My cat doesn’t like loose catnip, would that change it if was in another form, i.e stuffed catnip mouse toy?
So he doesn’t like catnip that you can sprinkle, just isn’t interested. Is there any way to get him excited by catnip (like stuffing a sock or smearing it on a toy) or if he doesn’t like it in that form he wont like it in any?
Cat Lover is correct, cats have to be inherit the gene that makes them receptive to nepetalactone, the active ingredient of catnip. Oriental breeds lack this gene because catnip is not a plant native to the areas their ancestors are from.
It’s suggested that around a third of all cats are not in the least bit interested in catnip. My own is one of them, but she does like toys fragranced with a type of honeysuckle. You can buy this in a spray form on eBay for use on cat toys. It’s also said that cats like Valerian, so that’s the next thing I’m going to try offering her.
You can read more about catnip and other cat attracting plants in this article;
http://www.messybeast.com/catnip-valerian.htm
May 22nd, 2012 at 10:48 am
Catnip only affects about 50% of cats. I have three cats and two go mad for nip, (one notably more than the other), and the third does not care at all.
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May 22nd, 2012 at 11:02 am
My cat didnt like it before and wasnt intrested in the toys so I put some in her pillow, she loves it x
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May 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
Some cat’s just don’t like catnip. My cat completely ignores it, but she does love chewing on grass and leaves, try getting some grass and see if he like’s that. Grass help’s with their digestion.
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My 2 cat’s
May 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Sensitivity to catnip is genetic, so even if both parents are sensitive, their kittens may not be. And if only one parent is sensitive, the kitten has a much smaller chance of being sensitive.
In fact, half of all cats show no interest in catnip.
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May 22nd, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Why do you need to get your cat ‘excited’! I have only given my cats catnip in order to attract them to scratching posts.
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Long term cat owner.
May 22nd, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Cat Lover is correct, cats have to be inherit the gene that makes them receptive to nepetalactone, the active ingredient of catnip. Oriental breeds lack this gene because catnip is not a plant native to the areas their ancestors are from.
It’s suggested that around a third of all cats are not in the least bit interested in catnip. My own is one of them, but she does like toys fragranced with a type of honeysuckle. You can buy this in a spray form on eBay for use on cat toys. It’s also said that cats like Valerian, so that’s the next thing I’m going to try offering her.
You can read more about catnip and other cat attracting plants in this article;
http://www.messybeast.com/catnip-valerian.htm
References :