Catnip addiction?

lunasmom

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Just curious, can a cat have a catnip addiction?

Reason why I ask is that I noticed Beauty digging into one of the scratching posts yesterday for some leftover catnip. Then this morning I did give out some fresh catnip and she was at it again...then once more after an long afternoon nap.

I'm planning on taking a good vacuuming to the scratching posts (unless someone says otherwise!) tomorrow.

Thanks!
 

StefanZ

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Addiction is much said. But catnip IS very strong on most cats.
 

x-ta-z

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I have the feeling Singa is immune to catnip.
She doesn't show any reaction at all. At least she treats her catnip toys just like any other old mouse...
 

maverick_kitten

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Some cats are missing the cat-nip gene that makes them react to it. I think it's around 30%?

Mav is immune to it, and Jupiter only reacts sometimes.
 

icklemiss21

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Mine are, they will go crazy if I put the catnip sacks away and spend all night whining and trying to get them... I haven't worked out which is worse, listening to them play all night or listening to them whine for the sacks
 
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lunasmom

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catnip does still effect her though. She will turn mellow after 10 minutes of rolling and eating it.
This is just recent too. I moved the scratching post (it was blocked in a corner) to a more accisible location. Maybe it was just the moving of it??
 

zazi

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he he he - well so long as your cat doesn't pawn the scratching post for a kilo of prime cat nip from your local cat nip dealer i think she sounds pretty normal to me


Having said that, i read somewhere that statistically one in two cats is affected by cat nip.
 

x-ta-z

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Singa is definitely not impressed by catnip at all. She wont even touch treats that have catnip in it. Tried it yesterday. She will just sniff and leave
 

emmylou

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Catnip is not addictive and is completely safe for cats. The only drawback would be if the post-catnip behavior is too much for you.
 

sillykitty3

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I've also read that about 30% of cats don't have the catnip gene. As far as it being addictive, no, it's completely safe for your cat and quite entertaining for both of you. Two of my cats love the stuff and can hear the lid come off the container a mile away, my other one will sniff it and rub his face in it but never gets too silly.

Jennie
 

yosemite

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We've had a couple cats that reacted strongly to olives. They would roll around and try to get the olive smell all over themselves. It was fun to watch. They had no interest in eating it, just rolling on it.
 
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lunasmom

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

We've had a couple cats that reacted strongly to olives. They would roll around and try to get the olive smell all over themselves. It was fun to watch. They had no interest in eating it, just rolling on it.
Ooo...Patches does that! She will start purring, kneading, smelling. Basically that cat wakes up when a jar of green olives opens up.

Yea, I didn't think Whitey had the cat-nip gene in him either until last weekend when he finally ate and began to guard the cat nip. I Just don't think he was ever given cat nip before.

thanks everyone! As long as Beauty isn't going to suffer brain damage from too much 'nip I won't worry about it. And if I start finding cat toys under the post I'll know she's dealing
 

pooperscooper

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lol, we have a little tub of catnip and my cat gets really excited when she sees it. We have to keep it hidden or she'd want it all day long.
 
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