear off gradually, and you cat will probably lose interest and walk away from the catnip. It could then take at least 30 minutes without smelling catnip for the cat to become sensitised to the effects again. Catnip is non-toxic to cats. Although rare, ingesting too much catnip can cause vomiting or diarrhoea, so you may want to supervise your cat while they are playing with catnip, to avoid them eating too much.
Not All Cats Respond to Catnip
Not all cats will respond to the active compound in catnip. Approximately 70% of cats will have a behavioural reaction to catnip, and it is thought that a cat’s response to catnip is based on genetics. Kittens generally don’t react to catnip until they are around six months of age.
Trusty Catnip Products
Trusty offers a catnip toy which can be sprayed with Trusty catnip spray should the toy lose its effectiveness. The toy and spray are a good option for cats that get an upset stomach from ingesting the plant. You can also buy 100% high-quality catnip which comes in an airtight container for maintaining maximum freshness.