At what age can cats start playing with catnip toys?
I’ve heard that kittens shouldn’t have catnip toys. At what age can my kitten start playing with things that have catnip in them?
Hi there …catnip and toys are a great treat for all cats. Every cat responds differently to catnip. Some cats find it makes them feel euphoric and others angry. However, very young kittens may not respond to it until they are little older (usually after 6 months of age or older) if they possess the gene for it.
CATNIP: (Nepeta cataria–also part of the mint family of plants) contains a substance called cis-transnepetalactone which when inhaled or eaten is thought to be hallucinogenic through the stimulation of centres in the brain–it gives some cats a europhoric high. Not all cats are responsive to catnip and here’s why:
1. Reaction to catnip is genetic (see last paragraph). Cats must possess a gene for it. While most cats do, about 15 percent reportedly do not. Kittens, whether they possess the gene or not, generally do not react to catnip until they are from six to nine months old. Try reintroducing the catnip then and you will probably find that your cat will greatly enjoy it. If your cat is an adult, you may have one of the few adult cats that do not possess the gene.
2. Inferior quality catnip. Many other catnip brands are "cut" with straw, stems and other filler. This may fool the cat owner, but it doesn’t fool kitty! Try some Certified Organic Catnip or fresh Catnip.
It’s not known why the reaction to catnip seems to occur only among the feline species. What is known is that the ability to react to catnip is a genetic one. Cats that react to catnip possess a gene that programs them to react to catnip. The gene does not develop until after six months of age or so, and not ALL cats possess the gene. About 15 percent of the cat population does not possess the gene, so this may explain why your cat does not react. If they do possess the gene, cats of all sizes – from housecats, cheetahs, mountain lions, pumas, etc. – will love catnip.
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:28 am
I have no idea, but be warned that some cats have absolutely no interest in catnip. In fact, most cats probably do not.
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January 23rd, 2010 at 2:13 am
Hi there …catnip and toys are a great treat for all cats. Every cat responds differently to catnip. Some cats find it makes them feel euphoric and others angry. However, very young kittens may not respond to it until they are little older (usually after 6 months of age or older) if they possess the gene for it.
CATNIP: (Nepeta cataria–also part of the mint family of plants) contains a substance called cis-transnepetalactone which when inhaled or eaten is thought to be hallucinogenic through the stimulation of centres in the brain–it gives some cats a europhoric high. Not all cats are responsive to catnip and here’s why:
1. Reaction to catnip is genetic (see last paragraph). Cats must possess a gene for it. While most cats do, about 15 percent reportedly do not. Kittens, whether they possess the gene or not, generally do not react to catnip until they are from six to nine months old. Try reintroducing the catnip then and you will probably find that your cat will greatly enjoy it. If your cat is an adult, you may have one of the few adult cats that do not possess the gene.
2. Inferior quality catnip. Many other catnip brands are "cut" with straw, stems and other filler. This may fool the cat owner, but it doesn’t fool kitty! Try some Certified Organic Catnip or fresh Catnip.
It’s not known why the reaction to catnip seems to occur only among the feline species. What is known is that the ability to react to catnip is a genetic one. Cats that react to catnip possess a gene that programs them to react to catnip. The gene does not develop until after six months of age or so, and not ALL cats possess the gene. About 15 percent of the cat population does not possess the gene, so this may explain why your cat does not react. If they do possess the gene, cats of all sizes – from housecats, cheetahs, mountain lions, pumas, etc. – will love catnip.
References :
Animal Trainer to domestic and exotic cats
27 year friendship with a veterinarian
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:26 am
As soon as their bellies get ground clearance so they can walk and run around (usually about 3-4 weeks) they can play with toys. I start out with a little penguin with a round bottom that they can slap at and it bobbles over and comes back upright again. I also give them furry mice. They’re such fun to watch. I had several toy mice all over the room and one kitten gathered them all up in a pile and growled over them like they were her catch. Later on she realized they weren’t alive. Funny. I don’t think at an early age the catnip will affect them much. When they get older the catnip will be like giving your kids candy. Kids get a sugar rush and cats get a catnip rush.
I usually wait for major catnip exposure until they’re older and have learned some manners. Otherwise they’ll just go into el-destructo mode and become uncontrollable for awhile. That’s when they learn it’s fun to climb curtains and shred the back of the couch.
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January 23rd, 2010 at 2:45 am
Kittens under 3 months are completely immune to it, so try after that. If they still don’t respond, try honeysuckle since 30% of all cats never respond to catnip.
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