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Catnip is Nepeta cataria, a member of the mint family. Its leaves and stems contain nepetalactone, a compound that triggers a recognizable set of behaviors in many cats: sniffing, licking, chin and cheek rubbing, head rubbing, and rolling on the ground. Not every cat responds, and the strength of the reaction varies from cat to cat.
What catnip is
Catnip is a perennial herb in the mint family (Nepeta cataria). It is a plant, not a manufactured chemical, and it is sold dried, as loose leaves, in toys, and in sprays. The active aroma comes from nepetalactone, which the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) identifies as the plant’s toxic principle in its catnip entry. That detail matters later, when we get to safety.
Why cats respond to it
The role of nepetalactone and scent
Cats respond mainly through smell. A 2017 study in BMC Veterinary Research describes catnip as a form of olfactory enrichment and connects its effect to nepetalactone, the compound in the plant’s aroma. The sniff-first sequence that most owners recognize, followed by rubbing and rolling, is consistent with a scent-driven response rather than a taste or food response. The study is indexed on PubMed.
What is still unsettled
It is common to read that catnip “mimics a cat pheromone” or that scientists have fully explained the feline reaction. The evidence does not support either claim. What is established is that the scent of nepetalactone-containing plants reliably produces a behavioral response in many cats, and that the response differs between individuals. Why some cats are strongly affected while others are indifferent is not fully explained by the studies published so far.
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A related finding in silver vine
A 2021 paper in Science Advances by Reiko Uenoyama and colleagues studied a related plant iridoid, nepetalactol, found in silver vine (Actinidia polygama). The authors report that nepetalactol elicits rubbing and rolling in cats, raises plasma beta-endorphin levels in the cats studied, and transfers to the face and head during rubbing. On mosquitoes, the transferred compound repelled Aedes albopictus. This work concerns plant chemistry and one plant species. It does not show that cats roll in catnip to protect themselves from insects, and it should not be read that way. The paper is indexed on PubMed.
What the response looks like
The reaction typically begins within moments of contact with the plant or its scent. Common signs include sniffing intently, licking or chewing the leaves, rubbing the cheeks, chin, and head against the plant, and rolling onto the back. Some cats become playful and energetic; others become calm and relaxed, and some do both in sequence. The response is not guaranteed, and a cat that ignores catnip one week may react the next, so one unresponsive session is not a verdict on that cat’s preferences.
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When a cat does not respond
Non-response is common. In the 2017 study of 100 domestic cats, roughly one in three did not respond to catnip. The study also tested other plants, with the following results:
| Plant | Scientific name | Share of the 100 domestic cats that responded |
|---|---|---|
| Catnip | Nepeta cataria | About two in three (derived from the one-in-three non-response figure) |
| Silver vine | Actinidia polygama | Almost 80% |
| Tatarian honeysuckle | Lonicera tatarica | About 50% |
| Valerian | Valeriana officinalis | About 50% |
These percentages describe the cats and test conditions in that one study, reported by Sebastiaan Bol and colleagues in BMC Veterinary Research (2017). They are not guaranteed rates for every cat or every household. Among the cats that did not respond to catnip, almost 75% responded to silver vine, which is why the authors concluded:
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“Silver vine and Tatarian honeysuckle appear to be good alternatives to catnip for domestic cats that do not respond to catnip.”
If your cat ignores catnip, silver vine is the most practical alternative to try. Buy it in a form whose ingredients are clearly labeled, and expect that products vary; the study does not establish that all silver vine products are equivalent. Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian are also options, though their response rates in the study were lower.
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- Perfect Gift: In 3 different colors, green, yellow, and orange, which are bright in colors, attracting the attention of your feline friends. Perfect for kittens to hold or scratch
- We stand behind each product we sell. If any issue, please contact our customer service and we'll do anything possible to fix it.
Is catnip safe for cats?
Catnip is generally used as a low-risk enrichment tool, but the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats in its plant database and describes its effects as variable. Practical points to keep in mind:
- Clinical signs: the ASPCA reports vomiting and diarrhea as possible effects.
- Variable effects: some cats become sedated, while others become stimulated or hyperactive.
- No established safe amount: the ASPCA entry does not establish a safe dose, so there is no evidence-based quantity to recommend.
- Sniffing is not ingestion: most cats are exposed through scent, and the risks above relate most clearly to eating the plant.
If a cat shows vomiting, diarrhea, unusual lethargy, or agitation after access to catnip, remove the plant and contact a veterinarian promptly rather than waiting for the signs to pass.
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How to offer catnip safely
- Start with a small amount of dried catnip placed on a surface your cat can reach, or inside a toy that the cat cannot chew apart.
- Watch the first session. Note whether the cat sniffs, rubs, rolls, or ignores the plant.
- Keep sessions short and do not leave a large pile of loose leaves for unsupervised eating.
- Store the plant out of reach so access is controlled, and replace it when it loses scent.
- If the cat does not respond after several sessions spread over time, offer silver vine as an alternative rather than increasing the amount of catnip.
- If you see vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual behavior, stop offering the plant and call your veterinarian.
Reading the research with care
The 2017 response-rate study and the 2021 silver vine paper are the two most cited pieces of primary research on this topic. A 2022 article in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, titled “Dealing With Stress in Cats: What Is New About the Olfactory Strategy?”, discusses scent-based approaches to feline stress and is useful background. Its findings should be read as a framework for scent enrichment in general, not as proof that catnip relieves stress in any specific cat. You can read it on the journal’s site.
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