Can cats eat catnip?

Why

While catnip is not toxic, the ASPCA notes that it can cause gastrointestinal upset like vomiting and diarrhea when eaten. Because reactions vary by cat, it is best to limit exposure to small quantities to avoid stomach issues.

If you do feed it

• Offer only a small pinch of dried leaves or a few fresh leaves at a time
• Monitor your cat closely after the first exposure for signs of stomach upset
• Stop giving catnip immediately if vomiting or diarrhea occurs
• Keep catnip out of reach when not in supervised play sessions

Watch out for

• concentrated catnip oils or extracts
• catnip treats with added sugars or artificial sweeteners
• large quantities of fresh plant material

Better choices