Is Catnip Safe For Kittens Reddit

The herb s influence is genetic so not all cats respond to it according to the humane society of the united states.

Is catnip safe for kittens reddit. Absolutely cats really enjoy this safe non addictive herb from the mint family. If a kitten is going to be a catnip lover you usually can tell that when he is 3 to 6 months old. The reaction to a catnip can vary from kitten to kitten. It can affect all types of cats not just domesticated ones.

It s estimated that roughly 50 of cats will have a hyperactive reaction to catnip while the other 50 will simply be calmed by its smell and taste. Other kinds of mint or honeysuckle may cause a similar reaction in sensitive cats. First they may question whether a kitten s system will prove more. Often people question whether it is safe to use catnip for kittens for a couple of reasons.

Humans use catnip to make tea and as an herbal additive to foods. Although catnip is totally harmless and safe around kittens both to smell and to eat it isn t necessarily effective. Catnip doesn t affect people the way it does cats though. When the cat smells catnip the scent molecules travel to a receptor above the palate in the roof of the mouth known as the vomeronasal organ aka jacob s organ.

Roughly 2 3 of all cats are affected by it. For cats that sniff catnip and rub against the plants they ll get more of the stimulating effects rotman said. Ingesting catnip has no effect on a cat it s the nepetalactone vapour that the catnip gives off that your cat reacts to. Catnip has traditionally been thought of as a wonderful stimulant for cats but it also has numerous health benefits for their human counterparts.

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. Til while catnip is a stimulant for cats it is a sedative for dogs. Catnip is safe for humans and indeed has many positive effects when used properly. Both smelling and ingesting catnip is safe for your feline family member cats.

This is generally safe as catnip isn t toxic. People used to use catnip to brew tea to soothe upset stomachs. While most cats enjoy the herb dried or fresh they re usually less interested in catnip sprays which generally don t contain enough nepetalactone to appeal to most felines. Can catnip be over indulged.

Lions and tigers can be affected strongly by catnip however it doesn t happen all the time.