The Best Catnip

Cats go crazy for catnip, which is why we think every cat's human should stock up. It creates a feeling of euphoria as they roll, lick, and play with it, making the oils and herbs perfect for infusing toys, beds, and scratching posts to help entice your pets to try new things. The trick is figuring out which one will work for you.

What to Look For

We recommend focusing on purity, freshness, and overall value to help you bring home the right catnip for your beloved babies. For example, naturally grown Cat Crack Catnip is packaged without any preservatives or artificial ingredients, so all your kitty gets is a pure fresh herb. On the other hand, if you want to avoid the mess of ground flowers, the Pet Craft Supply catnip spray may be your best bet. The organic formula is potent and easy to apply. No matter how you plan to use catnip for your furry friends, the list below has you covered. Take a look for more details.

Cat Crack Catnip

Buy in bulk

Stock up on this high-potency herb for a great price.
Best Overall

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Cat Crack Catnip is a high-quality choice with a high concentration of the feel-good chemicals cats love. The temperature-controlled growing environment and attention to detail during harvesting and packaging are a plus and make it easy to rely on this company to provide you with fresh herbs every time. Best of all, it’s available in large quantities, allowing you to stock up and save money.

Pros:

  • Strong scent helps entice cats to new beds, toys, and more
  • A little goes a long way, so large packages last a long time
  • Reliable potency due to consistent growing practices
  • Smooth ground finish rarely has any stems or sticky pieces

Cons:

  • It can go stale if you don’t close the jar tightly

Yeowww Catnip Tub

Pack it in

Cats go crazy for this catnip, making it ideal for toys and scratchers.
Runner Up

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Yeowww makes tons of catnip toys that drive cats crazy, and now you can refresh or make them yourself with this tub of Yeowww catnip. It’s packed with pure, premium, organically grown, and ground catnip flowers, the same ones that make their toys irresistible. We learned that cats who dislike or ignore herbs from other brands enjoy this one. And you can add it to almost anything, from small fuzzy mice to towers and beds.

Pros:

  • Works well for refreshing Yeowww toys
  • Fantastic value for a large tub
  • Packaged fresh and remains potent for months
  • Often attracts cats that don’t usually like catnip

Cons:

  • There’s usually a few larger pieces and stems inside

Meowijuana Catnip Pawty Mix

Maximum effect

This cooky concoction will make almost any cat happy, even when catnip alone doesn't cut it.
Best Blend

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Meowijuana Catnip Pawty Mix is an ultra-potent blend of organically-grown cat-friendly herbs, including catnip, valerian root, silvervine, chamomile, lavender, dandelion leaf, and passion flower. They work together to help your cat feel good and have fun. And you aren’t limited to this specific blend, either. You can choose from several other herb mixes or grab some of their pure, high-quality, organic catnip by itself. There’s sure to be a variety for every cat in your home.

Pros:

  • Added herbs in the blends can help enhance the effects of catnip
  • Can attract cats that don’t enjoy plain catnip
  • Fun-themed sets can make great gifts for cat owners
  • Containers seal well for long-term freshness

Cons:

  • A little pricier than regular catnips

From the Field Fine Ground Catnip

Smooth finish

There are no stalks, stems, or pokey pieces that can injure your pet in this fine-ground catnip.
Best Texture

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From the Field fine ground catnip is naturally grown, harvested, and packaged fresh for maximum potency and quality. And unlike most competitors, it has a velvety texture with no stems, clumps, or pokey pieces. You can add it to anything without it sticking out or hurting your pets by accident. It’s one of our favorite choices when making or refilling toys and catnip pillows.

Pros:

  • Super strong scent attracts cats of all ages
  • Smooth finish helps you avoid messes and injuries
  • Large amount for an affordable price
  • Choose from plastic tubs or bulk bags based on your needs

Cons:

  • You need your own container to keep it fresh if you get it in a bag

Pet Craft Supply Natural Catnip Spray

Convenient spray

Get a concentrated scent where you need it without the mess of traditional herbs.
Best Liquid

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One drawback to ground herb versions of catnip is that there is almost always a mess to clean once your cats are done playing. That’s what makes Pet Craft Supply natural catnip spray one of our favorites. This potent formula blends super-concentrated organic catnip oil with simple water and natural emulsifier to create a liquid that you can easily spray on beds, towers, scratchers, toys, and anything else you want to attract your cat too.

Pros:

  • A little goes a long way, so the bottle lasts a while
  • Potent for cats without making your house smell funny
  • Helps entice cats to new beds or toys
  • Precise application without mess to vacuum

Cons:

  • Scent fades quickly, so you have to reapply frequently

Frequently Asked Questions

How does catnip work?

Catnip contains an oil called Nepetalactone, which causes up to 80 percent of cats to feel euphoric by reacting with their natural brain chemistry, similar to pheromones. The reaction usually lasts around 15 minutes.

How often should I give my cat catnip?

Giving catnip to your cat too frequently can minimize your cat’s reaction. For that reason, most experts recommend giving it to them a couple of times a week at most. Some even think it best to wait two weeks between doses. You can ask your vet for a recommendation based on your specific feline’s health and size.

About the Author

Chelsia has grown up with cats all her life and now has two of her very own. As a mom of five kids, Chelsia has lots of little tricks to share about caring for and training cats to live harmoniously with everyone else in the home. She also knows the latest gadgets to make caring for cats a breeze so you can spend more time with your loved ones and less time worrying about cleaning up after your furry friends.

Why Trust Us

Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.