Best Catnip Alternatives

Even non-catowners know what catnip is, but it’s far from the only plant that can turn your cat into a rolling, purring mess. If your cat doesn’t react to catnip, you’re not out of options. And even if your cat loves catnip, there are good reasons to branch out. Several plants trigger similar euphoric responses through different chemical compounds, some of which reach cats that catnip misses entirely.

Whether your cat is a catnip non-responder or you want to keep enrichment interesting, the best catnip alternatives give you more tools to work with.

Why Find a Catnip Alternative?

The most common reason people search for catnip alternatives is that their cat doesn’t respond to it. Sensitivity to catnip is genetic, and somewhere between 30 and 50 percent of cats don’t carry the gene. If your cat has never shown interest in a catnip toy, it could be due to biology. Age is another factor, since kittens under six months rarely respond to catnip because their olfactory receptors haven’t fully developed yet.

Another reason to explore alternatives is habituation. Cats that are exposed to catnip every day can develop olfactory fatigue, where the scent stops registering for a short period of time. This could be the case if your cat used to go wild for catnip but now barely sniffs it.

You might also just want to give your cat some variety. Rotating between different enrichment plants helps avoid boredom and prevents desensitization to any single one. It’s the same principle behind rotating toys. Novelty matters.

Best Catnip Alternatives

Each of the plants below triggers a catnip-like response in cats, but they work through different chemical compounds. Trying more than one gives you the best odds of finding something your cat enjoys.

Silvervine

Silvervine (Actinidia polygama), known in Japan as “matatabi,” is the strongest and most well-researched catnip alternative. Native to the mountainous regions of China, Japan, and Russia, it’s been used as a cat stimulant in East Asia for centuries.

While catnip has one active compound (nepetalactone), silvervine contains two primary compounds: actinidine and dihydroactinidiolide, plus several secondary ones including nepetalactol. This broader chemical profile is why silvervine reaches more cats than catnip does. Studies show that about 80 percent of cats respond to silvervine, including roughly 75 percent of cats that show no reaction to catnip at all.

The response tends to be more intense than catnip. Expect vigorous rolling, chin rubbing, drooling, and bunny-kicking, often lasting up to 30 minutes compared to catnip’s typical 10 to 15. Silvervine is available as powder (the most potent form, ground from gall fruit), dried sticks for chewing, and sprays.

Tatarian Honeysuckle

Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) is unique because cats respond to the wood of the plant, not a leaf, flower, or root. The shavings and sawdust from Tatarian honeysuckle branches contain compounds that trigger a catnip-like response, though the exact active compound that affects cats hasn’t been definitively identified by researchers.

What makes Tatarian honeysuckle valuable is that it works on some cats that don’t respond to catnip or silvervine. The overall response rate is lower, roughly 50 percent of cats, but for the cats it does reach, the reaction is real and consistent. If you’ve tried catnip and silvervine without a reaction, honeysuckle is worth trying.

Valerian Root

Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is an herb that’s been used in human medicine for centuries as a sleep aid and anxiety treatment. In cats, it does the opposite. Rather than calming them down, valerian root acts as a stimulant, producing bursts of playful, energetic behavior similar to the catnip response.

The active compound in valerian root is actinidine, the same compound found in silvervine. That chemical overlap is worth knowing because it means cats that respond to silvervine have a decent chance of responding to valerian root too, and vice versa. About 50 percent of cats show a reaction to valerian root.

It’s worth noting that valerian root isn’t pleasant for humans to smell, since it smells like old cheese and dirty socks. Cats tend to love this, but if you’re sensitive to strong odors, valerian-stuffed toys are more manageable than loose powder or dried root, since the toy fabric helps contain some of the smell. Valerian root is available as dried root, powder, sprays, and pre-filled toys.

Cat Thyme

Cat thyme (Teucrium marum) is the least well-known alternative on this list, but it’s still worth considering. Despite the name, it’s not actually related to culinary thyme. It’s a small evergreen shrub in the germander family, native to the western Mediterranean.

Cat thyme works more slowly than the other cat alternatives. While catnip and silvervine produce near-instant reactions, cat thyme can take several minutes of exposure before a cat starts to show interest. This delayed onset leads some owners to give up on it too quickly. If you’re testing cat thyme, give it time.

The smell is strong and musty, somewhere in the neighborhood of camphor. Like valerian, it’s not the most pleasant smell for humans. But for cats that don’t respond to any of the more common alternatives, cat thyme could be the answer. Cat thyme is most commonly available as a dried herb, or as a plant you can grow yourself.

Catmint

Catmint (Nepeta faassenii and related species) is a close botanical relative of catnip, and the two are often confused. Both belong to the mint family, and both contain nepetalactone, the compound responsible for the classic catnip response. The difference between the two is concentration. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) has significantly higher levels of nepetalactone than catmint, which means catmint produces a milder reaction in most cats.

If your cat doesn’t respond to catnip, they probably won’t react to catmint either. They share the same active compound, so a cat that’s genetically insensitive to nepetalactone will be insensitive to both. Where catmint does have value is outside, since it’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and produces lavender flowers that pollinators love.

For indoor enrichment, you’re better off giving your cat catnip or one of the other alternatives on this list.

Forms That Catnip Alternatives Come In

The same plant can produce very different results depending on how it’s processed and delivered. Knowing the common product forms helps you match the right option to your cat’s preferences.

• Powder is the most potent form for silvervine and valerian root. A small amount sprinkled on a toy, scratching post, or bed produces a strong response because the concentrated compounds are fully exposed.
• Sticks are the go-to for silvervine and Tatarian honeysuckle. Cats chew on them, which releases the active compounds gradually while also providing dental benefits. Silvervine sticks (matatabi sticks) are especially popular because they double as a chew toy. If a stick loses its potency, peeling or shaving the outer layer exposes fresh wood underneath.
• Sprays offer convenience without the mess. They’re available for catnip, silvervine, and valerian, and they’re good for refreshing old toys, treating scratching posts, or preparing carriers before a vet visit. Sprays tend to be less potent than powder or dried forms because the concentration of active compounds is lower.
• Dried herbs and roots are the traditional form for catnip, valerian root, and cat thyme. You can stuff them into refillable toys, sprinkle them on surfaces, or offer them loose. Storage matters here. Keep dried herbs in airtight containers in a cool, dark place. The same principles that apply to catnip expiration apply to all dried plant-based enrichment products: exposure to air, light, and moisture breaks down the active compounds over time.
• Pre-filled toys are the lowest-effort option. They come stuffed with catnip, silvervine, honeysuckle, or blends of multiple plants. They’re great for cats who prefer to wrestle and bunny-kick rather than sniff loose herbs. Many are refillable, which extends their lifespan. Blended toys that combine two or three plants can be a smart starting point if you’re not sure which alternative your cat prefers.

Finding What Works for Your Cat

There’s no way to predict which plant your cat will respond to without trying them. Genetics determine sensitivity, and those genetics vary from one cat to the next. Try giving each alternative a fair trial to see what your cat likes best. Some cats need a second or third encounter before they show interest, especially with slower-acting options like cat thyme.

Once you find what works, rotate it. Using the same plant every day leads to olfactory fatigue, where your cat’s nose stops registering the scent. Two to three sessions per week is a good baseline for any single alternative. If your cat responds to more than one, alternating between them keeps everything effective for longer.

Catnip Alternatives FAQs