Catnip as a reward

Do you think Catnip would make a good reward if you were trying to train your cat? I know that they go absolutely crazy for it. Or do you think catnip is potentially damaging for a cats health? It is, after all, a drug!

 

Well, we only have catnip on hand once in awhile. Herman just loves it and Eddie likes it okay. I have never tried to train my cats with catnip. We do give cat treats after Herman is brushed down, though. What kind of tricks are you planning? Should be interesting to hear about your results.

I never thought about catnip being a drug. We just buy those little stuffed animals filled with catnip. My cats only like them for a day, maybe two. So appears, not too potent.

Found this short, funny video with cats and catnip.

 

I've never used it to train my cats, in fact I've never trained my cats at all except when I had to use a water bottle to keep them away from my bird. LOL I remember we had a cat once who absolutely hated catnip! He got high off of it one time, and acted mad at us afterwards for a few hours! After that, he wouldn't go near the other cats when they were playing with it! I guess he didn't like that particular buzz.

 

I'd not bother training Bob, cats are live stubborn picky divas that do whatever they want when they want it, and if you want a cat to be part of your life you have to accept that That being said, I've never use catnip or any other thing as a reward to train Bob, but If I ever tried to train him I'd use food instead. I think it'd be more practical.

 

I'm skeptical about it working. The first time you rewarded them for a good job he'll most likely take it and leave, and not tolerate your attempts to train him, anymore. I have had a few different cats that were cheese nuts. I could have given them cheese to try to train them.

 

Personally I can't see catnip being used as a training tool. More of something to increase the play activity of your cat(s). Sure, I'd say its a cat drug and some cats love it and others can leave it. It doesn't do anything for my Gemma. Rosco's plenty turned on with life to experience catnip yet!

 

lol training them with catnip might make you an enabler. I've seen cats act like they were on some really strong drugs because of catnip.

 

My cats only have had catnip on occasion and only when my grand daughter buys them a toy. They do enjoy it her they get it. It is funny to watch their reaction. I wouldn't give it to them on a regular basis.

 

I keep a bag of it handy, but she only gets it on occasion. I would never get any sleep otherwise.

 

Ive been visiting varioud pet shops looking for catnips but to no avail is it suppose to calm them down?

 

here is my cat’ thinking.
I thought catnip would be the answer to some desirable reward for training. My kitty sniffed it a little rolled on it a little ate a few crumbs and went back to her window sill. I put cat toys right in the bag …. Nada. Go hum what else have you got. Think I’ll just stretch out on the floor. Yikes yo put some of that weed in my cat cave. I hate you! Maybe if I scratch a bit I get it out of here. There that’s better. It’s still a cold day in hell before I’ll curl up in it. Yikes I got some of that awful stuff on me. I’ll run around and shake it off. There that’s better. Now are you going to put that harness on me or are you going to stand there like a dog with your tongue hanging out. Well the harness isn’t as bad as it looks. Think I’ll walk around a little. You coming with me or do I have to go alone? Well that was fun now put my new tactical one one so I can look like a feline patrol cat. There not bad but but dam this thing is like a military bak pack. Well come on grab your coffee and we’ll walk around again. All right enough is enough it’s bed time , take this contraption off of me so I can hit the hay. By the way stuff a toy in that bag of weed and I’ll play a little in the morning.

so much for my kitty review if catnip. At least I got her harness on without a battle. I even got some soft cat treats with meat in them. I thought they would be great to train with she ate a couple didn’t want more. So I have my work cut out training this girl. It usually cools dow right at sunset so I think we will venture out aside on the light harnes and short leash tonight
Byron

 

I’ve been holding off on catnip as it’s been really hot and dry here and I didn’t want my kitty to get overheated runnning around she does that running after dark when it’s cooler. I tried putting a couple toys in catnip but she played a few minutes then licked the cat nip off and found a comfy place to lay down…. On my bed. It’s ok as she gets her brushing in then and she likes being around me. Actually the catnip didn’t do much for her. I’m having a hard time finding something that she really likes. I put her nes harness on her and let her run in the house but she was completly neutral to it. She followed me around with the leash on too. We haven’t ventured outside as it’s just too hot. Today she actually investigated her cat cave but again it’s just ho hum what else have you got. I saved a couple boxes to investigat. Even put a fed crumbs of cst nip in them but she is just not interested. She will eat a couple soft cat treats when I call her up on the kitchen table but she would rather get pets and praise over everything else. She likes her ne waterfall fountain but even ice cubes get little attention. It looks like trading will start. After dark and only last a few minutes. My dogs would go all day snd night. I often had to get out the garden hose and spray them down or drive them over to the pond to cool off. Sarawak cool on her fur today even as warm as it was. She likes brushing so I’m using her brush as a marker. I just tap it on my hand and call her. She usually ambles on over but doesn’t take get excited like the dogs did. They loved heavy brushing the long coats. A harness or leash was signal there was fun and treats coming. So I’m working on my patients and learning cat signs.
Byron

 

I was trying my dog whistle but about all she did was fold her ears back a little. Then I left it on the table, now it’s gone. Don’t know what she hid it undr. I put mouse toys in the catnip bag but she just licks the bits off then goes and curls up someplace. She likes pets snd praises but not much else. I cal her or or get her attention to jump up on my chair. She likes her brush so I’m now using that as a reward for coming when I call her. Surprisingly she likes her harnes and walks around bo problem. I hooked a short leash on and had her follow me around. Then stop and brush just a little. I’m not sure this is really working or I’m just going where she wants to. I ordered a nice name tag collar so I could use it as a second chance if she tries to back out of the harness. The collar is very nice but it was supposed to be breakaway and it is not. Just another small dog collar. So I have to find something else’s have some Velcro and light leash material so I may just sew up something. My industrial sewing machine will sew about anything. I’ve only broken one needle that was stitching a handle on some plywood. Yeah it can do 1/4” plywood easy. Incredible noise.LOL probably the most dangerous machine in our shop. It’s almost like it’s just waiting to injure you.