💬 Cat Questions & FAQs

 Helpful Advice from Cat World

Got a cat question? You’re in the right place! 😺

From Silvervine, Catnip and Valerian, to cat toys, treats, enrichment and everyday feline favourites, our Cat Questions & FAQs are here to give you clear, useful answers to some of the questions cat owners ask us most.

We’ll be adding more questions and answers regularly, so check back whenever there’s something about the wonderful world of cats you’d like to know.

🌿 Silvervine FAQs

What is silvervine?

Silvervine is a natural plant that many cats find irresistibly exciting. Also known as matatabi, silvervine (Actinidia polygama) is a climbing plant native to parts of Asia and has long been known for the fascinating effect it can have on cats.

When cats smell silvervine, they may roll around, rub their face and body against it, lick it, become playful or simply look extremely pleased with themselves! 😹 The response varies from cat to cat and usually lasts for a relatively short period.

Silvervine has become increasingly popular in the UK, but it certainly isn’t new to us. Cat World has been selling silvervine for cats in the UK since 2012, and over the years it has become one of our most popular specialist cat products.

Silvervine is available in several forms, including silvervine sticks, powder and leaves, and we also use it in our own handmade silvervine cat toys.

Is silvervine safe for cats to eat?

Yes. Silvervine is considered safe and non-toxic for cats, and small amounts may naturally be licked, chewed or swallowed while your cat is enjoying it.

This is particularly common with silvervine sticks, which cats may lick, bite and chew, and with loose silvervine leaves or powder.

As with any cat enrichment product, silvervine should be offered sensibly and your cat should be supervised, particularly when using sticks. Remove a stick if it becomes very small, splintered or damaged enough that it could present a choking hazard.

There’s no need for your cat to actually eat silvervine to enjoy its effects — much of the fun comes from smelling, rubbing, rolling and playing with it.

Is silvervine toxic to cats?

No — silvervine is non-toxic to cats.

This is understandably one of the most common questions we hear, particularly from customers discovering silvervine for the first time. The enthusiastic reaction some cats have can look surprisingly dramatic — rolling, rubbing, licking, drooling, zooming around or becoming wonderfully silly — but this is a normal response to the natural compounds found in silvervine.

We’ve been selling silvervine products for cats since 2012, so it is something we know very well and have supplied to UK cat owners for many years.

Silvervine isn't addictive, and its effects naturally wear off.

How do I use silvervine with my cat?

That depends on which type of silvervine you choose — and experimenting with the different forms is part of the fun!

Silvervine powder can be sprinkled in a small amount onto a favourite toy, scratching post, activity area or other suitable surface.

Silvervine leaves can be crushed or rubbed between your fingers to release their aroma before offering them to your cat or using them with toys.

Silvervine sticks can simply be given to your cat to sniff, lick, rub against and chew. Always supervise your cat while using a silvervine stick and remove it once it becomes excessively worn or damaged.

And then there are silvervine cat toys. Our own handmade silvervine toys are filled with silvervine and designed to encourage natural kicking, grabbing, rubbing and playful behaviour. They've become some of our best-selling handmade cat toys, with excellent customer feedback and plenty of repeat buyers whose cats come back for more!

What is the difference between silvervine leaves, powder and sticks?

They all come from the silvervine plant, but they give cats slightly different ways to enjoy it.

🌿 Silvervine Leaves
A wonderfully natural option. The dried leaves can be crushed between your fingers to release more of their scent and offered loose or used with toys and enrichment activities.

✨ Silvervine Powder
Fine and easy to use, powder is ideal for sprinkling small amounts onto toys, scratching posts and suitable play areas. It's particularly handy when you want to refresh your cat's interest in something. It's highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way! 

🪵 Silvervine Sticks
These give cats something physical to interact with as well as the scent of silvervine. Cats may sniff, lick, chew, rub and roll around with them, making sticks a great choice for cats who enjoy getting paws, teeth and whiskers involved!

There isn't necessarily a "best" type. Cats have individual preferences, so one cat may adore a silvervine stick while another goes wild for leaves, powder or a silvervine-filled toy.

Not sure which your cat will prefer? Our great-value Silvervine Taster Pack is an ideal way to try the different types without having to choose just one. It's perfect for cats trying silvervine for the first time and lets your cat do the important job of deciding which variety gets the biggest paws-up! 🐾

Will my cat like silvervine?

