Can Cats Become Addicted To Catnip – Effects, Concerns & More

Cat owners everywhere delight in giving their cats a little catnip now and then. The euphoric excitement your cat shows when you give them catnip is a ton of fun to witness. Better yet, catnip can be an excellent way to help your cat play and have fun and then get some rest or a good groom. 

But, plenty of cat owners find themselves wondering if they should be giving their cats catnip or if they might be indulging a dangerous or addictive habit. 

So, can cats become addicted to catnip?

Most cats do not become addicted to catnip. Catnip isn’t addictive for cats in the way we usually think of addiction. They don’t develop a chemical or mental dependence on catnip, and it won’t replace any of the chemicals in their bodies either. But, cats can develop a tolerance to catnip, and there can be other unintended consequences of catnip use. 

Here’s what you need to know about your cats and catnip, and whether catnip is as safe as it seems or if you should be more careful with it in the future. 

Can Cats Become Dependent On Catnip

When we talk about dependence on a drug or herb, we typically mean a chemical dependence where the drug or herb has replaced some natural function in our body and brain. 

Catnip doesn’t do that to cats, or people for that matter. It doesn’t replace neurotransmitters, and it doesn’t have a lasting impact on your cat’s body in a way that could cause dependence. 

So, in most senses, cats can’t be dependent on catnip. 

However, it is entirely possible for cats to get used to having catnip or to start acting up when they don’t get catnip as a way to try and get their owners to give them some. 

Those things aren’t usually considered a dependence, though. Even though your cat is acting like they need catnip, the truth is that they like it and understand that they can sometimes manipulate their owners to do what they want. 

Should I Let My Cat Eat Catnip

Deciding whether or not to give your cat catnip is a personal decision. There aren’t many reasons not to let your cat have catnip unless they have an individual allergy or sensitivity, of course, but some people might not want to. 

For instance, if you see catnip is similar to using a drug, even without the risk of addiction, you might not want to give your cat catnip. 

If that’s your decision, that’s perfectly fine. As long as you make sure your cat has plenty of food, toys, and places they feel safe, they’ll be just fine without catnip. 

However, that’s not the only reason you might not want to give your cat catnip. 

Some cats can get aggressive or territorial when they’re given catnip in rare cases. Owners of those cats might want to be careful when they let them have catnip or choose not to give them catnip at all to help avoid those aggressive behaviors. 

But, outside of those rare reactions, most cats do well with occasional catnip and seem to have a lot of fun when they’re given it. Catnip can even be given as a treat or a reward in some cases to help encourage certain kinds of behavior. 

Is It OK To Give A Cat Catnip Everyday

There’s technically nothing wrong with giving your cat catnip every day, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. For one thing, giving your cat a lot of catnip can make them develop a tolerance, which would mean that they don’t get to enjoy catnip nearly as much in the future. 

In addition to the risk of developing a tolerance, there’s not a benefit to giving catnip every day. Your cats won’t notice as much of an effect from it, and there aren’t any health benefits to giving cats catnip, so it’s not a great idea. 

In other words, giving your cat catnip every day won’t hurt them, but it might make them develop a tolerance and stop reacting to the catnip. 

Most experts agree that giving your cat catnip once every 2-3 weeks is plenty, and then an irregular schedule will help prevent your cat from developing a tolerance. 

There is no difference in developing a tolerance from fresh catnip or other catnip products. 

Don’t worry too much if you have catnip-scented toys around, though. The catnip will lose potency relatively quickly, and your cat’s tolerance will probably go down within a few weeks of getting a new catnip-infused toy. 

Why Is Catnip So Addicting To Cats

Well, catnip isn’t addicting to cats, but it’s certainly a lot of fun for them! 

Catnip is thought to work thanks to some of its chemical similarities to cat pheromones. Catnip can feel like the happy pheromones cats get from other cats, which is why they get so happy and even sometimes cuddle with catnip leaves and powder. 

Some experts even think that the pheromones catnip is similar to creating a sense of euphoria, which might explain why your cats seem to enjoy it so much. 

Regardless of which kind of stimulation is true, your cats almost certainly get a happy and energized feeling similar to meeting a cat they know and love when you give them catnip. 

Can You Overdose A Cat On Catnip

When people talk about catnip, they often compare it with cannabis or other drugs since cats seem to have a similarly odd and happy reaction to the herb. But, all those comparisons with drugs come with one other big question, can cats overdose on catnip?

The truth is that it is possible for your cat to overdose, but the consequences aren’t usually serious, and getting an overdose is incredibly rare. 

Most of the time, the worst your cat will have to deal with is a stomach ache from too much catnip, and most cats will naturally move away from catnip or stop eating it long before they overdose. 

Most catnip overdoses result from owners encouraging their cat to keep eating catnip after the cat has lost interest, which results in a stomach ache and some other mild symptoms that usually go away within 24 hours. 

So, unless you’re encouraging your cat to have more catnip than they want, you probably don’t need to worry about your cat getting a catnip overdose. 

However, if your cat does get a catnip overdose on their own, you should keep a close eye on them when they get catnip in the future. A cat that’s eaten too much is likely to do the same thing again, given the opportunity, unless they decide they don’t like catnip anymore after they overdose. 

Can Cats Get Withdrawal From Catnip

Withdrawal from a drug or herb is what happens when your body or brain has become dependent on the chemical components of that herb or drug. That’s why dependence and withdrawal are so connected; you can’t have a withdrawal without some dependence. 

So, there isn’t a chemical withdrawal happening when it comes to catnip and cats. Your cat is having a natural reaction to a chemical that mimics a pheromone, but that chemical isn’t replacing anything in their body or changing the way anything works. 

Because catnip isn’t creating a chemical dependence, there isn’t anything for them to withdraw from. 

So, in short, no, cats won’t suffer withdrawal symptoms after they stop getting catnip. 

However, a cat that’s used to getting catnip might seem a little grumpy for a while after you stop. That’s less of a withdrawal and more a sign that your cat isn’t getting all those happy scents they get from the catnip. 

Wait it out at least a few weeks, and try giving your cat a little catnip again. Chances are they’ll get used to having it less, and you’ll get to watch even better reactions when you do give them catnip if you only give it to them rarely. 

Do Cats Get Hungry After Eating Catnip

Some cat owners report that their cats always go straight to the food bowl after getting some catnip, and it’s true that some people think that catnip is a good way to stimulate your cat’s appetite. 

However, there are just as many cat owners who think that catnip makes their cat eat less, not more. 

There aren’t a lot of studies on this subject, partially because cats are hard to study in a scientific setting, so we don’t know whether catnip makes cats more or less hungry. 

How Long Does A Catnip High Last

Catnip highs are relatively short-lived, which is essential because it means your cat won’t show the excitement and other signs of a catnip treat for very long. 

You should only count on your cat’s catnip high lasting about 10-15 minutes before it fades. After a catnip high, most cats look for food, somewhere to nap, or a place they can groom themselves. After that, they’ll slowly settle back into their normal behavior until you can’t tell they got catnip earlier at all. 

Things To Consider

One little-known fact about catnip is that not all cats are sensitive to it. Younger cats are less likely to react to catnip than older cats, and a small percentage of cats have no reaction at all. 

Cats that have no reaction to regular catnip might still react to the stronger silvervine variety.

Increasing the amount of catnip you give your cat if they don’t react at first is unlikely to create a reaction and might make it harder for them to react in the future because they’ll start developing a tolerance.

If your cat doesn’t react to catnip, try not to be disappointed. There are still plenty of ways you can have fun with your cat without catnip.