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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Matatabi vs Catnip: Which Is Better for Your Cat?

Matatabi 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.

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.

Matatabi Forms: Fruit Galls vs Sticks vs Powder vs Leaves

Matatabi 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to Keep Your Cat Calm and Entertained During the Holidays

How to keep your cat calm during holiday guests, travel and a disrupted routine. What to set up before people arrive, and the stress signs worth watching for.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why Handmade Cat Toys Cost More (and When It's Worth It)

Handmade cat toys cost more because of materials, fill, and stitching, not a markup. When that price buys something real, and when it does not.

$What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Means for a Cat Toy$

What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Means for a Cat Toy

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests fabric for hundreds of harmful substances. Why that matters for a toy your cat licks and chews, and what it does not cover.

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.

Best Cat Toys for Senior Cats: Keeping an Older Cat Playing

Older cats still play, just differently. How to adjust toys for stiff joints, why Silver Vine often works when catnip fades, and what to rule out first.

Can Catnip Make Cats Aggressive or Overstimulated?

A minority of cats get overstimulated on catnip rather than mellow. What that looks like, why it happens, and how to handle the cranky reaction.

How to Keep an Indoor Cat Busy While You're at Work

Indoor cats sleep most of the day, but the awake hours matter. How to set up self-play, food, and scent so a cat alone all day stays engaged.

What to get a cat for Christmas: A practical gift guide for feline play dynamics

Skip cheap festive novelty items and choose gifts tailored to feline play dynamics, durable materials, and high-potency botanicals.

Meaningful Christmas gifts for cat owners and friends

Find thoughtful, high-quality holiday gifts for cat lovers, from artisan organic toys to home accessories that fit a feline lifestyle.

Cat Supplies Checklist: What a New Cat Actually Needs

The essential cat supplies for a new cat or kitten: litter, food and water, a carrier, scratching, sleep and toys. What to buy first and what can wait.

Best Cat Accessories for Indoor Cats: What Is Worth Buying

The cat accessories that change how an indoor cat lives: scratchers, cat trees, window perches, tunnels, puzzle feeders and toys, and what each one does.

Interactive Cat Toys: Wands, Lasers and Puzzle Feeders Compared

Which interactive cat toys work best: wand toys, lasers used safely, puzzle feeders and electronic toys, and how to play so your cat stays interested.

Safe Cat Toys: What to Check Before You Buy

How to tell whether a cat toy is safe: string and small parts, glued-on details, fillings, dyes and fabric certification. A checklist and toys to avoid.

Best Kitten Toys by Age, and When Catnip Starts to Work

The best toys for kittens from 8 weeks to 6 months: what to buy, what to avoid, how much to play, and why most kittens ignore catnip at first.

Valerian for Cats: How It Compares to Catnip and Silver Vine

Valerian root is a catnip alternative about half of cats respond to. How it compares with catnip and silver vine, whether it is safe, and how to use it.

Catnip Alternatives for Cats That Don't Respond to Catnip

About one in three cats ignore catnip. The alternatives that work, silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian, and how to test your cat.