Quite possibly — but cats haven't read the rule book. 😹

Not every cat responds to silvervine, and the strength of the reaction varies considerably. One cat might start rolling and rubbing immediately, another may become extremely playful, while another might simply have a good sniff and wander off.

One reason silvervine is particularly interesting is that some cats who don't respond to catnip may respond to silvervine, so it can be well worth trying if catnip has never impressed your cat.

Having supplied silvervine to UK cat owners for many years, we've seen just how enthusiastic some cats can be about it. Our handmade silvervine toys have become firm Cat World favourites, with excellent feedback and many repeat customers coming back for replacements or different designs.

Ultimately, though, your cat gets the final vote!

How long does silvervine affect cats?

The noticeable response to silvervine is usually relatively short-lived, often lasting around 5–30 minutes, although every cat is different.

Afterwards, your cat may temporarily lose interest in silvervine. That's perfectly normal. Give them a break and offer it again another time rather than continually presenting more.

Putting loose silvervine or silvervine toys away between play sessions can also help keep them interesting.

How often can I give my cat silvervine?

Silvervine is best enjoyed as an occasional treat or enrichment activity rather than being available constantly.

There isn't a need to keep giving your cat more once the initial reaction has worn off. Allowing a break between silvervine play sessions can help maintain their interest and makes each appearance a little more exciting.

For silvervine-filled toys, putting them away after play rather than leaving them out permanently can also help preserve their aroma — and makes bringing the favourite toy back out much more of an event!

At what age can I give my cat silvervine?

There isn't a recognised minimum age at which cats can safely be given silvervine, and silvervine itself is considered safe and non-toxic. However, very young kittens don't need silvervine, and we recommend waiting until they are a little older before introducing it as an enrichment treat.

As a sensible guide, we suggest introducing silvervine from around 3 months of age, always choosing a product appropriate for your kitten's size and supervising play.

For a kitten's first introduction, one of our Handmade Silvervine Little Pillow Cat Toys is a great choice. These smaller toys are ideal for little paws to grab, bat around and wrestle with, while giving your kitten the opportunity to discover the enticing scent of silvervine through play. Like all our handmade silvervine toys, they're filled with the same premium-quality silvervine we use throughout our range.

If you're offering a silvervine stick, supervision is particularly important. Kittens can be enthusiastic chewers, so regularly check the stick and remove it if it becomes very small, heavily chewed or damaged.

And don't worry if your kitten isn't interested at first. Every cat is different, and their response to silvervine may develop or change as they mature. Simply put the toy away and try again when they're a little older — one day that previously ignored Little Pillow may suddenly become the best thing ever! 😹

Are silvervine sticks good for teething kittens?

Silvervine sticks can be particularly appealing to kittens who are at the chewing stage, including when their adult teeth are coming through. The natural woody texture gives them something interesting to nibble, bite and chew, while the scent of silvervine can add extra feline appeal.

However, silvervine sticks aren't specifically designed or proven to relieve teething discomfort, so we prefer to think of them as a natural enrichment and chew product rather than a kitten teething treatment.

If you give your kitten a silvervine stick, always supervise them while they're chewing it. Check the stick regularly and take it away if it becomes very small, heavily damaged or develops pieces that could be swallowed.

Not every kitten will be interested in silvervine straight away, either. If yours gives the stick a sniff and walks off with that classic “and what exactly am I supposed to do with this?” expression 😹, simply put it away and try again when they're a little older.

What is the difference between silvervine and catnip?

Silvervine and catnip are different plants, but both contain naturally occurring compounds that can trigger a pleasurable behavioural response in some cats.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is probably the better-known of the two in the UK. Cats who respond to it may sniff, lick, roll, rub, play enthusiastically or become wonderfully relaxed.

Silvervine (Actinidia polygama), also known as matatabi, comes from a completely different plant and contains different natural compounds. Importantly, some cats who show little or no interest in catnip may respond to silvervine, which makes it a particularly interesting alternative.

Neither works for every cat, and some lucky felines enjoy both!

So, which is better — silvervine or catnip? There isn't really a winner. It all comes down to the individual cat.

And that brings us rather neatly to another question we hear all the time...

🌱 Catnip FAQs

What is catnip?

Catnip is a natural herb that many cats find irresistible. Its botanical name is Nepeta cataria, and it's a member of the mint family. The plant contains a naturally occurring compound called nepetalactone, which is responsible for that famous catnip reaction.

