Catnip Ok For Kittens

Even catnip toys like fc kitty hoots are becoming more and more popular.

Catnip ok for kittens. For cats that sniff catnip and rub against the plants they ll get more of the stimulating effects rotman said. Nepetalactone is one of the. Catnip belongs to the mint family and if you crush the fresh leaves you can smell the scent. In fact it s the scent that intoxicates cats when they smell it.

Watching your kitten entertain himself for hours with his catnip toy is truly entertaining. These hard wired preferences aren t immediately apparent though since kittens under the age of 3 months don t react to catnip at all. The reaction to a catnip can vary from kitten to kitten. It is generally considered safe to use catnip for kittens but it is important to note that some cats may not prove very interested in the herb especially kittens that are younger than two to three months old and some elderly cats.

Absolutely catnip is safe for kittens. The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. But of course you won t want to give a kitten too much catnip as over ingesting can lead to vomit and diarrhea and kittens have much smaller bodies and thus lower tolerances in general than full grown cats. Often people question whether it is safe to use catnip for kittens for a couple of reasons.

But is catnip safe. This is generally safe as catnip isn t toxic. The catnip reaction is thought to be exhibited due to an inherited characteristic related to an autosomal dominant gene and the effect isn t just exhibited in domestic cats it s also. Giving it to him too early isn t a concern although he may not respond to it if he s still really young.

Both smelling and ingesting catnip is safe for your feline family member. If your kitten has reached the half year mark in age you might indeed notice an obvious result of catnip. It s perfectly safe to give a kitten small amounts of catnip however. Even though catnip makes him act a little crazy it s a perfectly safe natural herb.

The study noted that kittens under 8 weeks exhibited no reaction to catnip and according to todd when kittens are given it the catnip often produces a distinct avoidance response in young kittens which is gradually replaced by indifference in non responders and by heightened curiosity in responders. About one cat in two. Absolutely catnip is safe for kittens. Can kittens have catnip.

It s genetics that determines whether your feline friend falls for this cousin to basil and oregano. But of course you won t want to give a kitten too much catnip as over ingesting can lead to vomit and diarrhea and kittens have much smaller bodies and thus lower tolerances in general than full grown cats. Bruising the leaves helps the volatile oil disperse into the air so your cat can get a good sniff. Your cat is among the lucky ones by the way since some cats don t react to catnip at all.

It s perfectly safe to give a kitten small amounts of catnip however. That s why cats roll and paw the dried herb. And what does it mean if your cat doesn t like it.