How Far Away Can Cats Smell Catnip? Facts & FAQ

Compared to humans, our little furry friends have a superior sense of smell, sometimes smelling scents as far as 1.5 to 4 miles away. A cat’s sense of smell is 14 times our own. But as you’d expect, the sensitivity to smell varies with whatever’s emitting the scent.

For instance, it’s easier for a cat to pick up a whiff of sizzling steak than it is to smell a cup of orange juice. But what about catnip? Well, keep reading to find out.

Click below to jump ahead:

• What Is Catnip?
• How Sensitive Are Cats’ Noses to Catnip?
• Apart From Smelling, Can Cats Eat Catnip?
• How Does Catnip Affect Cats?
• Are the Effects the Same on All Cats?
• How Long Do the Effects Last on Cats?
• Does Catnip Keep Cats Calm?
• Can Your Cat Become Addicted to Catnip?
• How to Correctly Administer Catnip

What Is Catnip?

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Eurasia but also thrives in North America. You can recognize the plant by its light green foliage and lavender flowers. The plant is a member of the mint family, and some people use it for tea. Its flowers are also an ingredient in some bug sprays since they are a potent insect repellent.

How Sensitive Are Cats’ Noses to Catnip?

Cats are extremely sensitive to the scent emitted by catnip. As such, they can smell the minty herb from a staggering 4 miles (6.4 km) away.  In fact, researchers believe that cats can smell catnip even if it’s 1:1 billion parts of the air they breathe. Planting catnip in your garden will certainly attract cats to your yard, including stray ones!

Apart From Smelling, Can Cats Eat Catnip?

Yes, it’s safe for cats to eat catnip. Ingesting the herb doesn’t have any adverse effects on the cat. In fact, evidence shows that catnip might be beneficial for the cat’s digestive tract. Humans can also eat catnip without any health repercussions.

How Does Catnip Affect Cats?

Most animals have a single olfactory organ, but cats have an extra one known as the vomeronasal gland. This gland is found on the roof of the mouth and carries scent from the nose and mouth to the brain.

Catnip leaves contain an oil called nepetalactone. This oil causes behavioral changes in cats when they smell it. The substance mimics the female cat’s sex hormone, making the cat appear to be in heat. However, the effects are seen in both male and female cats.

On smelling catnip, cats display overt affection, relaxation, and happiness. Some cats, however, show extreme playfulness and sometimes aggression. The substance can be especially advantageous to cats that react well to it. That’s because it can help reduce the cat’s anxiety and physical pain.

Lots of cats go bananas for catnip. If your cat is one of them, we recommend Hepper's durable, engaging Catnip Stick Toy! These sturdy toys come in several fun colors and feature bite-proof double bagging and 100% organic catnip fill. They're also handmade in the USA and designed to look like your cat's natural prey.

At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Are the Effects the Same on All Cats?

Cats react differently to catnip. With some cats, catnip makes them mellow and relaxed. While in others, it makes them playful and a tad aggressive. It’s worth noting that some cats don’t react at all to catnip. Such cats lack the dominant gene that makes them reactive to catnip.

How Long Do the Effects Last on Cats?

As mentioned earlier, cats have different reactions to catnip. This also means that the length of the substance’s effects varies from cat to cat. However, on average, the effects take about 10 minutes to wear off. After the effects wear off, it will take about half an hour for the catnip to affect the cat again.

It’s important to store catnip in an airtight container or zip-lock bag to retain its freshness. Otherwise, it’ll lose its potency and have zero effect on your cat.

Does Catnip Keep Cats Calm?

Yes. Catnip has therapeutic effects that help alleviate anxiety in cats. That’s why some cat owners use catnip to help their cats deal with separation anxiety. You can also use it when introducing a new cat to your current one. Just hope that it won’t trigger aggression in any of the cats.

Can Your Cat Become Addicted to Catnip?

Research shows that catnip doesn’t have any long-term effects on a cat’s brain or any other body part. As such, it’s impossible for your cat to become addicted to catnip. However, you might want to tread softly with how much catnip you give your cat.

Exposing your cat to too much catnip could lead to problems like diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and trouble with balance. It’s also worth noting that fresh catnip is more potent than dried catnip. Only administer a little at a time. If you’re uncertain, speak to your vet for advice on the same.

How to Correctly Administer Catnip

There are many ways to give your cat some catnip to help them relax or calm its anxiety. Some of these ways include:

These are great ways to get some catnip into your cat’s system. Catnip is especially ideal for when your cat has an upset stomach or when your furry buddy gets a little antsy. Spray some catnip on your cat’s favorite scratcher tree and let the herb work its magic.

We're quite fond of cardboard as a material in cat scratchers, which is why we love the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. Encased within a well-constructed, modern birch plywood frame, this scratcher is designed with both cats and their owners in mind. It offers three versatile configurations to keep your feline friend active and entertained while enticing them to fulfill their natural scratching instincts (and away from scratching things they shouldn't). For more details, click here!

At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Final Thoughts

Cats are incredibly sensitive to catnip. So, if you want a few roaming your lawn, plant a herb or two and watch them swarm. Remember, you don’t have to plant catnip in your garden or even buy dried catnip. You could always buy catnip-infused toys or catnip sprays. Just be sure to get them from a reputable brand. Your cat will thank you for it.

Featured Image Credit: Kassel95, Pixabay