“Kitty Kush” is an informal phrase often encountered when discussing plants that captivate felines. This term broadly refers to various botanicals capable of eliciting stimulating reactions in cats. This article aims to demystify this colloquial expression, providing insights into the plants it commonly denotes, their effects on cats, safe usage practices, and cultivation methods.
What is Kitty Kush?
“Kitty Kush” primarily refers to Nepeta cataria, or catnip, a mint family member known for its distinctive impact on many felines. The term also includes other plants that provoke similar, though chemically distinct, responses in cats.
These include Actinidia polygama (silvervine or matatabi) from East Asia, and Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle). While these plants induce comparable behavioral changes, their specific active chemical compounds differ.
How Catnip Affects Cats
The active compound in Nepeta cataria is nepetalactone, a volatile oil in the plant’s leaves, stems, and flowers. When inhaled, nepetalactone engages with nasal receptors, stimulating the olfactory bulb and relaying signals to the brain, influencing feline behavior.
Cats responsive to catnip display behaviors like rolling, rubbing, purring, and sometimes drooling. Some exhibit heightened energy (“zoomies”), while others become relaxed or sedated. The response to catnip is genetically determined, affecting approximately 70-80% of adult cats, and does not manifest in kittens until they reach around six months of age. Effects are temporary, lasting 5-15 minutes, after which a cat may be immune to further stimulation for an hour or more.
Safe Use and Best Practices
Catnip is available in various forms, including dried leaves, sprays, fresh plant material, and toys infused with the herb. To prevent desensitization and maintain its effectiveness, it is often recommended to offer catnip to cats a few times a week rather than daily. Catnip is considered non-toxic and non-addictive for felines, making it a safe option for enrichment.
Ingesting very large quantities might rarely cause mild stomach upset like vomiting or diarrhea, so supervised use is recommended. Introduce new “Kitty Kush” forms under observation to ensure tolerance. Catnip is a valuable tool for behavioral enrichment, encouraging scratching, easing travel stress, or making veterinary visits less daunting.
Growing Catnip
Cultivating Nepeta cataria is relatively straightforward, as it is a resilient and low-maintenance plant. Catnip thrives in full sun to partial shade (at least six hours of direct sunlight daily), tolerating afternoon shade in hot climates. It prefers well-draining, average garden soil and does not require rich amendments.
Established catnip plants are drought-tolerant, needing moderate watering. Harvest mature plants by cutting the top third of stems to encourage bushier growth and potency. To dry, hang bundles upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area, then store dried leaves in an airtight container. Catnip is a vigorous grower and spreads readily, so container planting controls its growth, especially indoors or in confined spaces.