When a cat smells catnip, she may roll around, rub her face and body against it, become playful, pounce, zoom about or simply look blissfully happy and relaxed. Every cat is different, so reactions can range from gloriously bonkers 😹 to very chilled indeed.

Catnip is safe and non-toxic for cats and has been enjoyed as a natural form of feline enrichment for generations. It can be offered as dried catnip, catnip-filled toys or other catnip products, providing scent enrichment and encouraging natural play behaviours.

Here at Cat World, catnip is a firm feline favourite. We stock a wide range of catnip toys for cats, including our own handmade catnip toys, carefully made in our Cat World craft room. From kickers to smaller toys perfect for grabbing, cuddling and bunny-kicking, they're designed to make the most of cats' natural love of catnip.

However, not every cat responds to catnip. Sensitivity to it is inherited, and kittens in particular may show little or no reaction. If your cat turns her nose up at catnip, don't worry — silvervine may be well worth trying instead, as some cats who aren't interested in catnip have a much stronger response to silvervine.

And, of course, some lucky cats absolutely love both! 😻

Why do some cats go crazy for catnip?

The famous catnip reaction is caused mainly by a naturally occurring plant compound called nepetalactone, which is found in catnip (Nepeta cataria).

When a cat who is sensitive to catnip smells nepetalactone, it interacts with receptors in her nose and can trigger all sorts of wonderfully entertaining behaviour. She might roll around, rub her face against the catnip, bunny-kick a toy, zoom around the room, become extremely playful or simply lie back looking blissfully content. 😹

The reaction varies enormously between cats and generally only lasts for a short time. Afterwards, cats usually become temporarily less responsive to catnip before their sensitivity returns.

So when your normally dignified feline suddenly starts rolling around the floor clutching a catnip toy, it's perfectly normal!

Is catnip like a drug for cats?

It's an understandable comparison when you've just watched your cat go completely bonkers over a catnip toy, but catnip isn't an addictive recreational drug for cats.

Catnip produces its characteristic response because naturally occurring aromatic compounds in the plant — particularly nepetalactone — stimulate a cat's scent receptors and trigger an instinctive behavioural response.

Cats aren't compelled to seek catnip out once the effect has worn off, and the response is naturally self-limiting. After several minutes, cats usually temporarily stop responding to it.

So although your cat may look as though she's having a rather wild night out 😹, catnip is simply providing natural sensory enrichment.

Is catnip harmful to cats?

No. Catnip is considered safe and non-toxic for cats when used sensibly.

Cats can safely sniff, lick and play with catnip and catnip-filled toys. Eating a small amount isn't normally a problem either, although consuming a large quantity may occasionally cause a temporary upset stomach.

As with any cat toy, it's sensible to supervise play and regularly check toys for damage, particularly if your cat is an enthusiastic chewer or bunny-kicker.

Good-quality catnip can be a wonderful form of natural enrichment for cats, encouraging play, exercise and natural behaviours.

Can my cat get addicted to catnip?

No, catnip isn't considered addictive for cats.

Cats don't develop the sort of physical dependency associated with addictive drugs, and there's no need to worry that giving your cat a catnip toy will result in her becoming addicted to it.

In fact, cats naturally lose their responsiveness after a catnip session and need some time before they'll react strongly again.

We recommend putting favourite catnip toys away between play sessions rather than leaving them permanently available. This helps preserve that lovely catnip aroma and can make the toy far more exciting when it makes its next appearance.

Why doesn't my cat like catnip?

First of all, your cat may simply be one of those who doesn't respond to catnip. Sensitivity to catnip is inherited, so some cats can be presented with the finest catnip in the world and remain completely unimpressed!

Age can make a difference too. Very young kittens often don't respond to catnip, with sensitivity usually developing as they mature.

But before deciding that your cat doesn't like catnip, it's also worth considering the quality of the catnip you've tried.

There can be an enormous difference between catnip products. Nepetalactone and the other aromatic compounds responsible for catnip's distinctive scent and feline response are particularly concentrated in the leaves and flowering tops of the plant. Lower-quality products may contain a greater proportion of coarse stalk and less of the aromatic parts cats find so appealing.

At Cat World, we don't compromise on catnip quality. We sell Trixie Premium Organic Catnip, and our own handmade catnip toys are generously filled using premium-quality organic catnip chosen to give cats the best possible experience.

So if your cat ignored a cheap catnip toy or a packet of catnip in the past, it doesn't necessarily mean she's immune to catnip — trying a fresher, higher-quality catnip can be worthwhile.

