Catnip? Dumb Question Alert !!

[AmberLee]

??? I was told that most kittens less than 6 months do not react to catnip, and to avoid having it in toys for kittens for fear they would acclimatize to it. Some cats never acquire a taste for it.

And I try to limit Cassy and Livvy to once a week or less because they seem to have lower reactions to it when it's too common.

But, no, for adult cats I haven't heard of anything like you were told. What a mystery!

[catnapper]

Not dumb! It never occured to me to give it to them in loose form either. I figured the packets they sold were so you could make your own toys or replace the old stuff in existing toys! Now THATS dumb! LOL.... we make a good pair, don't we?

I tried giving it to my guys, and know what? Only my KITTENS reacted to it in loose form. Pouncer (my niphead) ignored it, Harry looked at it like he knew he'd end up with flecks of it in his white fur (he's proud of his beautiful orange and white self ) and well... everyone but Flutter and Angel left it alone.

[Abby&Buddy'sMom]

here is what it looks like after a fun nip party





Buddy doing his famous "cat nip flip " dance

[Felix]

I have never heard it as being bad for them either.I just recently bought Felix the pure stuff and I was truley disappointed.Seems my Felix dont have any interest in the stuff. I wasnt sure if this was a normal reaction first because of all the photos on PT of other cats eating and rolling in it

[catmandu]

I suppose the only real danger from Cat Nip that I ahve ever seen in the Years of having Cats is that they may become over stimulated and start fighting.
But other tahn that CatNip is good for Cats as it stimulates them,and I think sharpend thier sense.
And you can but Cat Nip at a Spice Importers ,fresh for a lot less than The Pet Food Stores Charge.
Cats love thier NIP!

[Randy_K]

The only fear I have is from Asian import cat toys with catnip in them. They are required to be fumigated when brought into North America or Europe so there is some residual pesticide in the toy. I usually buy catnip toys at cat shows that are made locally or buy the loose catnip to be safe. Every cat has a different reaction to catnip. Some get totally goofy and some can take it or leave it. I have had all types over the years.

[AlleyCat]

Many thanks for all your input. I really don't know why I was led all those years ago to think that catnip is bad. Now that I know it's not, and judging by how my kitties love their catnip toys, I hope that means they'd like the real stuff too, so off to the store I go !!