Catnip for your cat - is it ethical?
/You’ve heard a lot about Catnip - but you’re still not sure if you should get some for your cat, what to expect or - beyond buying a stuffed toy mouse - how to use it. Pretty much everyone knows about its euphoric potential - but there’s so much more to it than that - Catnip (or Nepeta cataria) has a lot going on! But there’s a question I need to address first:
Is it unethical to give cats catnip?
This seems to be becoming quite the issue online, so I’d like to share my perspective as some who works with animals and herbs in a natural wellness - and self-medicative - context.
At the risk of sounding pedantic, firstly could we please put aside the word “give”, and instead use the word “offer”. A small but critical difference. You, as your cat’s ever-loving guardian, are simply making catnip available for your cat to interact with - or not.
So… it then depends on your motivation for offering it. To be honest it’s never occurred to me that anyone would offer their cat catnip simply for their own personal amusement, or to entertain their friends - and if that were the case then NO, of course that would not be OK- your cat isn’t a circus act for other people’s entertainment.
But catnip offers a range of therapeutic benefits that can play an an important role in your cat’s wellbeing, and giving your cat the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviours in a safe environment is a lovely way to support its wellness.
So is catnip unethical? NO - used appropriately, it’s quite the contrary.
Cats often nibble catnip - so organic is always best…
Why does Catnip affect cats?
Catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone which most cats are attracted to. There are a number of possible reasons why - catnip holds several potential benefits for your cat, which we’ll look at in a moment…
How will my cat use catnip?
That depends on a number of factors… but your cat will either:
have some demented fun rolling and playing with it for 15 minutes or so before losing interest
nibble some of it (probably), then “zone out” quietly and relax deeply with it
just ignore it
How will catnip affect my cat?
Nepetalactone in catnip has mood-altering properties, but as the wonderful multi-tasker it is, there’s more than one possible outcome. The important matter of how your cat interacts with this aromatic herb may affect how it then responds. To sniff, eat, &/or roll…. that is the question - for those cats who are lucky enough to have access to this wonderfully therapeutic plant. Let’s look at what might happen:
“Let the good times roll “ - Catnip for the party kitty”
Cats are one of several species that demonstrate an active interest in interacting with psychoactive substances … seemingly just for the fun of it! So yes - perhaps kitty really does just want to have fun!
Catnip can make cats exhibit high-energy behaviours, suddenly pouncing around a room, or enjoying frenetic play with a toy or blanket - or your hand, if you’re careless!
Catnip for indoor cats and cats in rescue centres
There are other reasons why your cat might utilise catnip in this way to support its overall wellness. Such an outlet can be particularly helpful when the cat is confined to an unusual degree - for example when it has to stay indoors after an operation (always discuss with your vet first), or in rescue centres, where most of the day is spent in a small kennel. A short, cat-created game of “kill the blanket” can release a lot of pent-up energy, tension or “unexpressed behaviours” - which makes for a much happier, calmer, more balanced animal.
“Ohhhh, that’s better” - when Catnip can soothe and calm your cat
As well as containing compounds that stimulate, the iridoid glycosides in catnip can also soothe and calm nervous anxiety, something a lot of cats struggle with from time to time. Rescue cats in particular sometimes have chronic anxiety issues, and having access to a herb that can help them relax is both enjoyable for the cat in that moment, and an important support to their immune system.
Chronic nervous tension can also manifest in the stomach, and the anti-inflammatory properties in catnip can help soothe digestive issues or discomfort that have anxiety as a root cause. (This is obviously not a substitute for veterinary care, if you suspect your cat has digestive problems please see your vet).
“Say Goodbye To My Little Friends” - Catnip as an Insect Repellant
Did you know that catnip is an extremely effective insect repellent? That’s right … unsurprisingly this plant didn’t evolve with the intention of providing delightful mood-altering therapy for your kitty! Nepetalactone is actually present to protect the catnip plant from insects that could damage it, such as aphids.
