catnip

[Kristy03]

we got our cat some catnip. she don't seem to like it. maybe we mixed in too much of it in with her can food. i thought cat's liked catnip. anyway, do any of you know how much of it to give her and how to give t to her?

[kitkat]

Some cats do not react to catnip but there are some out there that go crazy for it. Alot of times kittens do not react to it but later as an adult will like it. I believe a good amount in food would be a small teaspoonful or less depending on the cat and I heard a little bit eaten by a cat is good for them. I really only use it after I wash their beds and they don't want to jump in it b/c it smells like detergent then I sprinkle a little catnip and it works.
(((=

[Gracie's Mom]

I don't really measure how much, I just give a little pinch in their food as a treat occasionally. I also sprinkle it on my carpet, and Gracie goes crazy rolling all over the living room!

[Sol]

You mix the catnip in their food? I've never heard of that. Anyway, not all cats react to catnip. Actuarally, many cats never react to catnip. However, my cats loves catnip. They go absolutely mad when they sense the smell of catnip

[kungfukitty]

Holly loves her nip- to play with. She bites and licks her cat nippy toys but I've gotten her food treats that contain nip and she won't have anything to do with them. She seems to be confused, " do I eat it or play with it!"

[Kristy03]

thanx, we mixed in a little bit less and she seems to like it.

[drjean]

Hi,

The ability to respond to catnip is genetic. About 30% of cats do not have the gene.

Also, if you give catnip too often (more than once or twice a week), even responders will accommodate to it and no longer be able to get a "kick" from it. I use a pinch of catnip on the scratching posts only as an occasional treat--I have 100% responders in my group of 5!

I would not recommend mixing catnip with food, because it takes the choice away from the cat. If he wants to eat at all, he is forced to eat the catnip. Believe me, if he really wants it, he'll come and get it--no matter where you put it!

BTW, please NEVER give catnip before a trip to the vet! It makes the cat unpredictable, and many cats will become aggressive--not what your vet wants to see! :)

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

[xbutterflyx]

not all cat's like catnip. some are different..

[Zalensia]

My kittens when they were around 3 months didnt react to it at all. Last week they turned 6 months old so i tried it out again. What a reaction! it was terrible! vienna (about 1 and half years old) went to it first, pebbles (14 years) gave it a sniff and they both started rubbing them selves into it. Well then the kittens (screech, smeagle and butch) had to come over, well all **** broke loose! vienna went off, pebbles is miserable anyway and she went off. Those 3 broke out into a huge fight! they all went nuts over the cat nip rubbing themselves in it, but if any went near the other they went into an enourmouse fight! i couldnt beleive it when i saw it!

[ForJazz]

I have never heard of catnip being GOOD for a cat...everything I've read about basically comes to the same conclusion -- no one really knows what it does to their brain. It has a chemical in it that causes some cats to react as if they have taken a stimulant. I forgot the name of the chemical, but basically that is all I have found about it. I personally don't like the idea of giving my cats something which the effect or impact on a cat's brain is unknown. And their reactions are similar to a person who has just taken drugs. So...I don't really like catnip. But I have used it on their scratching posts to get them acquainted with them - as well as their cat hammock. It worked really well, but I don't really want to use it other than that until it can be proven that it is NOT harmful to a cat's brain.

It doesn't sound like your cat really likes the catnip in the food if he/she will only eat it if you put a tiny amount in there. I'd put it somewhere else -- not right in the food. What drjean said made a lot of sense.