Quick answer: Cat (also spelled khat or kat) and tik are powerful stimulants that cause addiction quickly and can trigger paranoia, depression and psychosis. Both are treatable. In Gauteng, treatment usually starts with a supervised stabilisation period, followed by a 21 to 28 day rehab programme and aftercare, and medical aid covers up to 21 days a year. Rehab Bridge is not a rehab centre: we listen, explain your options and connect you to a rehab centre in Gauteng that works with your medical aid.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
What are cat, khat and tik?
| Name | What it is | How it is used | How long the high lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (kat) | Methcathinone, a man-made stimulant sold as a white powder | Usually snorted | A few hours, which leads to repeated use and binges |
| Khat | The leaves of the khat plant, which contain the natural stimulant cathinone | Chewed | A few hours, and milder than cat |
| Tik | Methamphetamine, also called crystal meth | Usually smoked in a glass pipe | Many hours, often followed by days without sleep |
In Gauteng, people often say khat when they mean cat, the powder. Both names are used on the street for the same drug.
What are the signs of cat or tik addiction?
- bursts of energy, fast talking and little need for sleep, then a heavy crash
- not eating, and losing weight quickly
- staying awake for days, then sleeping for a day or more
- irritability, aggression or sudden mood swings
- paranoia, suspicion or seeing and hearing things that are not there
- money going missing, borrowing, or selling belongings
- dropping friends, work or studies
- a frequent runny or bleeding nose with cat, or burnt fingers, tooth damage and skin sores with tik
- small bags of white powder, straws, glass pipes or lighters
Why are cat and tik so addictive?
Both drugs flood the brain with dopamine, the chemical behind pleasure and motivation. The high is intense, and the comedown brings exhaustion, low mood and strong cravings, so the person uses again to escape it. With cat the short high leads to binges that can last days. With tik the long high and lack of sleep wear the body and mind down quickly. Over time, ordinary things stop feeling rewarding without the drug.
What do cat and tik do to mental health?
Heavy use can cause anxiety, panic, paranoia and psychosis, where the person loses touch with reality. The crash afterwards often brings deep depression, sometimes with thoughts of suicide. These symptoms need professional attention. Go to a hospital or call 112 if someone is hallucinating, violent or talking about ending their life.
What is withdrawal from cat or tik like?
Stopping does not usually cause the dangerous physical withdrawal seen with alcohol, but the first one to two weeks are hard: extreme tiredness, long periods of sleep, increased appetite, low mood, anxiety and intense cravings. There is no substitute medicine for stimulants, so this stage is managed with rest, nutrition, medical monitoring and treatment for depression or psychosis where needed. A supervised setting makes it far easier to get through without using again.
How is cat and tik addiction treated in Gauteng?
- Assessment. The rehab centre’s clinical team reviews the drug use, physical health and mental health.
- Stabilisation. A supervised first week or two to sleep, eat, settle the mood and manage cravings.
- Rehab programme. Usually 21 to 28 days as an inpatient, with individual counselling, group therapy, relapse-prevention training and family sessions. Longer programmes are often recommended for heavy stimulant use.
- Treatment for mental health. Depression, anxiety or psychosis is treated alongside the addiction.
- Aftercare. Follow-up counselling, an outpatient programme and support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous.
See drug rehab in Gauteng and what happens in a 21-day rehab.
Does medical aid pay for cat or tik rehab?
Yes. Drug dependence is a Prescribed Minimum Benefit, so every medical scheme must cover up to 21 days of inpatient rehabilitation per person per year on every option, including hospital plans. You need pre-authorisation and, for full cover, a facility in your scheme’s network. If psychosis or severe depression is involved, ask your scheme how its mental health benefit applies. See how it works on Discovery, Momentum and Bestmed, and how to get medical aid to approve rehab.
How does Rehab Bridge connect you to help?
- You contact us. Use the contact form, WhatsApp or email info@rehabbridge.co.za. You can contact us for yourself or for a family member.
- We listen. We ask which drug is involved, how long it has been going on, any mental health concerns, where you are in Gauteng and which medical aid you have.
- We explain your options. Inpatient or outpatient, how long, and what your medical aid is likely to cover.
- We connect you to a rehab centre that treats stimulant addiction and works with your medical aid.
- We help you through the medical aid steps, including what to ask for when you request pre-authorisation.
- The rehab centre takes over the clinical side: its team does the assessment and treatment. We remain available to you and your family for guidance.
How can a family help someone using cat or tik?
- Talk when the person is calm and not high or crashing.
- Describe what you have seen, without blame.
- Do not argue with paranoid beliefs. Stay calm and keep yourself safe.
- Stop giving money that could pay for drugs.
- Have a treatment option ready so a yes can be acted on quickly.
Our family guidance page and our article on who needs rehab go further.
Frequently asked questions
Is cat the same as khat?
Not exactly. Khat is a plant whose leaves are chewed. Cat is methcathinone, a stronger man-made powder that is usually snorted. In South Africa both names are commonly used for the powder.
What is the difference between cat and tik?
Cat is methcathinone and gives a short high of a few hours. Tik is methamphetamine and gives a much longer high. Both are highly addictive stimulants and are treated in a similar way.
Can you recover from tik addiction?
Yes. Recovery takes time, and mood, sleep and concentration can take months to settle, but people do recover with a structured programme and steady aftercare.
Do you need a detox for cat or tik?
There is no medicated detox as there is for alcohol or opioids, but a supervised stabilisation period helps the person get through the crash, the cravings and any mental health symptoms safely.
Take the first step
If cat or tik is harming you or someone you love in Gauteng, contact Rehab Bridge, send us a WhatsApp or email info@rehabbridge.co.za. We will help you understand your options and connect you to the right rehab centre.
Rehab Bridge is not a rehab centre and is not affiliated with any medical scheme. This article is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 112 from a cellphone or 10177 for an ambulance.