Catnip Spray Refill User Guide
What responses should I expect from my cat?
Reactions vary and can depend on genetics; typically cats become extremely playful, may roll around, rub their jaw or face against objects, lick their toys excitedly. Some may also drool a little. However some will instead become very relaxed and tranquil, some can display variations of both. These effects are harmless and tend to last up to 20 minutes. Please always supervise your cat during use!
Which active ingredients do cats respond to?
Cats may naturally respond to any of the main stimulants (or "iridoids") shown below, from around age 6 months, depending on their genetic makeup, with responses sometimes diminishing in older cats.
Therefore cats may respond to some, all or none of the above plant sources; hard to tell without knowing their genetic makeup. It can also come down to the variety and quality of a crop, some cats may even just dislike a particular scent.
Why start with only small amounts?
Cat sense of smell is over ten times stronger than in humans, they even smell things that we can't. They may just walk away if the scent is overpowering. It may work better if you start small and respray as required; note that the spray/oils may evaporate less quickly from more absorbent surfaces.
Can the stimulants be dangerous or addictive?
There’s no known evidence of this however it's always possible that your cat might have an allergy to a specific ingredient, so always supervise their play during use.
To avoid repeating here, please read the packaging as it details some key points for the safe use of this product. One key thing, always dilute correctly before using with your cat to ensure that the product is not overpowering for them.
Give them regular breaks
Cats can become “drug tolerant” to these nasal stimulants within 15 to 30 minutes. A break of at least 2 hours may help heighten effects for next time. (Spray/oils may evaporate less quickly from more absorbent surfaces).
What if it does nothing for my cat?
Some cats may naturally never respond as above, plus they do need to be in the mood! Give it a few tries else the guarantee above stands.
Is the spray certified vegan or organic?
All ingredients are vegan (free of animal-derived content plus not tested on animals), some but not all are organic, as advised by suppliers. However neither the suppliers or ourselves are officially certified vegan or organic by any independent body.
Why are (natural) “emulsifiers” added?
Also called surfactants, they help (plant) oil mix with water; given time the oil will separate out again hence it’s always best to shake well before each use.
How sustainable is this product?
All cardboard is sourced from FSC or PEFC certified sustainable forests, note we do not own a licence to display their official logos. As a side note, we also use vegan glue made locally.
Why is it possible to recycle the sachets?
They are made from a single layer of soft plastic (LDPE, low density polyethylene) which is easily recycled (but not yet at home); many pouches/sachets are composed of multiple layers often including a metallic layer (e.g. mylar), which are hard to recycle. The small size of the sachets is not a problem in itself, as the process involves first shredding the ldpe into small pieces, providing it is clean.
Why use a plastic bag inside postal boxes?
We use Royal Mail and it's their requirement for transporting containers of liquids. We keep an eye out for alternative methods, note that the bag can be recycled as above.
Can you prove traceability on raw materials?
Not currently. As a small firm we're reliant on supplier declarations, we don't have technology to track raw materials/ingredients door to door.
Research Sources:
Bol et al. BMC Veterinary Research (2017),
Uenoyama et al. Science Advances (2021)
Key info missing? An error?
Please let us know!