Is Catnip Safe for Kittens?

Yes, catnip is generally considered safe for kittens. Researchers describe it as non-toxic and non-addictive for cats. Young kittens usually won't react to it at all, though. The AAFP notes that most kittens under four months don't respond.

The one caution is eating it. The ASPCA lists catnip as toxic to cats because it can upset the stomach, so offer a little on a toy, not as a snack. Below: when the response appears, and why some cats never feel it.

Why doesn't my kitten react to catnip?

Because she's probably too young. The AAFP's guidance on scratching puts it plainly: most kittens under four months of age will not respond to catnip.

The age figure goes back to a 1962 study by the geneticist N.B. Todd in the Journal of Heredity. He reported that kittens younger than six to eight weeks don't respond, and that the response doesn't reliably develop until about three months.

Here's a twist. Todd also described very young kittens avoiding catnip, whether or not they would grow up to love it. So a kitten who backs away from it now may still roll in it later.

The timing isn't fixed. A 2011 University of California, Davis study notes that responders have been recorded at two months, and Todd mentioned one seven-week-old kitten with a full response.

Is catnip safe for kittens to sniff and eat?

Sniffing is the main event, and it's the gentle part. A 2017 study of 100 cats in BMC Veterinary Research describes catnip and similar plants as generally considered safe, and not toxic or addictive for cats.

Eating is where the caution comes in. The ASPCA lists catnip as toxic to cats on its plant database. Its note explains that many cats love catnip, but that it “can cause vomiting and diarrhea.”

The ASPCA adds that catnip makes some cats sleepy and others excited. Both are normal reactions to the plant.

So the practical answer is moderation. Offer a little on a toy or a scratching pad, and put the bag away afterward. The Cornell Feline Health Center even suggests catnip and catmint as alternatives for cats who crave greens.

Call your vet promptly if your kitten:

• has vomiting or diarrhea after eating catnip, and it keeps happening
• seems unwell in any other way after chewing a plant
• has chewed a houseplant you can't identify, since Cornell warns that several common houseplants can be deadly to cats

Why do some cats ignore catnip completely?

It's largely down to genes. The 2017 BMC Veterinary Research study found that 68% of the 100 cats it tested responded to catnip. About one cat in three didn't.

That figure has held up for decades. Todd's 1962 survey of 84 cats estimated that at least 69% were responders, close to the modern result.

Todd's 1962 work suggested a single dominant gene. Later research painted a more complicated picture. The 2011 UC Davis study tracked cats in two research colonies and found no simple pattern of inheritance.

It did find a strong genetic influence. Heritability, meaning how much of the difference between cats comes from their genes, was 0.511 in one colony and 0.794 in the other for the classic rolling and cheek-rubbing response.

Put simply, genes explained roughly half to four-fifths of the variation in whether cats responded. If her parents shrugged at catnip, she may too.

There's an alternative worth knowing. In the 2017 study, 71% of the cats that ignored catnip responded to silver vine, another plant sold for cats.

What does a catnip reaction look like?

It can look dramatic the first time. The 2017 study describes cats sniffing, licking and biting the plant, shaking their heads, rubbing their chins and cheeks on it, and rolling over. Some drool or kick.

It's brief. The response lasts about 10 to 15 minutes on average, the UC Davis study notes, and is followed by roughly an hour in which the cat won't respond again.

That short break after each session is why more catnip right away does nothing. Give her a break before offering it again.

Age matters less once she's grown. The 2017 study found no difference in how many cats responded between younger and older adults, though older cats more often had a milder reaction to catnip.

A relaxed, rolling, purring kitten is a happy one. Our guide to signs of happiness in cats covers the other signals to watch for.

Why do cats roll in catnip at all?

This is the most surprising part. A 2021 study in Science Advances found that the rubbing and rolling transfers the plants' active compounds onto a cat's fur. The main one tested, nepetalactol from silver vine, is a potent mosquito repellent.

Cats with it on their fur attracted significantly fewer mosquitoes than untreated cats. The same team found it raised levels of beta-endorphin, a natural feel-good chemical, in the cats' blood.

The researchers explain why this isn't addictive. The cat's own body releases the beta-endorphin, so the effect is unlike a drug given from outside.

How can I use catnip with a kitten?

Once she's old enough to respond, catnip is a useful training aid. The AAFP suggests catnip and catnip spray to encourage cats to use scratching posts and pads.

Cornell's advice is similar. Placing catnip on or around a scratching post can tempt a reluctant cat to try it.

It also works as a reward. The AAFP lists catnip alongside food, play and petting among the rewards that help a cat learn. That makes it handy for teaching new skills, like getting used to a kitten harness.

Catnip toys and a sturdy scratcher are good additions to your kitten supplies.

Questions new kitten parents ask

At what age can kittens have catnip?

The AAFP's guidance is about response, not risk. Most kittens won't react before four months, so catnip is often wasted on a younger kitten. In small amounts it's considered safe.

Can a kitten overdose on catnip?

Researchers consider catnip safe and not addictive. Eating it can upset her stomach, the ASPCA notes, so offer small amounts and store the rest out of reach.

Is catnip a drug for cats?

No. The 2021 Science Advances researchers found it works through the cat's own feel-good chemistry, and they describe the response as non-addictive.

Why is my kitten scared of catnip?

Very young kittens sometimes back away from it. Todd described this avoidance in kittens that later became responders and in kittens that never did.

Sources

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, Catnip
• American Association of Feline Practitioners: Claw Friendly Educational Toolkit, Scratching Resources
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Behavior Problems, Destructive Behavior
• Bol S, et al. Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, valerian and catnip. BMC Veterinary Research, 2017
• Uenoyama R, et al. The characteristic response of domestic cats to plant iridoids allows them to gain chemical defense against mosquitoes. Science Advances, 2021
• Villani NA. Heritability and Characteristics of Catnip Response in Two Domestic Cat Populations. MS thesis, University of California, Davis, 2011
• Todd NB. Inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats. Journal of Heredity, 1962;53:54 (as summarized by Villani, 2011)

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.