Are There Downsides To Catnip?

Author

Luke The Rescue Cat
July 27, 2024

Meow, hello and welcome to my educational newsletter this week. Today, I will be discussing the effects of catnip, while I am out of my mind on this natural herb. I know you're looking forward to some beautiful photos of me as well, and lucky for you, there's plenty of those in store this week!

Let’s get rolling!

kitty in bowtie

“Mmm. I look good. I mean, really good. Hey, everyone! Come and see how good I look!” - Anchorman (2004)

The pros and cons of catnip

Catnip is a natural perennial herb that comes from the mint family. It’s stuffed inside most cat toys and also comes in sprays and bags of dried leaves. Depending on their genes, some cats will go crazy for it, while other cats don’t really have much of a reaction. The Humane Society estimates that only 50% of all cats inherit the sensitivity to catnip.

I, for one, love the stuff! My mom will sprinkle some on a mat and I will be all over it. I’ll start smelling it, licking it up, rubbing it on my face, and rolling all over the floor. As you can see in the video below, I will go absolutely insane for some good catnip:

Pros

  • Catnip is all natural; it’s part of the mint family.

  • Catnip releases endorphins (aka feel-good chemicals) in your cat’s brain.

  • It’s widely available in most stores and online.

  • It’s available in many different forms: inside toys, as a spray, and as dried leaves.

  • You can also find blends with silver vine, an alternative to catnip that produces a similar euphoric effect.

Cons

  • Some cats may have a bad reaction and become aggressive.

  • While they can’t overdose on the smell of catnip, they can potentially eat too much of it and experience gastrointestinal issues.

  • Not all cats react to catnip (only about half, depending on their inherited genes).

  • Potency decreases over time.

  • Cats can also develop a tolerance over time.

PetMD is an excellent resource for all things related to pet health. Here is their helpful summary on catnip:

According to a recent paper, catnip works through the body’s internal opioid system. When a cat smells catnip, a substance called nepetalactone interacts with certain cells in their upper airway. Once the interaction occurs, the cat’s body releases endorphins—natural opioids . . . Although reports that the herb induces LSD-like hallucinations are probably overblown (and difficult to prove), catnip is nonetheless a safe, cheap, and effective way to give your cat some short-lived enjoyment.

What do you mean I can’t have any more?

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