4Cats Catnip Cushion - Classic

4Cats Catnip Cushion - Classic

Small but delightful, with the irresistible scent of catnip. This soft cushion filled with cotton wool and catnip will provide hours of fun. Its soft filling and handy size make it easy for your cat to hold between its paws, lick or carry to a quiet spot to enjoy the exciting scent of catnip.

Catnip has a strong stimulating effect on many cats, helping to keep the cushion interesting for a long time.

Expertly made and filled with pure catnip and cotton wool, the cushion stands up to plenty of enthusiastic cuddling. It is made in Germany to the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for textiles tested for harmful substances. Both you and your cat will love it.

Only carefully selected, safe materials and processes are used. There are no glues, plastic or metal parts, or loose components that could be swallowed.

Size: 7.5 × 10 cm
Colour: subject to current availability

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip belongs to the mint family. Over time, it spread from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Europe, North America and other parts of the world. This perennial is a popular ornamental and garden plant and can also grow wild near hedges, waste ground, roads and paths. It reaches 60–100 cm in height and has white to pale blue, sometimes reddish flowers.

Catnip is a popular filling for cat toys because most cats find it almost irresistible. Owners sometimes worry that their cats could become addicted to it, experience withdrawal after play or suffer harm to their health. These concerns are unfounded.

Cats' attraction to the plant has long been known. It contains the active compounds nepetalactone and actinidine; actinidine is also found in valerian, another plant that attracts cats. Nepetalactone is a natural iridoid that helps protect the plant from insects. Catnip is also used to repel fleas, ticks, cockroaches, mosquitoes and garden pests.

It is still not fully understood why catnip appeals to cats. The idea that its essential oils act as an aphrodisiac has never been proven; the fact that neutered cats also respond to it does not support that theory.

After contact with catnip, cats often display affectionate, contented behaviour. They eagerly rub their heads against the toy, lick it and play with it, often purring. Their excitement lasts about 5–15 minutes, followed by a refractory phase of roughly an hour during which the toy no longer interests them and they do not respond to the catnip.

Some cats do not respond to catnip at all. Kittens younger than three or four months show no interest in it, and older cats may be attracted by its scent for less time. Only about 50–70% of cats respond to catnip, and this attraction is inherited: if the parents are attracted to catnip, their kittens are likely to enjoy it too. There are no differences based on sex, neutering status or breed. Other felines, including pumas, lynxes and lions, can also be attracted to the plant.

The aroma released by 4cats catnip toys is harmless to cats. However, swallowing a large amount of catnip may cause temporary gastrointestinal problems. Always supervise play and remove a damaged toy so your cat cannot swallow the plant or the toy's filling.

Offer catnip toys only from time to time to help maintain your cat's interest. When interest fades, or you feel your cat has enjoyed the scent for long enough, allow the toy to dry and store it safely out of reach. To avoid disputes between cats, give each cat its own toy and let them play separately.

Catnip toys can also be a welcome distraction in stressful situations, such as a visit to the vet. A catnip toy in your cat's carrier may work wonders. Give it a try!