Catnip and silvervine toys: what to try if your cat ignores catnip
At a glance
| Best for | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Chew it | CatTwig SilverVine Stick Cat Chew Toy, 6 count |
| Kick it | Mad Cat Big Burrito Kicker Catnip & Silvervine Cat Toy |
| Refresh it | TwinCritters KittiKrack Organic Silvervine Powder, 15-g |
| Try another plant | Meowijuana Honeysuckle Haze Blend Catnip, 0.92-oz bottle |
Catnip and silvervine are for play, not treatment. If your cat keeps vomiting or has diarrhea after eating any of these plants, or may have swallowed a piece of a chew stick, call your vet.[6],[7]
Some cats roll, rub, and zoom at the first sniff of catnip. Others sniff once and walk away. If yours is one of the walkers, nothing is wrong with your cat, and catnip isn't the only plant that can get that reaction.
This guide covers why some cats don't respond, what a study of 100 cats found about silvervine, Tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian, when kittens start to react, whether catnip is safe, how often to offer it and keep it fresh, and which toy formats work best. For everyday play ideas, see our guide to indoor enrichment toys for cats.
Picks follow how we pick. We may earn a commission from links (disclosure).
Why some cats ignore catnip
Whether a cat reacts to catnip is inherited. It's a genetic trait passed on from their parents, so a cat who ignores it isn't bored or broken, and more catnip won't change that.[3],[8]
- About one cat in three. In a 2017 study of 100 cats, about a third didn't respond to catnip, close to the 31 percent found when the researchers pooled earlier studies.[1]
- Estimates vary. Other sources put the share of cats who don't react anywhere from about 20 percent to about half.[3],[8],[5]
- What a response looks like. Sniffing, licking, and chewing the plant, rubbing the face and chin on it, rolling, grooming, and a burst of play.[3],[1]
- Sniffing versus eating. Sniffing catnip tends to make cats active. When they eat it, most cats become calm and relaxed instead.[5]
Silvervine, honeysuckle and valerian
Silvervine, Tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian root can all get a catnip-like reaction. The 2017 study offered all four plants to the same 100 cats, so you can see how they compare.[3],[1]
- Silvervine: the strongest bet. 79 percent of the cats responded to silvervine, more than to catnip (68 percent). Of the cats who ignored catnip, 71 percent responded to silvervine.[1],[2]
- Tatarian honeysuckle: worth a try. About half the cats responded to honeysuckle wood, and about a third of the catnip non-responders did.[1]
- Valerian root: least likely. Just under half the cats responded to valerian, and only about one in five of the cats who ignored catnip.[1]
- Which part of the plant. The study used powder from dried silvervine fruit galls, honeysuckle wood and sawdust, and dried valerian root. Among silvervine parts, the fruit galls got the strongest reactions.[1],[2]
Kittens and catnip: when it starts working
A young kitten who ignores a catnip toy may just be too young. Catnip has no effect on cats until they're over three months old.[3],[4]
- Some take longer. Kittens usually start to respond somewhere between 3 and 6 months of age.[5]
- Try again later. If your kitten didn't react when younger, it's worth offering catnip again when they're older.[3]
- Silvervine may wait longer still. Kittens under about 8 months, and pregnant cats, often don't respond to silvervine.[7]
Is catnip safe for cats?
