Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   I just got this email from a good friend. The Honey she refers to is her new kitty; now about 4 months old.

   Apparently, per our good vet, catnip should never be given to kittens, and to some adult cats. They can have an allergic reaction that causes a chemical imbalance in their brains and they literally go wild (not in a good way) until it wears off hours later. We’re talking serious mean biting & scratching, attacking anyone (2 or 4 legged). We found that out when we first got Honey and Mom had put down a sock with catnip in it for both cats to play with. About an hour after Honey had been exposed, she turned vicious and we had no idea what had gotten into her. Mom talked to the vet and that’s when we learned about that. That allergic reaction makes some cats and a lot of kittens especially literally crazy and not in a good way. Grown cats, different story – some can do kitty drugs, some can’t.

   Posted 1 year ago by 2 Popoki #

2. 

   goodness! I didn't know that. Thanks 2P

   Posted 1 year ago by Buttercup #

3. 

   Interesting factoid! I had a neighbor whose male orange tabby would go beserk when given catnip. He would immediately start attacking, biting, scratching and running at full speed after being given catnip. Now I know why.

   Posted 1 year ago by SylvesterMiasMomma #

4. 

   That sounds horrible. Well, my little Stella is wild enough without the catnip. Her sister Anna would be in danger if I had that in my house. So why do you give cats catnip? Is it to make them more active? I haven't read much on this.

   Posted 1 year ago by vpcricket #

5. 

   vpcricket - check out this website. It explains all about cats and catnip.

   http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question303.htm&url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/83/8331catnip.html

   Posted 1 year ago by SylvesterMiasMomma #

6. 

   Wow 2POP...That only makes sense to me as with people it's the same thing with our reaction to medications and drugs. Why would cats be any different. Poor Honey...so glad they learned the truth about catnip. *Happy to see you posting girl! *smiling*

   Posted 1 year ago by Karenopa #

7. 

   Thank you Karenopa... I'm sort of forcing the issue with posting. It is making me feel better to so it, so I will continue.

   Posted 1 year ago by 2 Popoki #

8. 

   Good advice,2Popoki. Just like every human's body chemistry is different, so it goes with cats or dogs or mice, etcetera...
   Thanks for the heads-up!
   >^..^<

   Posted 1 year ago by Tigger #

9. 

   I wonder - if a kitty is usually okay with catnip, if they can still develop a severe reaction to it over time?

   Posted 1 year ago by GreatDane #

10. 

    Good question GD.... one I don't have an answer to ! It can happen with people and medications, I suppose it's possible with animals as well.

    Posted 1 year ago by 2 Popoki #

11. 

    We never let the cat i grew up with have catnip cause she all ready had an extreme wild streak (well not with me, she was the sweetest, gentlest cat I ever had the pleasure of sharing my childhood with). But when she was 20 I did give her a toy with catnip and this cat went from barely able to walk to seeming like she had the energy of a fairly young cat.

    I will sometimes get catnip toys to my current two, but my calico will sometimes get carried away with playing rough so I limit the exposure to catnip toys.

    I do know my smaller cat cannot handle the cat nip flavoured cat treats. I gave her 2 small kibbles and shortly after there was a lot of cat sick. It was Pounce catnip flavoured treats. Come to think of it, both my cats get a little bloated and both will be sick with other flavours of Pounce. Sorry about straying off topic.

    Chey

    Posted 1 year ago by spacecatsgarden #

12. 

    My boys LOVE the Pounce catnip treats. My Bobby won't eat anything but his dry food and a taste of Milo's wet food every now and then and no treats of any kind - except for the Pounce treats. I give them to Milo, too, and have since he was a few months old. Milo doesn't react to catnip and as for Bobby, he just gets real lazy and rolls around in kitty ecstacy, but the Pounce treats don't affect him.
    I have a bag right here on my desk and I just looked at the ingredients - they have an artificial catnip flavoring in them, but not the real thing, so it should be okay. *Bobby breathes sigh of relief and lifts head from office chair to see if Mama is going to give out treats*

    Posted 1 year ago by GreatDane #

13. 

    Hi, spacecatsgarden! Visited your website - it's awesome!

    Posted 1 year ago by WillowandWindismom #

14. 

    GD,
    Could be my cats. Never can tell with those two lol. Sometimes I think they will do anything to get extra attention from me. Oh well its good to keep an eye on my cats and I love them to bits anyways. :)

    WW
    Glad you liked my blog :)

    Chey

    Posted 1 year ago by spacecatsgarden #

15. 

    SCG / Chey - welcome to TDK Chat!! I take it your avator pic is of your cats? They're very like mine - click on my name to see!

    (oops, just seen you introduced yourself 2 weeks ago -I'm so behind the times!!)

    Posted 1 year ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

16. 

    Glad you are posting here, SCG! I see that you already introduced yourself here a couple of weeks ago, but I was gone on vacation so I missed it. Welcome!

    Posted 1 year ago by Kitten Whisperer #

17. 

    There may still be an ingredient in the treats that upset their stomachs, SCG. If you're looking for treats for them, Greenies are a good option - even Bobby has eaten one or two in his time, which must mean they are as delicious as I've heard they're supposed to be! :)

    Posted 1 year ago by GreatDane #

18. 

    Thanks for the heads up! Lucy Belle does not respond to catnip though ..

    Posted 1 year ago by tuttibella #

19. 

    When Rotley was a young kitten I got some nice tartar control treats for him. He didn't seem to know what to do with them, so I provided an example and afterwards he really snarfed them down.

    And my teeth were surprisingly white and free of tartar.

    Posted 1 year ago by Emma #

20. 

    thats horribal are you ok is your other cat ok now thwts good to know thanx

    Posted 1 year ago by neelaANDcharlie #

21. 

    Wow, I've never seen such a reaction, thankfully. Jiggs loved the stuff; it gave him a happy buzz. Shaddo didn't touch it - no interest at all. I've heard that kittens shouldn't have it, but didn't know why. I just figured kittens are so high strung to begin with, it's not necessary.

    Posted 1 year ago by JoanfromNewJersey #

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