Catnip

Shop Catnip for Cats

Catnip can add excitement and enrichment to your cat's playtime. Whether sprinkled onto a favorite toy, applied as a catnip spray, or incorporated into an interactive cat toy, catnip provides pet owners with an easy way to encourage natural feline behaviors and make everyday play more engaging.

At Natural Pet Warehouse, you can shop catnip for cats in a variety of forms, including dried catnip, catnip sprays, catnip toys, and other catnip products from trusted pet brands.

What Is Catnip?

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a plant in the mint family that contains a naturally occurring compound called nepetalactone. Many cats are sensitive to this compound and may respond to the scent of catnip with noticeable changes in behavior.

Depending on the individual cat, exposure to catnip may encourage behaviors such as:

• Rolling and rubbing
• Sniffing and licking
• Playing and pouncing
• Chasing toys
• Kicking and batting
• Increased interest in scratching or play areas

Individual responses vary. Some cats become energetic and playful around catnip, while others may become more relaxed.

Different Types of Catnip Products

Catnip is available in several forms, giving cat owners different ways to incorporate it into their pet's enrichment routine. The right option depends on how and where you plan to use it.

Dried Catnip

Dried catnip is a versatile option that can be sprinkled onto toys, scratching surfaces, or designated play areas. It can also be used with refillable catnip toys designed to hold loose catnip.

Because only a small amount may be needed to capture a responsive cat's attention, dried catnip can be an easy addition to regular play sessions.

Catnip Spray

Catnip spray provides a convenient, less-messy way to apply catnip scent directly to appropriate surfaces. It can be useful for refreshing older toys or encouraging a cat to investigate a new scratching post, cat tree, or play area.

Always follow the directions for the individual spray and avoid spraying products directly into your cat's face or eyes.

Catnip Toys

Catnip toys combine play and catnip enrichment in one product. Depending on the design, they may encourage cats to chase, pounce, kick, carry, bat, or wrestle with their toys.

Catnip-filled toys are available in many shapes, sizes, and textures, making it easy to experiment with different options based on your cat's preferred style of play.

Why Do Cats Like Catnip?

Cats that are sensitive to catnip respond primarily to its scent. When a cat smells nepetalactone, it can trigger a temporary behavioral response that may include excitement, playfulness, rolling, rubbing, or other characteristic catnip behaviors.

The response generally doesn't last indefinitely. Cats typically lose interest after a period of exposure and may temporarily become less responsive before showing interest again later.

Because of this, using catnip periodically rather than leaving it available continuously can help keep it interesting for some cats.

How to Use Catnip for Feline Enrichment

Catnip for cats can be used as part of a broader enrichment routine to encourage play and interaction with appropriate items around the home.

Try using catnip to:

• Refresh older cat toys
• Introduce a new toy
• Encourage use of a scratching post
• Make a new cat tree more interesting
• Encourage interactive play
• Add variety to your cat's regular enrichment routine

Catnip works best as one component of an enriching environment that also provides opportunities for scratching, climbing, hiding, chasing, exploring, and interacting with people.

Do All Cats Respond to Catnip?

No. Not every cat responds to catnip. Sensitivity to catnip is influenced by genetics, so some cats may show a strong response while others show very little interest.

Very young kittens may also show little or no reaction to catnip. A cat that doesn't respond can still enjoy plenty of enrichment through interactive toys, scratching surfaces, climbing structures, puzzle toys, and other forms of play.

Choosing the Best Catnip for Your Cat

The best catnip product depends largely on your cat and how you intend to use it. Dried catnip offers versatility, sprays make it easy to apply catnip scent to specific surfaces, and catnip toys provide a ready-to-play option.

You may want to experiment with different formats to see what generates the strongest response from your cat. Some cats may immediately engage with a catnip-filled toy, while others may be more interested in dried catnip or a toy refreshed with catnip spray.

Shop Catnip at Natural Pet Warehouse

Natural Pet Warehouse carries catnip for cats in multiple forms to help make playtime and enrichment more interesting. Browse dried catnip, catnip sprays, catnip toys, and other options from established cat product brands.

Whether you're introducing your cat to catnip for the first time or replenishing a longtime favorite, explore our selection to find the right catnip products for your feline companion.

Shop catnip online at Natural Pet Warehouse and enjoy free shipping on qualifying orders over $49.