Catnip question

I know all cats are different but generally speaking, around when do kitties start to "enjoy" catnip? I bought the girls some catnip stuffed toys the other day (more because they're cute and have bells on the end of their tails than for the catnip) and the girls will occasionally play with them but that's about it. FYI Rosalie is 7 months old and Zoey's 5.5 months. Our old cat, Alizea, started to 'feel the effects" of nip around 6 months old.

Some cats never feel the effect, but I think your girls might be too young yet. I got Holland some catnip toys when I got her at around 5 months and she had no interest at all. I didn't try the catnip again until recently (she's almost 2) and while she does seem to respond to it now, she doesn't go as crazy as some cats might.

Yeah, some of my kitties LOVE catnip and others could care less really. Give them a few more months and they'll probably go crazy for it.

A few months back we came home from work to find a bunch of VERY high kitties rolling around on my kitchen floor which was COVERED in catnip. One of them got into the cubbard and found it. I didn't know whether to be mad or to die laughing.

Keep in mind that not all cat nip is created equal. Some cat nip may be very good and potent, but some might not.

I grow my own and had a few really incredible crops, but then the potency of the plants began to wear off. I realized there was some other kinds of wild mint growing near by and the mint had cross pollinated with the nip, and it lost it's potency.

I pulled up all the plants and planted new seed last year, but ti's still not the same. Maybe I should try pulling up all the wild mint.

Originally Posted by otto

Maybe I should try pulling up all the wild mint.

Click to expand...

Depending on how much there is, that could be quite an endeavor. Maybe see if there's anything you can use wild mint for if you do.


It can very. But I usually don't see much of a reaction till kittens are passed 5-6 months. Before that they're goofy enough that they don't need catnip to act silly.

Be careful with toys that have bells on them! Unless you're completely supervising their play (and not letting them out of your sight) bells are a major hazard for being swallowed. I won't allow anything with bells on it for any of the cats - no matter how carefully I watch them, they're all just too quick. I also have two of them that will grab something they shouldn't have an run with it... I've had to nearly tackle Tomas and Tanna to get things out of their mouths (hair usually).

Flash and Sooty go crazy for catnip, they didnt when they were kittens.

Flashs cat page picture the chilli she is with was catnip filled and she didnt really bother with it but as she grew up she showed more interest and eventually ripped it to shreads with Sooty