Frequently Asked Questions

A cat playing with a small cat toy that looks like a mouse.

The short and sweet answers to frequently asked questions about catnip, silvervine, cat toys, and cats in general. Take a look at our Articles for some more in depth discussion and posts about many topics. Contact Us with any additional questions any time!

Catnip retains maximum potency for about a year and it will never truly expire. However, over time its scent will gradually fade and it will become less potent. There’s no need to ever throw it away as long as your cat still enjoys it.

Catnip is processed and dried like an herb, so treat it like anything in your spice cabinet. To maximize freshness, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place until your cat is ready to play!

Catnip is not addictive and cats cannot develop a chemical dependence on it. Cats enjoy catnip entirely due to the scent of compounds in the plant, particularly nepetalactone. There is no chemical interaction between these compounds and your cat’s body that could lead to a real addiction.

That said, cats can become very enthusiastic about catnip and may seek it out if they can smell but not see it! Some may dig through cabinets, open drawers, or chew through bags. So keep it locked away somewhere safe when not in use. 

You can read more here about how catnip works here: Is Catnip a Drug?

Cats cannot overdose on catnip and it’s safe to give them as much as they enjoy as often as they prefer. You can offer catnip as a daily treat or save it for special occasions without any worries about the dangers of overdose. You can spread it by handful all over your floor and let your cats go wild or just sprinkle a little bit on their favorite toy without worry of negative physical effects. 

You can read more here about how catnip works here: Is Catnip a Drug?

Yes, cats can develop a sort of tolerance to catnip, but it’s not the same as humans building a tolerance to drugs. Since catnip’s effect is scent-based, constant exposure can cause your cat to become “nose-blind” to it. When the scent becomes too familiar, it may lose its appeal and your cat might stop reacting as enthusiastically as before.

That said, if your cat has a favorite catnip kicker or pillow they truly love, it is perfectly fine to let them enjoy it 24/7. 

You can read more here about how catnip works here: Is Catnip a Drug?

If your cat seems bored with catnip or is not enjoying it like they used to, try giving them a break. Refer to the previous question about catnip tolerance for more information.

We recommend occasionally picking up all catnip toys and storing them away for a few days. A good time to do this is during a deep clean of your house, when you’re likely to find them under couches or tables anyway!

After a break of a few days to a week, reintroduce the toys to your cat. They’ll likely feel as excited about the toys again since they smell new and interesting. Alternatively, some cat owners only offer catnip toys during playtime and then put them away afterward—this method works well too.

If your cat still seems uninterested, it might be time for some fresh catnip! While catnip’s scent lasts quite a while, it starts to degrade after about a year, especially when exposed to air. Heavily used toys may lose their potency even sooner if they really got a lot of love.

It has been scientifically proven that only two-thirds of adult cats enjoy catnip and that it is a myth that every cat loves it. A 2017 study conducted on cats in California found that approximately 67% of cats react to catnip, with only 51% exhibiting what is classified as an “intense” reaction. While the exact reasons are unclear it is believe that genetics and life experiences play a role. Some cat owners report that all their cats enjoy catnip while others find that none of their cats are interested.

Additionally, many kittens do not react catnip when they are very young. It often takes until they are about six months to a year old for them to develop strong reactions. However, there is no harm in offering catnip to a young cat at any age.

See the below question for what you can try if your cat does not enjoy catnip.

If your cat doesn’t enjoy catnip, they are very likely to enjoy silvervine. Studies show that 80% of cats react to silvervine, with 71% of them having what is classified as an “intense” reaction. Many cats who enjoy catnip also enjoy silvervine and may even have a different type of reaction to it so it is the perfect way to try something new. 

Silvervine is a plant that naturally grows in the mountains of Asia, primarily in Japan and China, and is the most popular alternative to catnip. The fruits of the plant are dried and either given to cats whole or ground into a powder that is sprinkled on the floor or used inside toys. The vines are cut into sticks then dried to use as a type of cat chew toy.

In addition to silvervine, valerian root is another plant that many cats enjoy. The same study shows that 45% of cats react to it in some way, with 38% experiencing an “intense” reaction. Valerian root is often used in teas for humans 

You can see many of our  Silvervine Toys Here and Valerian Root Here.

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