Why do you care? Because. This means that the same compound that causes your cat to purr, pounce or play also has the proven ability to repel many insects more effectively than DEET. Win-Win!
When your cat chooses to roll and play in catnip, its fur will also pick up that subtle insect-repelling scent, thereby making your cat less attractive to annoying, bitey flying things. In the warmer months mosquitoes will happily bite your cat if they can find a nice soft place that’s not covered in fur, for example - but are highly unlikely to bother once your cat has enjoyed a roll around in fresh or dried catnip.
Is Catnip a natural repellant for fleas?
Now you want to know if it’s specifically proven to repel cat fleas, don’t you? I’d like to think so, I can find a lot of general (ie, unreferenced) articles stating that it can, and a lot of peer-approved science papers evidencing the mosquito-repelling - but so far no science paper citing flea research. If you find one - let me know. Meanwhile - just because the research isn’t there, doesn’t mean that it doesn't repel fleas - it just means exactly that - that the research isn’t there. I’d love to hear more from you, dear reader, if you have anecdotal evidence of your own, on a small or large scale, specifically regarding fleas & catnip.
Can I Feed Catnip to My Cat?
Assuming you are referring to the dried herb (not the essential oil) then … and please read this carefully: technically yes, you “can” (ie, it’s physically possible) - BUT - in practice it’s not something that I, or anyone who works in my field would recommend… and here’s why:
When you add supplements - yes, even totally natural plant ones - into your cat’s food, so that they might benefit from its medicinal properties, you have
made a lot of assumptions and
removed your cat’s choice.
Perhaps your cat would like to eat some catnip today - perhaps it wouldn’t. If it would - is the amount you’re giving enough? Or too much? Maybe it doesn’t want any - but you have, in a well-meaning but misguided gesture - basically insisted that it eats something with medicinal properties, whether it needs any or not…
Hey Kitty ….I, in my infinite wisdom, have decided that you need to eat catnip, so I’ve mixed into your dinner without asking you … you can eat this medicinal compound …or go hungry.
Doesn’t sound such a great idea after all, does it?
How Should I Offer Catnip To My Cat? - Zoopharmacognosy & Catnip
Most cats love catnip - but offering “kitty-crack” too often & rather than getting addicted, your cat will likely become immune to its effects…
How often should I offer my cat catnip?
I’d keep this as an occasional treat, no more than 2 or 3 times a week. If you’re using a toy, don’t leave it out all the time. Catnip offers important therapeutic effects, so it would be a shame if your cat developed an immunity - or even an aversion to it - through over-exposure.
”Are there different ways I can offer catnip to my cat?”
Yes, there are those little toys - and they’re fun, cats enjoy them. But rolling & eating options are strictly limited when the herb is stuffed into a little pouch, which is why I’d suggest loose herbs:
Put a couple of pinches of the herb down on a blanket** (or on a dish, if you prefer - but its not food!). If your cat wants to nibble it, it will. If it eats it all, it would probably like a little more. If it ignores it - that’s absolutely fine too, it was lovely of you to offer and give your cat the option to “choose or refuse”. You may get a different response if you offer it on another day. This is how animal self-selection - or “zoopharmacognosy” - works.
** The reason I’d suggest a fleece blanket rather than a dish is that cats really like to enjoy catnip at their own pace, and in their own way. When they’ve nibbled some, they often zone out, have a little groom, then a little snooze, then repeat. Or perhaps they just want to roll in it? This way they can get its scent onto their fur, so the aromatic benefits which will stay with them for a longer period of time.
If you’re offering catnip in this way, do consider making a wider variety of herbs available, and creating a “herb garden” for your cat - so lovely!
What types of Catnip are available, and are they all safe for my cat?
