When do kittens start liking catnip?

According to one of my books, KITTENS FOR DUMMIES, kittens have no interest in catnip until they are older. My 4 month old kitten has no interest in catnip at this time but was wondering what other people's experience was with this.

Did your book also mention that if the kitten hasn't inherited the appropriate genes to be a catnip responder, it won't matter how old they get, they won't like/respond to it?

A kitten with the appropriate genes to be a catnip responder also has to be at the age of sexual maturity - this varies a fair bit! I've seen in my breed, kittens as young as 4-5 months begin showing sexual maturity, domestic cats with siamese behind them (as I recall) may mature at a younger age.

I'd say if your kitten isn't responding to catnip by the age of 7-8 months, they aren't going to.

In which case, you can try the two alternatives to catnip, which some non-catnip responders will respond to - honeysuckle or valerian.

Teufel started to like cat nip when he turned 1. but he doesnt like it as much as kaylee! and shes liked it since she was 4 months old!

My cat is a little over a year old. He's never really responded to it. We bought him tons of toys but his favorites are shoe laces and rubber bands.

Clover is just barely four months old, and she goes absolutely crazy for the catnip mice I bring home from work for her. She loves them!

Sophie never touched it until she was nearly 1 year old. I remember asking the same question as you when she was just a baby as well

Oout of my 5 cats only one likes catnip. I tried to give it to Princess when she was a couple months old and she avoided the toy. She is now 11 and she still hates catnip.