Cat grass and catnip: what is the difference and how to use them?
Under the same shelf label, two very different plants sit side by side: young shoots grown for nibbling, and the euphoria-inducing catnip plant. Confusing the two leads to disappointing purchases. Here is how to tell them apart and get the best out of each for your feline’s well-being.
Cat grass for nibbling: the useful greenery
This is made up of young grass shoots (barley, wheat, oats) that cats happily chew. This natural behaviour helps them bring up hairballs and provides fibre. It is a real plus for indoor cats deprived of outdoor grass, alongside regular brushing. You will find it as grow-your-own kits (3 to 8 €) or ready-grown trays (4 to 10 €). Place the pot away from your houseplants, some of which are toxic: offering dedicated grass is precisely what steers the cat away from dangerous plants.
Catnip: the natural mood-lifter
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) contains nepetalactone, a molecule that triggers a burst of joyful excitement in many cats: rolling, rubbing, licking, intense play sequences. The effect generally lasts around ten minutes, followed by a refractory period. An important point: a significant share of cats is not sensitive to it, as receptivity is hereditary and absent in very young kittens. It is neither a drug nor a danger: catnip is considered safe and non-addictive at usual doses.
In what forms should you use it?
- Dried flakes (3 to 10 € a pot): sprinkle over a scratcher, a snuffle mat or into a refillable toy.
- Spray (5 to 12 €): handy for making a new bed, a brand-new scratching post or a carrier more appealing.
- Filled toys: cushions and mice stuffed with catnip, perfect for solo play sessions.
- Alternatives: valerian, matatabi (silvervine sticks) or honeysuckle often win over cats immune to catnip.
Good practice and limits
Use catnip in small touches, once or twice a week, to preserve its novelty effect. It excels at encouraging the use of new equipment, enriching an indoor cat’s daily life or relaxing certain cats before a stressful event. A few cats respond instead with scattered overexcitement: in that case, keep it for toys and avoid handling moments. A cat that eats a few fresh leaves comes to no harm; in the event of repeated vomiting or unusual behaviour, ask your vet for advice.
Going further
Grass for nibbling in the kitchen, catnip on the scratcher: the two plants complement each other in a happy cat’s toolkit. Find our selections of catnip toys and boredom-busting accessories in the toys and enrichment section of Planète Pets.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Cats universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.