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You are here: Home / About Cats, Catnip and Cat Toys / Ten Tips About Catnip: Legal High for Cats

Ten Tips About Catnip: Legal High for Cats

August 26, 2014 by Kat Maran Leave a Comment

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Tamale: caught in the catnip plant again!
Tamale: caught in the catnip plant again!

Follow these tips to give your stark raving cat the best catnip experience.

Try our special 5-Star Catnip

First, what is catnip? Call it cat weed, cat mint, or catnip, it’s the stuff that makes some cats wacky. And as with any herb, freshness matters.

What does catnip do to a cat? I’m asked this all the time, usually by spouses who tolerate a partner’s cat (or rather, the cat tolerates them). I even had a vet ask me this question. (Gaahhh! Don’t they cover catnip in vet-med schools?) Here’s what I tell them…

Mreachingforjoint

Ten Tips About Catnip 

Catnip is an herb related to mint. It’s safe and natural. Catnip works in both dried and fresh forms.

1. Catnip stimulates the pleasure-seeking pheromones in a cat’s brain. Result: Rolling, rubbing, purring, wild-eyes, racing, friskiness and frolicking – for about ten minutes, before the cat abandons the catnip. (Some cats get aggressive, so watch your fingers.) The crazy-session is followed by a crash: sedentary zoning or naptime ­– which can be handy if you want your cat to be tranquil for a spell.

2. Most cats, but not all, respond to catnip. Experts say 70-75 percent of cats inherit a “catnip gene” which makes them responsive to catnip. Kittens and cats younger than six months don’t respond to catnip. (Perhaps, like kids, they’re naturally high.)

Pookie and Catnip Joint
Video still of Pookie playing with Catnip Joint

3. Let your cat inhale! Cats get their kicks by inhaling the vapor from the catnip oil. Chewing, pawing and slobbering on a catnip toy helps release the oil’s vapor. (With our Catnip Joints, we recommend running the joint under the cat’s nose, like a fine cigar, to get them engaged, before tossing the joint in the air like prey.)

4. Stale catnip won’t work. Which is why cat toys that have been on the shelves for months lose their potency; mass-market brands often start off with cheap, inferior catnip. No wonder kitty won’t play! Don’t waste your money.

5. Smell the freshness. Catnip’s essential oil “nepetalactone” makes the magic happen, and it’s found mainly in the leaves and buds. When the oil dries out, no more magic. It’s just like the herbs in your kitchen cabinet. If your herbs or catnip don’t have aromas, throw them out. They’re duds.

6. Quality matters. Again, as with all herbs, there are weak strains of catnip and stronger ones. Soil, sun and growing conditions make a difference between “premium catnip” and inferior catnip. (At Stark Raving Cat, we use only premium catnip.)

7. Freeze dried catnip airtight to keep it fresh. This includes catnip toys. (If you buy a multi-pack of Catnip Joints, freeze a few for later use.)

Catnip Joints

8. If a catnip toy needs reviving, roll it in dried catnip (stuff that’s not stale). Don’t just sprinkle the catnip: crumble it on scratching posts or toys to release the potent oil.

9. Is catnip safe to eat? Yes, but best in small amounts. It acts like a sedative, making cats more sleepy than frisky. Large quantities may cause digestive issues. Don’t set out a platter of catnip (I’ve seen this happen on the Interweb; the cat was passed out for days.)

10. Desensitization happens. Problem: My cat stopped playing with her catnip toy. Solution: Remove catnip toys after playtime. Cats’ noses get desensitized when they’re always around catnip. Bring the toys out again in a day or so. To revive an old toy, rub loose catnip on the outside to refresh the aroma.

Catnip plants are as easy to grow as mint. But beware: your frenzied cat may crawl right into the pot! I’ve discovered Pookie nesting in the catnip plant on more than one occasion.

Or you can try our special 5-Star Catnip.

– Stark Raving Kate

tcatniprub

A Public Service Post by Tamale at StarkRavingCat.com

 

Filed Under: About Cats, Catnip and Cat Toys, Featured, Tips About Cats, Catnip and Cat Toys Tagged With: catnip, safety, tip, toy

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Springtime Happiness

Glow in the Dark Kicker
Top photo: Angel shows the proper technique for using our Glow in the Dark Kicker (photo by @mochikit on Instagram). Middle photo: Paisley inspects a Screeming Meemie (photo by @kpnabbers on IG). Bottom: Ginger Baby with Catnip Candle Birthday Card (photo by @charlieandginger on IG).

