Safe
Filled with a blend of two whole-herbs – to trigger immediate, long-lasting response in cats that a single-herb toy cannot.
Our cats deserve better playtime
Like most cat parents, I got tired of buying toys that were torn to shreds in minutes or stuffed with dusty, stale catnip that my cats ignored.
When I couldn't find anything safe or strong enough for my own cats—Pookie, Nova, and Thelonious—I decided to make something better from scratch.
I teamed up with veterinarians to look at the actual science behind what keeps cats stimulated, healthy, and safe. That's how Ponoto was born.
Made in France
We design and make cat toys by hand. Developed with veterinarians, we use only the safest and most potent herbs, wrapped with heavy-duty cotton twill. The result is a durable toy cats can't resist.
Great toy recipes
Safe
Filled with a blend of two whole-herbs – to trigger immediate, long-lasting response in cats that a single-herb toy cannot.
Durable
Designed with premium OEKO-TEX certified cotton to withstand real play without harmful substances.
Hand-crafted
Made in France, by hand, to create a durable, long-lasting, and healthy product.
How Ponoto compares
Most catnip toys are made cheaply and sold cheaply — and cats lose interest in days. Here's how The Croissant compares on what actually matters.
| Feature |  | Other Cat Toys Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Herb Blend | 2 whole-herb blends, 2 chemical pathways | Single herb — no response from 1 in 3 cats |
| Herb Quality | Only the most active parts of the herbs | Often diluted or synthetic-treated |
| Herb Quantity | Minimum 30g | Less than 5g |
| Fabric | Premium OEKO-TEX certified cotton | Polyester, plastic |
| Construction | Carefully engineered to withstand cat claws and play | Mass-produced, falls apart quickly |
| Potency Duration | Months | Days |
| Origin | France (Europe) | East Asia, United States |
| Cat-safe | No plastic, no dyes, no small parts | Plastic components, synthetic dyes, chemicals |
Approved by cat parents
100+ cat parents have already approved Ponoto
Questions about Ponoto
What is Le Croissant by Ponoto?
Le Croissant is a hand-stitched cat toy made in France by Ponoto, and designed to look like a French croissant. It is made from natural materials only, including premium OEKO-TEX certified cotton, and filled with a blend of two whole-herb blends: organic Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and Silver Vine (Actinidia polygama). It contains no synthetic materials, no plastic parts, and no pesticide-treated materials.
What herbs are used in Le Croissant?
Le Croissant contains a blend of two whole-herb blends: Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and Silver Vine (Actinidia polygama). While standard catnip toys only work on about two in three cats, our dual-herb blend reaches over 90% of cats. It works because Silver Vine contains a completely different natural compound (actinidine) that triggers a response in the cats who are genetically immune to regular catnip. We carefully select the most active parts of each plant to ensure a strong and lasting response for your cat. Like catnip, Silver Vine is 100% cat-safe, doesn't create any addiction, and is guaranteed to improve your cat's well-being.
Where is Le Croissant made?
Le Croissant is made in France in small batches. Each toy is individually stitched, not mass-produced. We source our raw materials from suppliers that meet the highest quality and safety standards to ensure the durability and longevity of the product.
Where do you source your raw materials?
- We use only premium, cat-safe, natural materials:
- Premium OEKO-TEX Certified Cotton: Sourced from French and Belgium suppliers, our cotton is strictly certified to be free from harmful chemicals for both humans and cats.
- 100% Organic Catnip: Cultivated by certified organic suppliers for maximum safety and purity.
- Silver Vine Fruit Gall: Silver Vine (Matatabi) is native to the mountains of East Asia. We source ours directly from producers who grow this plant in China, Japan and Korea.
Mass-market pet stores often use ground Silver Vine leaves or stems, which quickly lose their potency. Ponoto exclusively uses the gall fruit and the leaves of the Silver Vine plant, the most potent and long-lasting parts, ensuring instant reaction for your cat.
Is it safe for cats?
Yes. All our cotton fabric are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which means they are free from harmful susbtances for humans and cats. There are no synthetic materials, no plastic components, and no small detachable parts. Catnip is organic, cat-safe and non-toxic — it produces a temporary, harmless euphoric response and has no long-term health effects, like Silver Vine, which constitutes the second herb in the blend.
How long does it last?
Most mass-produced catnip toys fall apart within days of play. Le Croissant is built to withstand regular use, and uses reinforced seams specifically engineered to outlast standard cat toys. Le Croissant's herbs blend is designed to work through complementary compounds — Nepetalactone (Catnip) and Nepetalactol (Silver Vine) — so that its potency is sustained far longer than a single-herb toy. Months, not days.
My cat doesn't respond to standard catnip toys. Will Ponoto work?
Sensitivity to catnip is hereditary, and around a third of cats do not respond to it. Whether your cat is one of them or not, Ponoto's Croissant makes an excellent solution : by combining the Catnip buds with the Silver Vine fruit, Le Croissant stimulates your cat through multiple pathways simultaneously. The result of this dual-herb blend is a product that works on over 90% of cats, including those insensitive to regular catnip. In addition, its shape and cotton texture are carefully thought through to match your cat's natural instincts and encourage bunny-kicking, licking, and carrying.
