My sister accidentally spilled a TON of catnip into the carpet in our room. Our cat Xena went bonkers. She rolled around, purred incessantly, then proceeded to chew right through the carpet to get to the catnip. Then she licked my hand. This behavior is not typical of her. She's usually mellow, calm, shy, and reserved.

I had no idea catnip did this. Is it possible for a cat to be affected this way? Or could it be something else? I have begged my sister not to give her any more. I think it does bad things to her. Personally I can't stand the stuff anyway. Blegh! I don't know what the point of it is. It must be mind-altering in some way, just as humans behave differently when under the influence of goodness-knows-what...

Most cats tend to flip when given access to catnip. It gives them a natural high. There is nothing wrong with letting a cat have it if they are attracted to it. I sprinkle some on the scratching post and also on some of the toys. Most of the toys I buy, though, have catnip in them.

My cat rubs like crazy on the spot where the catnip is and he'll even start drooling. It is fine to give them.

My cats will nibble catnip on occasion. It's supposed to be good for the digestive system. If you do allow your cats to eat catnip, make sure you buy organic.

They like it. It's a nice release for them. It's therapeutic and fun.

I don't see why you would deny your cat the enjoyment of catnip just because human drug use makes you uncomfortable.

My cat likes to eat the catnip so we use that as a treat instead of commerical treats. It doesn't seem to affect her other than causing her to purr a lot.

This thread makes me wanna give my cat catnip for some reason... It makes one really hyperactive, one doesn't respond to it, and the other just rolls around on the floor having a great time... If it makes them happy, then I'll give it to them. It also helps with digestion, so that's another reason they get it...

I admit, I've always been a little bit disappointed that none of my six kitties seems particularly affected by catnip. :( I ready somewhere that only around 60% of cats respond to it -- still, you'd think I'd get one.

My cat loves it too! She wriggles all around in it and makes strange warbling noises! heehee I love watching her

u sure its not like A DRUG????? LIKE, um , you no....... anyways, my cats and kittens are hyper enough.... i dont wanna stimulate them unnaturally.....

It is a drug, but one that's natural and fine for them. I wouldn't, say, give a cat a cup of it or more at a time, but some is okay. I had one cat that liked catnip, and one that didn't, so I'd give the catnip lover about a tablespoon at a time, and he'd have a ball. Just make sure they're in a safe area where they're not going to knock things over or hurt themselves.

I saw a documentary the other day with a bunch of cats going crazy over catnip that was growing wild. They looked fine otherwise. I'm not sure what you could compare it to for humans... I don't think I'd even compare it to pot, since I think catnip is better for cats than pot is for humans. Maybe something like chocolate?

There's no human equivalent. Catnip is indeed a mind-altering drug that is good for cats' bodies and minds. I'm not sure why that's such a hard concept for some to get.

There's no human equivalent. Catnip is indeed a mind-altering drug that is good for cats' bodies and minds. I'm not sure why that's such a hard concept for some to get.

I just feel it does bad things to her. She drools, purrs, acts in ways uncharacteristic of her. Also, it caused damage to the carpet when she chewed through it. Just like with human drugs, bad behavior ensues.

I know I'm going to have some here who disagree with me.

My cat never much liked catnip. I might get some for my sister's kitten.

Does anyone know if mint has a similar effect? I think I remember reading that somewhere before.

Mysterious, you said she had a lot that time. Would you consider giving her a small amount, and see what that does?

Yeah, uh, you don't have to put it all over the carpet for her to chew through it.

I just feel it does bad things to her. She drools, purrs, acts in ways uncharacteristic of her.

Oh, my GOD! A cat PURRING! It sure sounds like it makes her really miserable and messed-up.

Both of my cats really enjoy catnip. They roll around and act very playful. I don't really see anything wrong with that.

u sure its not like A DRUG????? LIKE, um , you no....... anyways, my cats and kittens are hyper enough.... i dont wanna stimulate them unnaturally.....

It's actually a weed that grows by the side of the road. It has certain drug like properties, that I can tell you, but it's not like marijuana or anything. And there certainly isn't anything unnatural about it. It's a plant. Catnip is actually grown commercially, and you can get organic catnip. Plus, kittens generally don't react to catnip; once they reach adulthood, you can tell if they respond to catnip or not. Those that don't respond probably don't have a "catnip gene". And I've discovered in my own cats that their response depends on the potency of the catnip. If it's been sitting around too long, I think it's gone stale or something b/c they don't really react to it. It has to be fresh (and really strong) for them to react, and then the effect wears off in about five minutes.

BTW, for those who didn't know, catnip is a member of the mint family.

My cats all adore catnip. It doesn't harm them in any way, and its good for their digestion. I wouldn't dump an entire container out for them, but they get a pinch on their scratch posts and they have catnip sockies and things around. They rub and pur and flip and are all happy.

One of my cats also enjoys certain tea bags.

Huh. I've never had a cat that didn't like catnip to some degree. I suppose moderation is good, but I don't know of any evidence that catnip can harm a cat the way, for example, Tylenol or chocolate can.

I like it as a tea, too... you have to get catnip that's safe to eat or grow your own, but catnip tea tastes sort of like a cross between mint and oregano. My cats don't like the tea, though.

I'm using this mint toothpaste made by Tom's of Maine (no relation to myself)... my cat Crystal tries to nuzzle my mouth after I've used it. Mint and catnip are both in the mint family.

woa, its part of the mint family?? so can you put it in your salad?

so its like grass, right? cats EAT it? what do they do with it, sniff it? and its purpose is to what- make them hyper?


hey- thanks AMY SF for that info... i learned something new today! :up: (molly goat, take a hint)

woa, its part of the mint family?? so can you put it in your salad?

so its like grass, right? cats EAT it? what do they do with it, sniff it? and its purpose is to what- make them hyper?


hey- thanks AMY SF for that info... i learned something new today! :up: (molly goat, take a hint)

Yeah, it's like grass or maybe it IS grass.

No problemo.

I personally wouldn't put it in my salad. :stinkeye: Although I wonder if anybody else has tried it. :p

Cats sniff it, they eat it, they roll around in it. It gives them a nice little buzz, like humans and caffeine. :hump:

Of our 3 cats, our big male siamese is the only one who really grooves on the 'nip. We had him stay at a friend's house for a few weeks while we were moving last summer, and our friend gave him *tons* of catnip daily, because "it was funny to watch him." :whack:

It took us a couple weeks to detox the poor thing. Not that he was sick, but he had turned into a catnip junkie....yowling that siamese meow for hours trying to get us to give him some. I was ready to enroll him in kitty rehab. :p

I have used it in tea before. It has some beneficial effects for cats and humans.

My cat likes it a lot and she eats it sometimes. I moved one of my outdoor plants into the house and she does not like it as well as when I bring some from the outdoor plants (outdoor plants are healthier). Sometimes she goes on a little tear after she eats it, but usually she just acts normal. I like it when she gets all silly and wild, but I don't think I would like it if she ate a carpet. She is so much fun to play with when she gets like you described your cat.

It is a great way to get cats (who like it) to transfer cat behaviors to a more acceptable place sometimes. Our cat has scratchers with it in them and she stopped clawing the couch as soon as I got them.

It's actually a weed that grows by the side of the road. It has certain drug like properties, that I can tell you, but it's not like marijuana or anything. And there certainly isn't anything unnatural about it. It's a plant.

Sorry, but I found this a little funny since most of it seems to describe marijuana!