Is Catnip safe for dogs and cats?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
ASPCA reports Catnip (Nepeta cataria): listed as toxic to cats; the source says nothing about the other. Vomiting and diarrhea. The ASPCA also says it calms some cats and excites others. The ASPCA lists catnip as toxic for cats and says nothing about dogs, so the dog answer is not given here. If a cat eats a lot, call a vet or a poison line.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Also called: catswort, catmint. Nepeta cataria.
What in it is the problem
Nepetalactone.
What it can do
Vomiting and diarrhea. The ASPCA also says it calms some cats and excites others.
Good to know
The ASPCA lists catnip as toxic for cats and says nothing about dogs, so the dog answer is not given here. If a cat eats a lot, call a vet or a poison line.
Did your pet chew it?
Call your vet or a pet poison line, and say what plant, how much and when. If you aren't sure which plant it was, take a photo of it.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Some plants can make pets sick, and lilies are very dangerous for cats. Ask a grown-up before you bring a plant or flowers inside."
A job: Be the plant checker. Help a grown-up look up each plant in the house on this site, and write the ones to keep away on a list.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Common names are shared by different plants, so check the Latin name.
Sources
- ASPCA: Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Catnip (checked October 29, 2026)