At what age is it okay to give your cat cat-nip?

[metagirl]

At what age is it okay to give your cat cat-nip? The youngest age.

[drgnrdr]

Catnip was brought to America by early colonists and was considered to be a commercial crop. Numerous medical properties have been ascribed to catnip and it has been used in teas, soaks, and poultices. Today its uses are largely confined to feline entertainment as its active ingredient, cis-trans-nepetalactone, is a mild hallucinogen. Rubbing, rolling, and other merry-making are produced, though one should be careful as aggressive behavior is often made worse by catnip indulgence
Response to catnip is inherited genetically as a dominant trait which means that not all cats will be affected. Kittens under age 6-8 weeks are not able to respond.
Catnip is felt to be a safe and non-addictive recreational drug for cats but there is some thinking that overdose can produce seizures. For this reason, it is best not used in cats with a history of seizures. Chronic exposure to catnip may cause an apparent loss of mental faculty and possibly personality change.
Catnip can be a fun garden plant if the climate is right but can quickly turn into a weed problem if one is not careful. Catnip should be considered an occasional treat for cats able to respond to it.

[wolf63]

my cat hated the stuff, used to make him sneeze.

He was a 'strange' cat.

[teag1rl]

Not fair-how come cats can have all that fun legally?

[wolf63]

yep - they have an itch and they can scratch it no matter where they are. Have nookie in the middle of the road. Turf the kitties off to new homes after a couple of months. Sleep all day and have meals on demand. You're allowed to play with your food, antagonise big dogs and be spiteful to children (haven't heard of the dangerous cats act).

Great life!