Can Kittens Have Catnip
Eating catnip is fairly safe though it will have a sedative rather than stimulating effect.
Can kittens have catnip. Cats must possess a gene for it. But of course you won t want to give a kitten too much catnip as over ingesting can lead to vomit and diarrhea and kittens have much smaller bodies and thus lower tolerances in general than full grown cats. To sum it up catnip can be safely used as a recreational stimulant for your cat if used in moderation. The herb s influence is genetic so not all cats respond to it according to the humane society of the united states.
The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. Try reintroducing the catnip then and you will probably find that your cat will greatly enjoy it. Catnip is generally safe for kittens. Catnip s effects it s genetics that determines whether your feline friend falls for this cousin to basil and oregano.
These hard wired preferences aren t immediately apparent though since kittens under the age of 3 months don t react to catnip at all. If a kitten is going to be a catnip lover you usually can tell that when he is 3 to 6 months old. Newborn kittens aren t usually responsive to catnip at all until they are about 3 months of age. Eating a small amount of catnip is unlikely to cause a cat any harm.
Not all felines respond to catnip. While most cats do about 15 percent reportedly do not. Absolutely catnip is safe for kittens. But you won t know if.
Always consult a veterinarian before making any drastic changes to your cat s diet. About one cat in two inherits a sensitivity to the herb. Kittens whether they possess the gene or not generally do not react to catnip until they are from six to nine months old. Although catnip is totally harmless and safe around kittens both to smell and to eat it isn t necessarily effective.
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.