Add more sticks as the catnip plant grows larger.
Is your cat literally loving the catnip to death? The urge to lie on top of catnip and wallow in it is irresistible to some felines. It won’t take much of this pounding to destroy your planting. However, a few bamboo sticks to discourage kitty from lying down will save your plant and still leave plenty to enjoy. Most cats will rub against the leaves (and often the sticks, so use smooth ones) without smashing the entire planting. You can use bamboo sticks or thin dowels cut into 1- to 2-foot lengths and stuck into the ground 2 to 3 inches apart within the plant canopy. What makes some cats go cuckoo over catnip while others ignore it? It’s genetic. Those that react to it are thought to have a genetic sensitivity to nepetalactone, the active ingredient in the leaves.