kpnabbers-Paisley with Meemie
Ginger Baby & Catnip Birthday Card

On Instagram

  • by starkravingcat 3 days ago
    Watch: Kissies from one cat to another, and then on to a Beach Baby Mother’s Day is May 9, so I found some cute baby (Catnip Beach Baby) photos to share. My favorite, of course, is Tamale with her pink seahorse, and I also love all these shots. Happy Purrsday, buddies! Catnip Beach Babies: 10 different toys including octopus, whale, dolphin, lobster, seahorse, starfish and more. Collect them all!  #CatnipBeachBabies  . StarkRavingCat.com: Small batch artisanal cat toys and hip handmade gifts. For your  #catmom ,  #catdad ,  #catlover ,  #starkravingcat ,  #instacat , from  #Austin   #etsy   #etsyshop   #etsysuccess   #catnip   #catniptoys   #catgift   #catlovergift   #catmomgift   #tamaleceo   #angeltamaleceo 
  • by starkravingcat 5 days ago
    From Tamale to T-Bunny: same day, one year apart. Both in the same part of the yard. T-Bunny is a regular part of our lives now. The first thing I do when I get up is to see if she’s around. Usually she is. Or shows up within the hour. She’s always here in the evenings, too. And usually she’s around in the afternoon, either in the yard or out with Catdad in his garden area. We’ve grown very fond of this little bunny. I think she may be the same bunny in the last video, with Tamale last fall.
  • by starkravingcat 1 day ago
    Yesterday’s birthday cards from Catdad. Every holiday, Thomas cobbles together cards with a personal touch. There’s also a lovely card in this sequence from my brother and family, of a scallion-wearing duck (!), and gorgeous ranunculus from them. It was a good week too: got our 2nd Pfizer shots Missing Tamale at the party this year, she is always in our hearts and minds. And now we have T-Bunny —  #tbunnysrc  —to keep us company. Thanks for all the good birthday wishes!
  • by starkravingcat 5 days ago
    Tongue out with Catnip Mangling: Tamale even punches the catnip plant swipe for the video. Happy Tuesday! Enjoy Angel Tamale Here’s to feeling good today! .  #catniphigh   #tamaleceo   #tamalecandoit   #toughasnailstamale   #tamalestrong   #TamaleCEO  and  #StarkRavingCat : toys and cat lover gifts Handmade at  #starkravingranchito   #txhillcountry  near  #Austin  StarkRavingCat shop link in bio, or find us on  #etsy   #etsyshops   #tamaletonguetuesday   #tamaletuesday   #angeltamale   #angeltamaleceo   #catvideo   #cutecatvideo   #catoncatnip 
  • by starkravingcat 5 days ago
    Our guitar kicker puts the roll in rock n roll ... No one rocks the house quite like  @fur_babyz  Rock ‘n, roll!  #guitarkicker   #catnipguitar   #guitarkickstick   #guitarcattoysrc  .  #AngelTamaleCEO  and StarkRavingCat: hip toys, gifts, ornaments, earrings, and kickers for cats and cat lovers, at  #starkravingcat  online and on Etsy, from  #Austin   #ATX   #txhillcountry   #starkravingranchito   #etsy   #etsyshops  See link in bio
  • by starkravingcat 6 days ago
    After a busy weekend filling Easter baskets, T-Bunny worked up an appetite! Have a wonderful rest of the week, cats, wabbits and humans  #tbunnysrc  StarkRavingCat: Handmade  #catnip   #cattoys   #catgifts   #catpins  . For your  #catmom ,  #catdad ,  #catlover ,  #instacat , from  #Austin   #atx   #austintxlife   #txhillcountry   #etsy   #etsyshop   #starkravingcat   #angeltamale   #angeltamaleceo 
  • by starkravingcat 3 days ago
    Catmoms are the best moms! I designed this card featuring vintage Victorian scrap from my artist-mom’s stash. Swipe to see some other Mother’s Day gifties (including cute pins, and Love Bites hearts). I’m also working on some new cat earrings but I’ll share those in a post nest week. Happy Purrsday!  #catmomsarethebestmoms   #lovebitescatniphearts   #catmomcard   #pinkbutterflycattoy  StarkRavingCat: Handmade  #catnip   #cattoys   #catgifts   #catpins  . For your  #catmom ,  #catdad ,  #catlover ,  #instacat , from  #Austin   #atx   #austintxlife   #txhillcountry   #etsy   #etsyshop   #starkravingcat   #angeltamale   #angeltamaleceo 
  • by starkravingcat 4 days ago
    Angel can’t wait - she attacks our fruits and veggies right in the bag Repost  @mochikit  I'll show you how much Angel is crazy about  @starkravingcat  cat toys!  #starkravingcat   #fruitsnveggiescatniptoys   #fruitsnveggiescattoys   #fruitsandveggiescattoys   #carrotcattoy   #avocadocattoy   #strawberrycattoy  StarkRavingCat: Handmade  #catnip   #cattoys   #catgifts   #catpins  . For your  #catmom ,  #catdad ,  #catlover ,  #instacat , from  #Austin   #atx   #austintxlife   #txhillcountry   #etsy   #etsyshop   #starkravingcat   #angeltamale   #angeltamaleceo 
  • by starkravingcat 2 days ago
    I thought Tamale was cute with the bunny, but OMG! Otto here is the cutest! Repost  @norilynfox  : Otto loves his bunny from  @starkravingcat  ♥️ STOCK ALERT: only 8 Bunny & Carrot sets left. See profile for shop links.  #bunnycarrotcattoy   #bunnycattoy   #carrotcattoy   #bunnysrc  StarkRavingCat: Handmade  #catnip   #cattoys  and more. For your  #catmom ,  #catdad ,  #catlover ,  #instacat , from  #starkravingranchito   #Austin   #atx   #austintxlife   #txhillcountry   #etsy   #etsyshop   #starkravingcat   #angeltamaleceo   #catvideo   #cutecatvideo 
  • by starkravingcat 2 days ago
    When in doubt, make soup... Or salad Or a strawberry smoothie with your tail Bon appetit! (Hey, Food Network: Angel is ready to compete! ‍) Repost  @mochikit  CHEF ANGEL WANTS TO COOK. BUT SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT SHE CAN DO WITH THESE @STARKRAVINGCAT ‍  #starkravingcat   #fruitsnveggiescatniptoys   #fruitsnveggiescattoys   #fruitsandveggiescattoys   #carrotcattoy   #avocadocattoy   #strawberrycattoy  StarkRavingCat: Handmade  #catnip   #cattoys   #catgifts   #catpins  . For your  #catmom ,  #catdad ,  #catlover ,  #instacat , from  #Austin   #atx   #austintxlife   #txhillcountry   #etsy   #etsyshop   #starkravingcat   #angeltamale   #angeltamaleceo 

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