# catnip

> catnip has 70+ active installs and 85 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 25/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** catnip shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 70+ sites and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.

**With catnip and The Cat API it's Caturday everyday in WordPress!**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 70+
- **Total downloads:** 3,181
- **Downloads (30 days):** 85 (+10.4% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 25/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.0.1
- **Last updated:** Jun 21, 2012
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 3.4.2
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.1+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Lew Ayotte (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/layotte/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/catnip/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [cats](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/cats/) | #2 | 3 |
| [lolcats](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/lolcats/) | #1 | 1 |
| [shortcode](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/shortcode/) | >100 | 1,429 |
| [the cat api](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/the-cat-api/) | #1 | 1 |
| [widget](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/widget/) | >100 | 2,319 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| cats | >100 | 447 |
| lolcats | #1 | 1 |
| shortcode | >100 | 10,000 |
| the cat api | >100 | 139 |
| widget | >100 | 10,000 |

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [No Sub-Category Posts in Loops](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/no-sub-category-posts-in-loop/) | 90+ | 5/5 (3) | Nov 19, 2015 | 32/100 |
| 3 | [CTL Playful Kitty Lite](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/ctl-playful-kitty-c2-lite/) | 10+ | — | Sep 19, 2016 | 23/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is catnip free?
Yes. catnip is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is catnip safe to use in 2026?
catnip shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 70+ sites and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use catnip?
catnip is active on 70+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,181 times since it launched in June 2012. It was downloaded 85 times in the last 30 days.

### Does catnip work with WordPress 7.1?
catnip is officially tested up to WordPress 3.4.2, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was catnip last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.1, was released on June 21, 2012 (14 years ago).

### Who makes catnip?
catnip is developed and maintained by Lew Ayotte.

### What are the best alternatives to catnip?
The most popular alternatives to catnip are No Sub-Category Posts in Lo… (90+ installs) and CTL Playful Kitty Lite (10+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/catnip/ · Generated 2026-10-14 11:20 UTC by PageForge