And if premium catnip still earns nothing more than a disdainful feline stare? Try silvervine! Some cats who show little or no response to catnip respond enthusiastically to silvervine instead.

Is the catmint I can grow in my garden as good as your catnip?

This one can be confusing because catnip and catmint are closely related, but the names are often used for different plants.

True catnip is Nepeta cataria, a member of the mint family. Many ornamental plants sold by garden centres as catmint belong to other Nepeta species or cultivated varieties selected primarily for their attractive flowers and garden performance.

Some cats certainly enjoy garden catmint — and may demonstrate this by rolling on it, rubbing against it or enthusiastically flattening your carefully grown plant! 😹 However, the concentration of the aromatic compounds cats respond to can vary considerably between species, varieties, plants and growing conditions.

Our premium dried catnip is specifically selected for feline use, so you're getting a consistent, concentrated product rather than relying on whatever happens to be growing in the flowerbed.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with letting your cat enjoy suitable catmint growing in your garden if she loves it, but for filling toys or providing a reliable catnip experience, we'd choose high-quality Nepeta cataria every time.

🌿 Valerian FAQs

What is valerian?

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a plant whose root contains naturally occurring aromatic compounds that can have a fascinating effect on some cats.

Although valerian is probably better known to humans as a herb traditionally associated with relaxation, cats can have quite a different reaction to its scent. For some cats, valerian acts as an exciting form of natural scent enrichment, encouraging rubbing, rolling, licking and energetic play.

That's why you'll sometimes find valerian used in cat toys and attractant sprays, including the Trixie valerian products we stock at Cat World.

Like catnip and silvervine, valerian won't appeal to every cat — but for those who love it, the response can be quite something! 😹

Do cats like valerian?

Some cats absolutely love valerian! Others may show only mild interest, while some won't respond to it at all.

Research into natural cat attractants found that around 47% of the cats studied responded positively to valerian root, compared with 68% for catnip and 79% for silvervine. So if your cat doesn't react to valerian, there's nothing unusual about her — cats simply have different preferences.

A cat who does respond may sniff, lick, rub, roll around, become playful or excited and enthusiastically wrestle with a valerian-filled toy.

This makes valerian another interesting enrichment option to explore, particularly if you enjoy discovering which natural scents really get your individual cat's whiskers twitching.

Why isn't valerian for cats as widely available as catnip?

Catnip is by far the best-known natural cat attractant in the UK, so you'll find catnip toys almost everywhere. Valerian is much less familiar to cat owners and consequently isn't used in nearly as many mainstream cat products.

That doesn't mean cats don't like it.

Research has confirmed that a significant proportion of cats respond positively to valerian, and it can produce behaviour similar to the familiar "catnip response".

At Cat World, we like being able to offer cats something beyond the usual catnip, which is why you'll find Trixie valerian cat toys and valerian products alongside our catnip and extensive silvervine ranges.

After all, cats have their own preferences — there's no reason they should all be expected to like the same thing!

Does valerian smell horrible to humans?

We're not going to lie to you... valerian has a very distinctive smell! 😹

Dried valerian root has a strong, earthy and musky aroma which some people find decidedly unpleasant. Scientific literature studying cats' response to valerian even describes the smell of valerian root as strong and unpleasant or repulsive to many humans.

Fortunately, cats don't share our opinions about what constitutes a lovely fragrance.

For a cat who responds to valerian, that peculiar aroma can be extremely exciting. So don't be surprised if you're wondering what on earth that smell is while your cat is rolling around ecstatically beside you.

Valerian may not win any awards as a human room fragrance — but your cat might give it five stars. 😹

Is valerian safe for cats?

Valerian root is generally considered safe and non-toxic for cats when used appropriately in products intended for feline enrichment.

Research into cat-attracting plants reports valerian as generally considered safe and non-toxic, and valerian is commercially used in toys and enrichment products specifically designed for cats.

As with catnip and silvervine, we recommend using valerian products in moderation and according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Always supervise enthusiastic play with valerian toys and check them regularly for damage.

If you're using a valerian spray, it should be used as directed on suitable objects rather than sprayed directly onto your cat. For example, Trixie Valerian Spray contains valerian extract and is designed to be applied to objects such as toys and blankets to encourage play and cuddling. Trixie recommends using the spray no more than once or twice a week.

So yes — valerian might smell rather questionable to us, but for the right cat it can provide a perfectly safe and wonderfully exciting form of natural enrichment! 😻