Most cat people have offered their kitty catnip at some point, and their response is usually quite fun to watch!  Scent stimulation is often overlooked with felines, and I highly recommend regularly including it in the enrichment you offer to your cats.  Here are some things to know to give your feline friend as enjoyable an experience as possible.

• Not every cat will have a response to catnip; an estimated twenty percent of cats will not react at all.  If you give your cat a catnip toy and they don’t seem to care, you can try offering dried or fresh catnip, and if they don’t care about either of those, then you likely have one of those kitties who aren’t affected by it.  If this is the case, you can try another plant that may elicit the same reaction: silver vine.  You can get it in a dried form just like catnip, or as small sticks that your cat may like to chew on.  Some cats, however, may not be affected by either catnip OR silver vine.
• If your kitty is one of the majority who does enjoy catnip, it’s a great tool to use to get them interested in something new.  Did you just get them a cat bed or a scratching post that they don’t seem to care for?  Try sprinkling some catnip on the item in question; it may catch their attention and help them figure out that this new thing is actually really fun.
• If your cat is in need of some extra exercise, giving them catnip before a play session can help them feel extra pepped up and more willing to chase after the wand toy you’re swinging.  However, some cats will have the opposite reaction to catnip, and will just want to sit and stare at the wall for a little while, so it won’t work to get EVERY cat hyped up.  Once you know how your cat responds to catnip, you’ll know how best to use it!
• If you have a cat who overstimulates easily, or mistakes hands for toys during play time, you’ll want to use caution when offering catnip.  Make sure you have a long-handled wand toy on hand so it will be easy to redirect their energy away from you.  Having an electronic toy turned on for them can also be a good idea, or directing them towards a kicker or other toy that they can interact with without your hand being nearby.  If you have a cat who overstimulates at the drop of a hat, then you may want to avoid catnip entirely.
• If you have recently adopted a shy cat (or even not so recently), I highly recommend offering them catnip on a regular basis.  I frequently use it as a tool in the shelter for scared or shut down cats, often with great success.  It can make them feel just a little more comfortable, and perhaps more willing to engage with you.
• With catnip, a little goes a long way- no need to offer a giant pile as a tiny sprinkle will usually do the trick!  However, you don’t have to worry if you accidentally give them too much, as it won’t harm them- giving them more just doesn’t make them have a stronger reaction.  Once a cat has been stimulated by catnip, it takes a little while before it can have an effect on them again.  Some cats ‘reset’ quickly and may be ready for more in just a half hour or so, but most cats will take at least a few hours, or sometimes much longer, before they’ll have a reaction again.