Yes, your kitten very well might be getting high on catnip. The good news is that catnip is harmless for most cats and can add a lot to their enrichment if they’re one of the lucky ones that responds to it!
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is an herb belonging to the mint family. The active ingredient in catnip that cats respond to is nepetalactone. The plant itself can grow to be 1- to 3-feet tall and blooms from late spring to autumn. Catnip is perennial, so with proper care, you won’t need to replant every year.
If your goal is to plant catnip in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, you’ll want to start the seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your intended planting date. If you’re growing your catnip indoors, you can plant it at any time of the year. Catnip generally prefers a lot of sunlight, needing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. However, if you live in a hot area, you’ll want to give your catnip some afternoon shade.
Catnip can grow in pots (8- to 10-inch) or raised garden beds, but you can also plant directly in the earth. Each plant should be around 18 to 24 inches apart. The soil should have good drainage. You want the soil of seedlings to be moist but not soggy. Your mature catnip plant will only need watering during times of drought (if planted outside).
Catnip is usually self-fertilizing. Some gardeners feel that catnip spreads too easily, so consider placing some sort of boundary around your catnip garden to help contain it.
Once you have mature catnip, you can air-dry a couple of stems. Harvest the leaves and flowers from the stems, and then enjoy watching your cat roll around in your homegrown catnip!
If you are growing catnip, be sure that it stays separate from these other plants that are toxic to cats.
