Catnip = aggressive

pepsiandmax

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Hey

I wanted to ask, today I gave my cats the new and supposably wonderful toy "Kong Kickeroo". One of my cats loved it, and the other seemed afraid of it. That was Max. So I let Pepsi play with it, and took out the new fether string toy to play with Max. And he was sooo much more hyper than usuall, he is a fairly lazy cat, but was soo determined to get the toy (this toy is not suppose to have catnip in it)
And he caugt it, and did not want to let go. He starter hissing and growling, with it in his mouth, and he was not going to let go. He has never done anything like this before, I don't like catnip, but this toy had gotten so so many good feedback.

The only other time he has been like this with a toy was a few hours after beeing castrated comming out of the anestesia, he found one of his mouse toys. He usually brings the over so I can through them, but that time he had hos jawa locked on it and started to growl when I tried to take it.

Is it possible for the hallusinations effect to make him aggressive thinking he has actually caught a real pray?

If it helps he is a cream colourd cat, they are known for being more agressive, which is the opposite of his normal behaviour.

And as a second question/comment. The toy, Pepsi started acting like he had gotten something in his mout, it was hair. It could have looked like his own fur. But when I managed to get the toy away from him, it was covered in grey hairy stuff.. It seemed really bad for him to play with it if he is going to eat it.
I could not find any reviews mentioning this as a problem, and I am going straight to the store to tell them and hopefully get a refound, but I do wonder if others have experienced this?
 

shadowsrescue

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I have a cat that gets quite aggressive from catnip.  He just wants to chase and fight with the other two cats.  I have to keep catnip away from him.

As for tearing apart the toy or eating the toy, cats will do this.  As they are killing the "prey"  it is normal to rip it apart just like real prey they would catch.  With toys you have to watch and just dispose of the toy if they are pulling out stuffing or ripping off fur. 
 

mrpurrrfectcat

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My cat loves catnip and after he has had some he has a funny five minutes where he goes a bit crazy.

He loves it and the affect soon wears off, he isn't aggressive though, just energetically playful. It's very sweet to watch.
 

rickr

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All cats react differently to catnip.  My black cat, Lucy does not respond to the herb at all.  While Archie, my orange tabby, often becomes quite aggressive on catnip.  I don't leave catnip toys out.  Instead, I bring out a catnip toy only when Archie isn't in the mood to play.  His current favorite is a catnip "stick" that I attached to a string so I can drag it across the floor.  After a few minutes of rubbing and attacking a catnip lure, I switch toys.  My goal is just to interest him in playtime. 

A lot of cat toys are poorly made. But even high quality ones will wear; pieces break away, fabric and thread comes loose.  I try to avoid anything made in China (though that is becoming increasingly difficult).  And I toss out toys when they start to wear to a point where I fear for my cats' safety. 

Re the Kong toy....Archie has one.  He loves it - well he used to; over time he has grown somewhat bored with it.  His is over 5 years old; it has held up quite well despite his constant kicks with his powerful rear claws.  
 
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mrpurrrfectcat

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I don't buy catnip toys, I buy a tub of loose catnip. I sprinkle some on the floor for him and he rolls about in it, loving it!

When I get the catnip pot out, he's already there sniffing the tub and rubbing up against it. Too cute.
 

bobkater

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It is estimated that about 50 percent of cats are affected by catnip, and the behavior that results varies widely between individuals.

Catnip is safe for cats, but if they are exposed to it frequently, they may no longer respond to it. To prevent habituation, it shouldn’t be given more than once every couple of weeks.
 

frostie

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The kitty has ignored most of the catnip toys purchased outside. The Kong and Yeow catnip toys among many others are now my toys cus she doesn't play with them.
 Fortunately, she likes the catnip teabag pillow I made by stuffing loose organic catnip in several layers of teabag pouches for durability. When she plays with the catnip teabag, she fervently rubs her face against it, licks it, or aggressively bunny kicks it. Each equally adorable, but she would ignore me until the catnip effect wears off.
 

luka2016

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I' m new here and found the forum only because I was looking for information on whether catnip could cause cats to be aggressive. We adopted our rescue cat a few weeks ago and for the first few days she was really settled and happy. We have since absolutely showered her with toys and things, mostly because our house is relatively small and I wanted to make sure she was enriched enough while she's inside getting used to her new house. My partner bought her this toy that is laced with catnip (I can't usually smell it, but this one I can smell quite a way off!). Because she is new to us, it has taken us a week to figure out that it turns her into one very aggressive and upset little cat. Post playing with the toy, she will act as if cushions and blankets which have been in the house since she got here are the scariest thing she's ever seen in her life. We took it away from her, but left catnip mice out instead. After playing with the mice, she will actively seek out our kitten to attack her, and has unintentionally got us in her pursuit of the mice. I've just spent the last twenty minutes making sure all catnip toys are well out of her reach - hopefully this improves the situation!
 
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pepsiandmax

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Hey

I wanted to add when I read this that I'm not sure if it was the cat nit making him aggressive.

Max is a very laid back, lazy cat, but we have when I got the catnip toy I also got a new string toy (one that is attached to a stick). And he is still crazy about it. There is not catnip in it, I checked. 

It is a feather toy, with some lether straps too on it. And he just goes crazy! He knows I keep it in my room, and whem my mum comes down to us in the basement, Max will fo towards the doo, towards my mum stroke aganst her legs and try to get her to go to the door and find the toy.

If he caches it he will keep it in his mouth, trying to run away with it. And he starts puffing air out his nose and also start growling if we try and take it. He has not attacked or anyting. I am allowed to pet him, even if he do start to growle.

But this reaction seems to be limited to this one toy. Not sure of its the lether, or the feathers or a combination of the both. Of if this feather really smells like a real bird or something. But cat nip was really not the problem. Well the toy is a good way to make him run and excercice, which is good. Castration has made him a bit on the geavy side, so having a toy that he really run after like crazy is kind of good. 

But I keep it away to so he won't eat it and destroy it :D

I did google, and it is common for cats to get this kind of reaction to certain toys, so I am not really worried. When I take the toy away he is his usual laid back self :D no aggrassion what so ever :) 

But yeah, wanted to informe of this :)

Hope taking away the cat nip will help you. From the other responses it seems like aggression is linked to cat nip :) 
 

mingsmongols

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He really likes that toy. It's not a catnip thing it's an 'I love it so much I want to murder it and eat it' thing.
 
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