What is catnip? What is its secret power over cats? Is it harmful? Why is it some cats don’t respond to catnip?
Catnip was originally native to Europe and Asia. Over 2000 years ago Romans used it for cooking and healing. During the Middle Ages, catnip was used for the treatment of nervousness, colds, and gastrointestinal complaints. It was introduced to the New World by early settlers who cultivated the herb for medicinal purposes and food. As America expanded, so did the popularity of catnip.
Just how did cats become acquainted with it? Some theorize that the Egyptians, known for their worship of cats, were probably the first to offer catnip to their furry idols. Those who support this theory suggest that since Egyptians introduced domestic cats to the Middle East, they may have also introduced the pleasing effects of catnip on most cats.
The names “catnip” and “catmint” are sometimes used interchangeably. However, they are two different varieties of nepeta, a perennial groundcover and a member of the mint family. The botanical name for what we call “catnip” is Nepeta cataria, a hardy perennial groundcover that grows 2- to 3-feet high. Nepeta faassenii, better known as catmint, forms soft mounds about 2-feet high. Both varieties grow throughout North America.
Catnip causes many cats to experience a trance-like state of extreme pleasure and playfulness. The intensity of responses varies from cat to cat. Its effect is short-lived, usually 5 to 20 minutes. After enjoying this brief “catnip high,” a cat is unable to respond to catnip again for about an hour.
Studies show that cats react to catnip by inhaling it, rather than by ingesting it. When a cat nibbles a catnip plant, chances are it may be doing so only to release the plant's odor.
The cat’s responsiveness to catnip is inherited and is sometimes described as the presence or absence of a “catnip gene.” About 30 percent of cats do not have this gene. Kittens with this gene do not respond to catnip until about six to eight months of age. Illness or stress may prevent a response.
For the catnip-loving cat, sniffing this herb is harmless and non-addictive.
Close
Terms of Use
The PurinaONE.com site gives users the opportunity to upload photos, stories, comments and other materials, which collectively we call "Site Content." Purina is not liable or responsible for any content provided by users or other third parties to the site ("User Content"). As such, the information, facts or opinions appearing on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of Purina, and Purina does not assume responsibility or liability for the materials found here, nor for any claims, damages or losses resulting from any use of this service or the materials contained herein. Purina cannot preview User Content before it appears. Purina reserves the right to terminate this service at any time and without notification to users.
Users can be held liable for any illegal or prohibited User Content they provide to the Site, including, among other things, infringing, defamatory or offensive materials. Users are also not allowed to use this feature for commercial use.
If you discover this kind of material on the Site, please promptly notify us at:
https://offers.purina.com/ContactUs/WebSiteAssist.aspx?offer=0&SOURCEBRAND=12
We will investigate your claim and take appropriate action.
Any communication or material you transmit or post to the Site by electronic mail or otherwise, including any data, questions, comments, suggestions, stories, homepages, or the like is, and will be treated as, non-confidential and non-proprietary. Purina, or its affiliates, at its sole discretion, and without compensation to you, may use, or not use, edit, adapt, modify, or discontinue the use of any communication or material you post to the site for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, disclosure, transmission, reproduction, distribution, publishing, broadcasting, or posting in any medium. Furthermore, Purina, or its affiliates, without compensation to you, is free to use, not use, edit, adapt, modify or discontinue the use of any ideas, concepts, know-how, or techniques contained in any communication or material you transmit or post to the Site for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, developing, manufacturing, and marketing products.
Purina is not liable for any lost data resulting from the operation of our Site and/or the enforcement of these Terms. We urge all users to maintain their own back-up versions of any content they submit to the Site. Purina reserves the right to remove messages containing profanity, pornography or other content as deemed inappropriate by Purina. We also reserve the right to remove anyone's access from this functionality.
Click on the following link for complete terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions for User-Generated Content
Close