Fresh Catnip
Easy to grow organically in your garden, you can use the fresh herb (including as a relaxing tisane for yourself!), kitty will probably find the plant and flatten some of it where it grows! But otherwise, you can offer fresh cut herbs to your cat to play in. Also harvest it and dry / freeze for out-of-season use. Worth doing as good quality catnip (that’s not bulked out with other herbs) isn’t particularly cheap.
Dried Catnip
Most commonly available, and the type generally referred to in this article. I’d always recommend buying organic. Yes, it costs more, but is considered much more potent, so very small amounts work produced the desired effect. Also, non-organic catnip has been grown in soil highly likely to contain synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. Is that something you want to offer to your cat to possibly eat?
Catnip Hydrosol
This is the condensed water created when the plant is distilled to produce essential oil. Unlike essential oil, hydrosols are safe for cats to have stroked on - IF they indicate this is welcome (NOTE: if they move away when you offer to stroke it on, that’s a “no thank you!”).
You can also shake a few drops of a hydrosol onto a carpet for kitty to interact with, if putting dried herbs on the floor isn’t an option. Just make sure you are buying a true hydrosol, not water that has had essential oil added. That stuff is the “cheap seats”, and not necessarily safe for cats.
Catnip Essential Oil (EO)
Considering that
there can be potential risk to cats & essential oils, if any gets on their fur, and
cats respond so beautifully to the fresh/dried plant and hydrosol - making the EO available to your cat is, I think, entirely unnecessary. It’s a NO from me.
“Anything else to consider regarding my cat, catnip and safety?”
I’m glad you asked. Yes indeed:
Because of the potentially stimulating and sedative effects of this herb, it is not recommended to offer catnip to cats that are:
prone to seizures
on sedative medications
(Catnip is considered a very safe herb, but if your cat is on any regular medication, it’s always worth checking with your vet to ensure there is no contra-indication risk).
Eating Catnip:
Perfectly safe (if it’s organic) - but, there are warnings regarding your cat perhaps getting an upset stomach if it eats lots of catnip. However, your cat is extremely unlikely to nibble more than it needs, IF it is allowed to self-select and regulate the quantity it ingests (which is usually tiny) by itself. Again, this is why I will always advise NOT mixing herbs into your cat’s food.
Does Catnip affect all cats?
No, not all cats are triggered to interact with catnip. Estimations vary but its generally considered that roughly two thirds of cats have the genetic receptors needed to produce the euphoric response usually associated with this herb. Also, kittens under 8 weeks old don’t seem to react to catnip.
And finally ….
Well, I’m delighted you’re still reading! Before I sign off - I need to clear up one thing that makes me twitch, every time someone says (usually in quite an insistent tone ..) “Catnip, Catmint - same thing, different people call it different things…” (Just give me a moment while I twitch quietly a few more times …)
“Is Catnip the Same as Catmint”?
No. No, no, NO. It’s not the same plant, and it really doesn’t matter how many times people insistently tell you that it is!
Same genus? - yes. Same plant - No.
Everyday or “common” plant names are a recipe for confusion, they’re different all over the world, so if you’re ever in any doubt, just check the plant’s scientific name. In this case we have:
Catnip - Nepeta cataria
Catmint - Nepeta faassenji
One is very pretty, one is not quite so obviously pretty, but extremely therapeutic. I know by now you’ll know which is the therapeutic one!
REFERENCES
Lichman, Godden et al., (2020). Science Advances [Online]. ‘The evolutionary origins of the cat attractant nepetalactone in catnip’. Available at: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/20/eaba0721
John Innes Centre (2018). ScienceDaily [Online]. ‘How catnip makes the chemical that causes cats to go crazy’. Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181211103125.htm
Grognet, J. (1990). National Centre for Biotechnology Information [Online]. ‘The Uses of Catnip Past and Present’. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480656/pdf/canvetj00079-0049.pdf?utm_medium=pt&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=catnip-plant-benefits
Patience, Karirekinyana et al., (2018). Scientific Reports [Online]. ‘Sustainable manufacture of insect repellents derived from Nepeta cataria’. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-18141-z