# Can cat's OD on catnip? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505 "2003-07-19T00:07:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/1 "2003-07-19T00:07:22Z")
The other night, my bro gave me some nice fresh Columbian catnip for my cats. šŸ˜› I did a search and found a couple of columns ([Column 1](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_008.html) and [Column 2](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcatorigin.html)) on catnip and learned a bit about it. But one questions remains. Can catā€™s OD on the stuff? (Someone at work said they couldā€¦but I tend not to believe everything I hear right off the batā€¦) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/2 "2003-07-19T00:31:03Z")
Please see the thread on apostrophe usage. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/3 "2003-07-19T00:42:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panache45 \* > \*\*Please see the thread on apostrophe usage. \*\* Really? I wasnā€™t so sure that was the case. Oh waitā€¦you didnā€™t have anything important to addā€¦never mindā€¦ :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/4 "2003-07-19T00:58:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panache45 \* > Please see the thread on apostrophe usage. Well that was just out and out rudeā€¦it was a typo, I am sure. Sheesh. :rolleyes: Itā€™s not worth pitting you for but why must people run around the board picking on such minor details. As for the OP, I have never had a cat OD on it, some just react stronger than others. Heck I have a cat that reacts to my mint flavor gum in much the same way (mint and catnip are apparently in the same family.) ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/5 "2003-07-19T01:06:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\*Heck I have a cat that reacts to my mint flavor gum in much the same way (mint and catnip are apparently in the same family.) \*\* That I can understand as the two plants are types on mint. (From what I read fomr the two columns I read.) šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/6 "2003-07-19T01:09:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > \*\*That I can understand as the two plants are types on mint. (From what I read _fomr_ the two columns I read.) > > šŸ™‚ \*\* Yesā€¦I saw that typo, thank youā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/7 "2003-07-19T03:27:16Z")
No. I had to ask the vet that years ago. I just secured the catnip jar better from my intelligent, resourceful and _ **extremely** _ happy cat. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/8 "2003-07-19T03:30:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by coffeecat \* > \*\*No. I had to ask the vet that years ago. I just secured the catnip jar better from my intelligent, resourceful and _ **extremely** _ happy cat. \*\* Iā€™m glad you just posted that. My cat just found my stash. It was hidden in my top drawer. (It got it from him before he managed to eat itā€¦) I canā€™t believe it managed to open it!! Itā€™s now under my mattress, (The catnip, not the cat.) so if it can get it there, it deserves to have it!!! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/9 "2003-07-19T05:19:40Z")
During the night our fat cat of ours managed to knock over a box of the stuff from atop the fridge, spilling the entire contents all over the floor. In the morning we found him rolling around in it, happily stoned. After we cleaned him up he didnā€™t appear worse from the experience. Our catnip was minced and dry. Who knows what would have happened if he took a toke of the fresh, primo Columbian blend. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/10 "2003-07-19T14:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > \*\* Who knows what would have happened if he took a toke of the fresh, primo Columbian blend. šŸ˜‰ \*\* No doubt heā€™d have been sitting rather dazedly infront of the TV watching your old tape of Bill and Tedā€™s Excellent Adventure pigginā€™ out on that bag of Doritos. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/11 "2003-07-19T14:25:02Z")
My book _The Cat Whisperer_ says that cats canā€™t OD on catnip. BTW, I hereby raise **panache45** to the status of ā€œevil minionā€. Signed, **The Apostrophe Nazi[sup]TM[/sup]** ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/12 "2003-07-19T14:55:01Z")
Related question: How long does catnip last? How long before we should start replacing it (in those refillable toys)? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/13 "2003-07-19T21:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > \*\*Yesā€¦I saw that typo, thank youā€¦ \*\* Yeah but you missed the other one. Types ā€œofā€ mint, not types ā€œonā€ mint. Although perhaps _you_ were typing on mint or some other herb when you posted and can be excused the typo. But not the sentence structure. ā€œFrom what I read [from] the two columns I readā€? \ And before anyone has a hissy, Iā€™m teasing. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/14 "2003-07-19T21:17:22Z")
At present there are 6 cats in my house, and as theyā€™ve come and gone itā€™s always been at least that amount my whole life (Iā€™m 23). In all this time, there has been a catnip plant growing on our lawn. AND THEY NEVER TOUCH IT! Only when we pick some and offer it to them do they take a hit (har har). I donā€™t know why they donā€™t help themselves, but they just havenā€™t. Or maybe thatā€™s why they all like to go outside at night. Wow my cats are rock stars. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/15 "2003-07-19T21:36:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*And before anyone has a hissy, Iā€™m teasing. \*\* That will teach me to post while drinking. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-od-on-catnip/189505/16 "2003-07-20T00:44:28Z")
+ha+'s whi i+ +as+es like min+ when I smoke i+! šŸ˜›