The 11 Best Catnip Toys and Treats · The Wildest

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The Best Catnip Toys and Treats That’ll Have Your Cat Riding High

Let the purring, drooling, and chasing invisible butterflies commence.

by Elizabeth Geier
Updated February 26, 2023
Small gray tabby kitten playing with a toy
Melanie DeFazio / Stocksy
The letter "W" from the Wildest logo

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Catswort. Catmint. Kush for cats. Whatever you call it, catnip is a potent herb that inspires euphoric effects in most cats. According to Dr. Sarah Dougherty, “about 60 percent of cats will have a behavioral reaction to catnip,” while some cats lack the dominant trait that must be present for them to have the correct receptors that lead to stimulation.

In other words, not every cat can party. But if your pet is one of the lucky 60 percent, catnip will send them rolling, purring, drooling, chasing invisible butterflies, and trying to seduce your shoes (or maybe that’s just my weirdo?).

You can give your cat pure, uncut catnip from a catnip plant, but we suggest choosing a catnip delivery system that matches their preferences. As Dr. Dougherty explains, some cats “will experience mellow and calm behavior” under the influence. If couch lock is a thing for your cat, consider a catnip-enhanced lounger or cat hammock to cradle them through their high. Or, if catnip revs them up, offer an electronic cat toy or interactive puzzle to work out that energy. Read on for some of our favorites.

Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)

Elizabeth Geier

Elisabeth Geier is a writer, teacher, and animal advocate with extensive pet handling experience and a soft spot for bully breeds and big orange tabbies.

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