Can Baby Kittens Have Catnip

Kittens whether they possess the gene or not generally do not react to catnip until they are from six to nine months old.

Can baby kittens have catnip. The herb s influence is genetic so not all cats respond to it according to the humane society of the united states. Newborn kittens aren t usually responsive to catnip at all until they are about 3 months of age. If a kitten is going to be a catnip lover you usually can tell that when he is 3 to 6 months old. The positive reaction and desire for catnip is inherited from their mother if mum likes it then kittens will too.

These hard wired preferences aren t immediately apparent though since kittens under the age of 3 months don t react to catnip at all. Eating a small amount of catnip is unlikely to cause a cat any harm. Since catnip has no nutritional benefits it would serve no purpose as a food additive. Not all felines respond to catnip.

While most cats do about 15 percent reportedly do not. Kittens get catnip for the first time and some new toys. Catnip is generally safe for kittens. Your cat is among the lucky ones by the way since some cats don t react to catnip at all.

All cats in your case. Catnip affects different cats in different ways but it is not harmful to them. The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. Large cats like tigers can be.

By the way both catnip and valerian produce ecstasy through the odor not the taste. One thing that is important to note about using catnip for kittens is that some may attempt to eat it in addition to just sniffing it or playing with it inside of a pet toy. He may wind up falling in love with his catnip toys when he gets a little older but don t be discouraged if he never seems to care. If he s still young give it some time.

The catnip reaction is inherited and some cats are totally unaffected by it. Although catnip is totally harmless and safe around kittens both to smell and to eat it isn t necessarily effective. Kittens can respond to catnip as early as 8 weeks old. Try reintroducing the catnip then and you will probably find that your cat will greatly enjoy it.

Chances are that a kitten would not have much reaction to catnip as it is not mature enough yet to have the sensors in its brain be developed enough to be reactive to the catnip.