Catnip

[marko]

Catnip is an herb in the mint family that 50 percent of cats seem to react to. Catnip grows wild in many places in North America and Europe and the plant can grow to 3 feet high. Once picked and processed for cats it looks quite a lot like tea but much greener. It can also come in a concentrated liquid form. You can buy either form of catnip in most pet stores.

Many cat toys are filled with catnip or have catnip rubbed on them or sprayed on them. The cats that react to catnip rub and lick and knead at the objects, often with incredible vigour. They put on quite a show when toys are sprayed with liquid catnip or rubbed with raw catnip. We have entertained guests on many occasions with this activity.

Interestingly enough it seems like cats are not black or white with regard to if they react to catnip. Our cat Ziglet showed no reaction to catnip for 13 years, while his brother from another mother Zak, always went bonkers for it. Now Zig loves the stuff and reacts to it as well.

[Golden Girls]

When I had cats I used to buy toys sprayed with capnip - they all loved it
I just thought of something:

Originally Posted by marko

The cats that react to catnip rub and lick and knead at the objects, often with incredible vigour

if I secretly put one of these toys say under the man's pillow - ya think humans might have the same reaction?

[marko]

I also used catnip when I first introduced (after the first few hours) my 2 cats to each other. I put some catnip on Ziglet and Zak started licking him.

I think it made the introduction go more smoothly.

I would say that strict supervision is required if you are to try this though.

[katwoman]

That was really interesting,when i had my cat i put some catnip on her toys and she loved it.

[RolandsMom]

omg! Roland is banned from catnip unless it is a terribly special occasion! he goes completly loopy. he has more than enough energy and mischief without it! i found honeysuckle a much better alternative!

[chico2]

All my cats love it,they have their own patch outside and even eat it,they refer the fresh stuff from outside,rather than store-bought.
I usually rub their toys with a leaf and they are in la-la land for a while

[ellendar]

catnip grows wild in my front yard the side where only weeds grow, I have lots of feral and displaced cats feedingf on my front porch i don't know where the catrnip came from but it grows in my yard maybe that is hy the cats come I have seen kittens get high off it and run in the road and get killed so I think it is dangerous I whack it down it takes away their caution instincts

[glitterless]

I threw out our bag of cat nip recently. I don't mind it for some cats that just rub on it and roll around, but we had a kitten get into it and GAWD, he went crazy! He's still tiny (was orphaned and I have no idea how old he is exactly) and he was jumping off of a 4' wall! So enough was enough.

[Annienmyst]

When we first introduced the grown cats (Garfeild and Speedy) to the pug(Max), we thought about putting some catnip on the dog. But my two guys are like mean drunks when they get into the catnip..they beat each other up. And well, the the poor dog wouldn't stand a chance!!!!