Can kittens have catnip?

Kittens younger than six months generally don't respond to catnip. This isn't because catnip is harmful to them — it's simply because their olfactory system hasn't fully matured enough to trigger the response. The neurological pathways that react to nepetalactone develop gradually in the first year of life.

You can safely introduce catnip from around six months onwards. Some kittens start responding around this time, while others don't show the classic reaction until they're closer to a year old. There's no rush — simply offer a small pinch and observe.

Always supervise a young cat's first catnip experience and start with a very small amount to see how they respond.