Is it okay for kittens to have toys with catnip in it?
I just got a new kitten today ( cutest thing ever ), and it was so calm and incredibly patient. It was 0% hyper and nice. It was free and a rescue, but, we had to buy 100$ worth of any kind of cat/kitten suplys. We did, and I picked out a bunch of toys, including two toys, one shaped like a rectangle, no bigger than a pinky, that said "CATNIP." The other was a little sack as big as a palm that said " CATNIP SACK." As you can tell, they obviously had a little catnip in them. Then, the cat started to freak out when he got to my house. He was just like I described earlier, until like a half an hour in. He went under my bed and we went to get him and he scratched me really bad! Missbehaving, panting, scratching, biting, spred through out time, and was acting totally different. My Dad thought maybe he was sick, maybe it was because he had a bad childhood (he’s a rescue) or because my Mom showed him the other cats too much too soon like she wasn’t supposed to, but I thought maybe since my Mom told me kittens should not have catnip, it’s bad for them. And it already makes them act crazy! I didn’t know, and he was only around it for a little bit in his bed. Also, he is a REAL kitten, like not even 3 pounds, he can’t get fixed yet. What do you think? Do you think it was the catnip? Or is that not true? (That kittens can’t have it) THANKS!
Catnip is safe. Usually, kittens don’t even develop a taste for catnip until 6-9 months of age. Was he calm when you saw him at the rescue group or was he calm in your house too? It could’ve been the sudden environmental change. Cats that look like they may be friendly at the shelter, when brought home, may actually be frightened. Cats get spooked easily. You should just let him get accustomed to the house. If the problem persists after 3 weeks of him being in your house, then you might wanna look into it and ask your vet because cats usually take 2 weeks to get settled in. If he shows other signs of illness such as irregular eating, vomitting, not using the litterbox out of no where, or having abnormal bowel movements then you should take him to the vet right away.
August 21st, 2011 at 12:03 am
Catnip is harmless.
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August 21st, 2011 at 12:28 am
Catnip will not harm kittens.
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August 21st, 2011 at 12:58 am
The catnip wont physically hurt the kitten per se, but it can cause some kitties to act more neurotic and skittish.
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August 21st, 2011 at 1:23 am
A few things lol catnip will not harm him but could be making him so spastic what is probably happening is the fact that its a new environment and they freak out just let him be and hide put food and water and a littler box near him so he can come out and eat just leave him alone try and keep the other cats away for now until he starts coming out to investigate. hes just scared its not the catnip just let him be. I would take away the catnip though for awhile and let him calm down. it could be a part of his crazy behavior! good luck!
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August 21st, 2011 at 2:06 am
No, cat nip is fine, though it can cause cats to act very hyper.
You just got this kitten today? It takes time for a kitten to adjust to a new home and they will often act different in a store than when they’re free to run.
Kittens are crazy and hyper. He’ll be like this until around a year. You need to train him and remember he’s a baby. Get cat clippers and keep his claws clipped.
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Owner of 5 cats
August 21st, 2011 at 2:21 am
Catnip is safe. Usually, kittens don’t even develop a taste for catnip until 6-9 months of age. Was he calm when you saw him at the rescue group or was he calm in your house too? It could’ve been the sudden environmental change. Cats that look like they may be friendly at the shelter, when brought home, may actually be frightened. Cats get spooked easily. You should just let him get accustomed to the house. If the problem persists after 3 weeks of him being in your house, then you might wanna look into it and ask your vet because cats usually take 2 weeks to get settled in. If he shows other signs of illness such as irregular eating, vomitting, not using the litterbox out of no where, or having abnormal bowel movements then you should take him to the vet right away.
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