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Is Catnip Good for Cats’ Digestion? Nutrition Facts & FAQ

Written by: Lorre Luther

Last Updated on January 17, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

cat eating cat grass

Is Catnip Good for Cats’ Digestion? Nutrition Facts & FAQ

Catnip is a perennial herb that grows throughout North America’s temperate regions. Although it’s now become a naturalized species, it’s really a Eurasian import. While the plant is best known for its euphoria-inducing effects on felines, catnip also has many health benefits for humans and cats. The herb has been used for ages in traditional medicine to manage conditions from anxiety to insomnia in humans. It’s also used for digestive tract support and to soothe upset stomachs. There’s some evidence that catnip may also benefit cats’ digestive health.

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Does Catnip Have Other Health Benefits for Cats?

Catnip has many feline healthy benefits ranging from reduced anxiety to increased sleep. It’s perfect for adding an extra bit of fun to playtime. And catnip often encourages otherwise uninterested cats to play, at least for a brief period. It’s often used to reduce feline anxiety and to encourage hyper cats to sleep. The plant also appears to have pain-relieving and appetite-increasing qualities.

cat with green eyes in catnip
Image Credit: Georgia Evans, Shutterstock

Do Cats React Different to Eaten as Opposed to Sniffed Catnip?

Yes. Cats often react quite differently when they eat instead of sniff catnip. The herb works in two ways in cats. When sniffed, catnip leads to frenetic bouts of energetic running around and wild behavior. After which, most cats settle down for a snooze.

Catnip, when eaten, has a slightly different effect. Cats become more active than usual and then settle down for sleep. The initial period of euphoria is a bit shorter than what results when cats sniff the plant. The relaxed state is more profound and longer-lasting when the plant is eaten.

Which Is Better: Dried or Fresh Catnip?

It depends on what effect you’re looking for. Fresh catnip tends to be stronger than dried products. But cats also tend to nibble on fresh catnip instead of just sniffing it.

Oral consumption is good for pain and fast anxiety relief. It’s also the best way to obtain the herb’s sedative effects. Dried catnip that cats sniff, on the other hand, stimulates physical activity and elevates playtime to the next level. Even the most rambunctious cats are ready for a nap after 15 minutes of catnip-augmented playtime.

Fresh catnip is easy to grow year-round in outdoor containers or indoors on well-lit window sills. If the crop gets out of hand, consider drying some to save for later. Drying fresh catnip takes minimal effort and doesn’t cost a thing. It keeps for months as long as it’s stored in an airtight container. An airtight container in the freezer is even better.

jar of catnip
Image Credit: Gaston Cerliani, Shutterstock

How Long Does It Take for Catnip to Take Effect?

Cats react almost instantly when sniffing catnip. The feline vomeronasal gland is located inside cats’ mouths. It delivers smells and scents to the brain for interpretation. Cats react to a substance called Nepetalactone contained in catnip.

Nepetalactone needs to be introduced to the vomeronasal gland to be processed in the brain as an intoxicant. Cats can also experience catnip’s effects after nibbling on the plant or consuming a tincture with the plant’s active ingredients. It takes 10 to 15 minutes for orally ingested catnip to begin working.

Can Cats Overdose on Catnip?

No. Cats can’t overdose on catnip like a human can on substances such as benzodiazepines. Cats who overeat the plant often experience stomach distress, including nausea and vomiting. Or they become drowsy and have difficulty staying upright. Kitties who’ve consumed too much of the plant should be kept somewhere without stairs or high perches to prevent dangerous falls.

The plant is not addictive. Too much catnip consumption increases tolerance, making it more difficult for heavy-catnip users to feel its effects, but cats don’t suffer life-threatening or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Most experts suggest limiting cats to two weekly catnip sessions to minimize tolerance development.

Catnip
Image Credit: Kassel95, Pixabay

Is Catnip Toxic to Cats?

The simple answer is yes. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) includes catnip on the organization’s list of substances toxic to cats due to its tendency to cause nausea and vomiting when consumed in large quantities.

But most cats don’t have problems with the plant when enjoyed in reasonable quantities. Nausea and vomiting, while uncomfortable for any cat to experience, are far milder than the consequences of eating seriously poisonous plants such as lilies, which can lead to kidney failure and, ultimately, death, all within 24 to 72 hours of ingestion.

cat enjoying cat nip
Image Credit: Georgia Evans, Shutterstock

Are There Other Plants That Are Good for Feline Digestion?

Oatgrass is an excellent option for cats who enjoy a bit of roughage, as its smooth edges tend to be gentler on feline digestive tracts than other types of grass. It contains tons of zinc, iron, manganese, and B vitamins. It may help soothe persnickety digestive tracts. Alfalfa grass is another fantastic choice as it may provide some protection against kidney disease.

Fennel and ginger can be soothing in the proper doses, but mint should be avoided as it’s toxic to cats. Ginger often helps reduce vomiting in sick pets. But cats can only have a limited amount of ginger before it starts causing stomach trouble, so check with your veterinarian to determine the correct dosage before giving this powerful plant to your cat.

Cats are obligate carnivores; they need meat to obtain all the nutrients required for optimal health. While cats can consume nondigestible fiber from plant sources, they don’t process fiber-dense carbohydrates as efficiently as protein and fat from meat. And cats always require meat to get all the amino acids and nutrients they need, like taurine, which is only found in animal protein.

Plants still play an important role in feline digestive health, particularly cereals and roughage. Modern feline commercial diets often include grains such as oats, barley, and rice to provide fiber.

These nondigestible fiber sources improve feline regularity and encourage nutrient absorption by facilitating the movement of digested food through the stomach, intestines, and colon. Fermentable non-digestible fiber sources, like cellulose and beet pulp, provide even more benefits by encouraging optimal levels of health-supporting good gut bacteria in cats.

Some veterinarians suggest that plant-based dietary fiber isn’t necessary for cats that consume wet food diets, arguing that dry food causes the vomiting associated with hairballs, not a lack of dietary fiber.

cat eating catnip
Image Credit: Piqsels

Does Catnip Have Other Health Benefits for Humans?

Absolutely. Catnip has been used in traditional medicine to treat anxiety, gas, nervousness, and diarrhea. It also features three powerful antioxidants: rosmarinic, coumaric, and caffeic acids. Rosmarinic acid appears to be particularly helpful when it comes to managing asthma and stomach ulcers. It may also improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety, and reduce stomach distress. It’s most often consumed as tea.

Does Catnip Have Side Effects in Humans?

It depends. It often makes people drowsy or sleepy, but many consume catnip precisely for its calming and sleep-inducing effects. It can cause drowsiness when taken with prescription sleep medication or natural anti-anxiety remedies, such as St. John’s wort, kava, or hops.

Some people find their stomachs don’t agree with catnip tea, with the concoction often causing vomiting and diarrhea. Catnip is also off-limits to anyone with a sensitivity to mint, as the two plants are closely related. People who are allergic to mint often have allergic reactions to catnip.

Gray Cat Enjoying Fresh Catnip_Anna Hoychuk_shutterstock
Image By: Anna Hoychuk, Shutterstock

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Final Thoughts

Catnip is an amazing plant that provides several benefits for humans and cats. It’s been used for ages to address health conditions such as anxiety and insomnia in humans. And it appears that this versatile herb may have a lot to offer when it comes to feline health as well. It’s often used to reduce feline anxiety and osteoarthritis pain. It may even have some digestive benefits in cats, soothing feline stomachs and possibly helping to manage diarrhea.


Featured Image Credit: Olga_Malinina, Shutterstock

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