Articles

What is Catnip?

Catnip is Nepeta cataria, a mint relative. What it is, how nepetalactone works, who actually responds, and what it is useful for.

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What Does Catnip Do to Cats?

What catnip does to cats: the sniff-then-roll phase, the sleepy stretch after, how long it lasts, and why some cats never react at all.

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Is Catnip Bad for Cats?

Catnip is not bad for cats. It is non-toxic and non-addictive. The real risks are eating too much, a rare cranky reaction, and spent or dirty herb.

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Catnip for Dogs

Catnip is safe for dogs in small amounts and tends to sedate them, not wind them up. How to offer it, and when to skip it.

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Can Kittens Have Catnip?

Kittens can have catnip, but most will not react until 3 to 6 months. Why the delay is biological, and what to do while you wait.

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How to Grow Catnip

How to grow catnip: full sun, poor soil, a pot if you can, and harvest at first bloom so the leaves actually stay potent.

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Catnip vs Catmint

Catnip vs catmint: Nepeta cataria is the one cats roll in. Nepeta mussinii is the purple border plant. Same genus, different jobs.

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Can Humans Eat Catnip?

Yes, humans can drink catnip tea. Use food-grade herb, not the pet-aisle bag. How to brew it, and who should skip it.

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Catnip Toys and Spray

Catnip toys vs spray: when dried herb is the better fill, when a spray is the right tool, and how to keep either of them potent.

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Why do cats react to Catnip, Silver Vine, Tartarian Honeysuckle or Valerian Root?

Why cats react to catnip, silver vine, honeysuckle and valerian: the chemistry, why some cats ignore catnip, and why a blend reaches more of them.

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Silver Vine vs Catnip: Which Is Better for Your Cat?

Silver vine vs catnip compared: which one works on more cats, how the two reactions differ, how long each lasts, and what to buy if your cat ignores catnip.

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Are Synthetic Cat Toys Safe? Why Natural Fibres Matter

Are synthetic cat toys safe? What happens when a cat chews polyester and soft PVC, which materials to avoid, and why natural fibre toys hold up better.

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Indoor Cat Enrichment: How to Re-Energise a Bored Cat

Indoor cat enrichment that works: how to spot boredom, build play around the hunt cycle, use vertical space and feeding, and get a bored cat interested again.

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Why Does My Cat Ignore Their Toys?

Why does my cat ignore their toys? Usually it is habituation, the wrong texture or size, playing at the wrong time, or dead herbs. Work through it in order.

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Best Toys for Cats Who Love to Kick, Bite and Snuggle

The best cat toys for kicking and biting: why cats bunny-kick, what size and shape to look for, which materials survive it, and how to stop them kicking you.

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How to Refresh a Catnip Toy (and How Long They Actually Last)

How to refresh a catnip toy that has stopped working, how long herb-filled toys really last, and how to wash a cotton cat toy without destroying the scent.

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Christmas Gifts for Cat Owners That Aren't Ugly Plastic

Christmas gifts for cat owners that don't look like pet products. Ideas sorted by who you're buying for and how much you want to spend, plus what to skip.

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What to Put in Your Cat's Christmas Stocking

What to put in your cat's Christmas stocking: safe, natural ideas indoor cats will actually play with, and the popular fillers that are worth leaving out.

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Eco-Friendly Cat Gifts: Natural, Non-Toxic and Biodegradable Ideas

Eco-friendly cat gifts that hold up in practice. How to read the materials, spot greenwashing, and pick non-toxic toys that last instead of heading to landfill.

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Whole Catnip Buds vs Crushed Catnip: Why the Form Matters

Whole catnip buds outlast crushed catnip because the oil stays sealed until the cat bites. Why powder goes flat on the shelf, and what to buy.

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Catnip Buds vs Leaves vs Stems: Which Part Is Actually Potent

Not all of the catnip plant is equal. Buds and flowering tops carry the most oil, leaves less, stems almost none. What that means for what you buy.

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How Much Catnip Should Be in a Toy?

Most catnip toys hold under 5g, padded with wadding, and fade in a fortnight. Why 30g behaves differently, and how to judge fill before you buy.

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Silver Vine Forms: Fruit Galls vs Sticks vs Powder vs Leaves

Silver vine is sold as fruit galls, sticks, powder and leaves, and they are not equal. Which form is most potent, and what to look for when buying.

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How to Choose a Cat Toy That Your Cat Will Actually Use

A practical guide to choosing a cat toy: match the play type, get the size right, check the herb and the fabric, and avoid the parts that come off.

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