Catnip and kicker toys: the buyer's guide (plus what to use if catnip does nothing)

A kicker toy is the thing a cat wraps in both front paws, sinks its teeth into, and rakes with the back feet in a furious "bunny kick." That move is the kill bite and disembowel of the hunt, and a cat needs somewhere to aim it — ideally a toy, not your forearm. Stuff that toy with catnip and most cats go from mild interest to full-body bliss. It's the simplest, cheapest enrichment you can buy, and the catch a wand session can end on.

The wrinkle is that catnip doesn't work on every cat, and the packaging never mentions it. So this guide does two jobs: the kicker and catnip toys worth buying, and — just as important — the silvervine and honeysuckle alternatives for the large minority of cats that catnip leaves completely cold.

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First, the catnip facts

A few things worth knowing before you buy:

• Catnip is safe. It's non-toxic and not addictive. Cats self-regulate — the response fades after about 10–15 minutes and then needs a half-hour or more to reset. Eating a little is fine; the only real caution is letting a cat gorge on a pile of loose nip, which can cause mild, temporary stomach upset.
• Roughly one in three adult cats doesn't respond at all. Catnip sensitivity is hereditary, so a cat either inherits it or doesn't — no amount of exposure changes that.
• Kittens usually don't react until around 3–6 months of age, so a blank stare from a kitten means nothing about its adult response.

If your cat is in the no-response group, you are not out of options, which is the next section.

When catnip does nothing: silvervine and friends

For the cats catnip leaves unmoved, there's a better-than-even chance another plant will flip the switch. Silvervine (matatabi), a plant long used in Japan, is the standout: studies suggest around 80% of cats respond to it, including many catnip non-responders. Its active iridoid compound, nepetalactol, is the same chemistry researchers found cats rub on to repel mosquitoes — which is part of why the response is so intense. Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian are two more alternatives worth trying for a stubborn cat. The practical move: if catnip is a dud, try a silvervine stick before deciding your cat just doesn't do "drug" toys.

The picks

Catnip kickers

• Yeowww! Catnip Banana ($8): the cult-favorite kicker, and for good reason. A 7-inch cotton-twill banana stuffed with 100% organically grown catnip and no filler — dense enough to wrap-and-rabbit-kick, potent enough to convert most responders. Made in the USA with one of the largest review bases of any cat toy. The default kicker. Check on Amazon →
• Yeowww! Catnip Rainbow ($9): the same pure-catnip Yeowww! fill in an arch shape that's easy for a cat to trap between all four paws — a natural companion to the banana, and a favorite of cats that like to two-paw-grab and kick. Check on Amazon →
• Catstages Crunchy Pickle Kicker ($4): the budget pick that does double duty — a plush, crinkly, catnip-filled kicker with a dental-mesh layer to work the teeth as the cat chews and kicks. Cheap, widely loved, and a good first kicker to test whether your cat is a catnip responder at all. Check on Amazon →

The catnip alternative

• Potaroma Silvervine Sticks (3-pack) ($7): natural silvervine-and-catmint chew sticks — the pick for the cat that shrugs at catnip. Cats lick, chew, and rub on them, and the chewing helps scrape plaque as a bonus. With about 80% of cats responding to silvervine, this is the first thing to try when catnip falls flat. Check on Amazon →

A note on refillable kickers and loose catnip

Catnip loses its punch over a few months as the volatile oils fade, which is why some owners prefer a refillable kicker with a zip pocket you can top up — West Coast Pet Products makes the best-known handmade refillable kick sticks, worth a look if you want one toy that lasts years (availability and seller vary). The cheaper route is to buy a bag of loose organically grown catnip and re-scent a tired toy or sprinkle it on a scratcher every few weeks. Either way, store catnip sealed and out of reach, since a cat that finds the bag will help itself.

Safety

• Don't let a cat gorge on loose catnip — a pinch is plenty; a swallowed pile can cause temporary vomiting or loose stool.
• Remove chewable small parts. Glued-on eyes, bells, and sewn noses on plush kickers are choking and ingestion hazards; cut them off or supervise.
• Retire split toys. Once seams open and stuffing or loose nip is exposed, a determined chewer can swallow filling — a particular risk for cats prone to eating non-food items. More on that in our guide to chewing and pica.
• Kittens and silvervine sticks: supervise chewing so a small piece isn't bitten off and swallowed.

Costs

Item	Typical cost
Budget catnip kicker	$3–6
Premium pure-catnip kicker (Yeowww!)	$8–10
Silvervine sticks (multi-pack)	$7–10
Refillable kicker	$13–20
Loose catnip (1 oz bag)	$5–8
Typical spend, one cat	$8–20

What to check

1. Whether your cat is a catnip responder — try one cheap catnip toy first; if it does nothing, your cat may be in the one-in-three that doesn't react.
2. If catnip flops, try silvervine (and then honeysuckle or valerian) — most non-responders react to one of them.
3. Kicker size and shape — a cat needs a toy long enough to grab with the front paws and rake with the back; banana and stick shapes work best.
4. Potency and freshness — pure-catnip toys hit harder than filler-heavy ones, and any catnip fades over months, so refill or replace.
5. Small parts — skip or remove glued eyes and bells, and retire toys once seams split.
6. Whether the kicker has a job — keep one handy as the physical "catch" to end wand or laser play, so the hunt finishes on a real target.