Catnip's effects are generally harmless, nonaddictive, and short-lived. Sniffing it is the main event. Eating a lot of it is where problems start.[3],[5]
- Eating too much. The ASPCA lists catnip as toxic to cats because eating it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Most cats limit how much they eat, and any upset is usually mild.[6],[5]
- Silvervine. Silvervine is widely considered safe and nonaddictive, but one veterinary review notes that scientific data are lacking.[7],[2]
- Honeysuckle: wood, not berries. None of the four plants in the 2017 study is listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. But the berries of Tatarian honeysuckle, which weren't used, may cause mild stomach upset. Stick to products made from the wood.[1]
How often to offer it, and keeping it fresh
A catnip session usually lasts about 10 minutes. After that, cats are temporarily immune to it for about two hours, so offering more straight away does nothing.[5]
- A few times a week. Limit catnip sessions to a few times per week so it stays special.[5]
- Silvervine lasts a little longer. Its effects start right away and last up to about 30 minutes.[7]
- Put it away between sessions. Give your cat one small toy at a time and rotate two or three, so each stays new. Store favorite toys in a bag with some catnip inside between sessions.[4]
- Freeze the loose stuff. Keep dried catnip in an airtight container in the freezer so it stays fresh.[5]
- Refresh toys every few weeks. Refilling or refreshing catnip toys every few weeks helps keep your cat interested.[5]
Which toys work: kickers, sticks, stuffed and refillable
Catnip can encourage a cat to play with a toy and draw them to a scratching post. The format matters too, because each suits a different kind of play.[3]
- Kickers. Long plush toys a cat can hug with the front paws and kick with the back. Stuffed toys like these can give cats hours of play.[8]
- Small stuffed toys. Mice and other small stuffed toys are good for batting and tossing. Keep a few out and rotate them weekly.[8],[4]
- Silvervine sticks. Made for chewing, which makes them the most hands-on format. Supervise, and throw away splintered sticks.[7]
- Loose powder and refillable toys. A pinch of loose catnip or silvervine on a toy, bed, or scratcher lets you refresh old favorites. Refillable toys let you swap in fresh filling, or try a different plant in the same toy.[4],[5]
Our picks
These four are chosen so a catnip non-responder has something to try: silvervine sticks to chew, a kicker filled with catnip and silvervine, silvervine powder to refresh the toys you already have, and a honeysuckle wood blend. None has feathers, bells, or strings, and each has an honest drawback. We don't rank by commission.
How does your cat see these toys?1 · Chew it: silvervine sticks
CatTwig SilverVine Stick Cat Chew Toy, 6 count
Why we picked it. Six plain sticks of silvervine with the bark on, and no twine, feathers, or bells. It's a cheap way to find out if your catnip-shy cat reacts to silvervine.
Safety note
Honest drawback. Rated only about 3.3 out of 5, mostly because many reviewers' cats ignored them, and some worry about splintering.
2 · Kick it: a catnip and silvervine kicker
Mad Cat Big Burrito Kicker Catnip & Silvervine Cat Toy
Why we picked it. An 8-inch crinkle kicker filled with a catnip and silvervine blend, so it covers cats who respond to either plant. Reviewers report months of hard use.
Safety note
Honest drawback. The filling can't be refreshed, and some reviewers say a reorder arrived smaller than their first one.
3 · Refresh it: silvervine powder
TwinCritters KittiKrack Organic Silvervine Powder, 15-g
Why we picked it. A 15-gram tin of silvervine fruit powder. Sprinkle about a quarter teaspoon on a favorite toy, bed, or scratcher to bring old toys back to life.
Safety note
Honest drawback. Reviewers say the fine powder can stain light carpet and fabric, and the packaging is fiddly to open.
4 · Try another plant: a honeysuckle wood blend
Meowijuana Honeysuckle Haze Blend Catnip, 0.92-oz bottle
Why we picked it. Catnip mixed with Tatarian honeysuckle wood in a small bottle. For a cat who ignores both catnip and silvervine, honeysuckle is the next plant to try.
Safety note
Honest drawback. It's a catnip blend, not pure honeysuckle, and some reviewers' cats reacted less to it than to the brand's silvervine blend.
Questions people ask
Why doesn't my cat respond to catnip?
Whether a cat reacts to catnip is inherited, so a cat who ignores it isn't broken. In a 2017 study of 100 cats, about a third didn't respond. Kittens also don't react until they're over about three months old. Of the cats in that study who ignored catnip, 71 percent responded to silvervine.[3],[1]
Is catnip safe for cats?
Catnip's effects are generally harmless, nonaddictive, and short-lived. Eating a lot of it can cause vomiting and diarrhea, which is why the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, though most cats limit how much they eat. Call your vet if your cat keeps vomiting or has diarrhea.[3],[5],[6]
How often can I give my cat catnip?
A few times a week is plenty. A session usually lasts about 10 minutes, and afterward cats are temporarily immune to catnip for about two hours, so offering more straight away does nothing. Keep dried catnip in an airtight container in the freezer so it stays fresh.[5]
Sources
Last reviewed Sep 29, 2026. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Ask your vet about your own cat.
- BMC Veterinary Research, Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria) (Bol et al., 2017)
- dvm360, Olfactory enrichment for cats: alternatives to catnip
- International Cat Care, Why do cats..?
- International Cat Care, Playing with your cat
- Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States), Catnip benefits and uses for cats
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Catnip
- PetMD, Silvervine Plant: An Alternative to Catnip (Autumn Madden, DVM)
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Cat Behavior and Training: Play and Play Toys
- Cornell Feline Health Center, Safe toys and gifts