catnip

{{Speciesbox

| image = Catnip flowers.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Catnip flowers

| genus = Nepeta

| species = cataria

| authority = L.

| synonyms_ref =

| synonyms = {{Species list

| Cataria vulgaris |

| Glechoma cataria |

| Nepeta vulgaris |

}}

Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the mint family, native to southern and eastern Europe, northern parts of the Middle East, and Central Asia. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole.

It is a short-lived perennial mint-family herb growing 30–100 cm tall with square stems, grayish canescent leaves that vary in shape and have serrated edges, fragrant small bilabiate flowers arranged in raceme spikes, and produces small three-sided nutlets containing one to four seeds. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, with no subspecies but multiple botanical synonyms, and its name—derived from medieval Latin—reflects its historical association with cats and various traditional names dating back to medieval England.

Catnip is named for the intense attraction about two-thirds of cats have to the plant due to the terpene nepetalactone, which acts as a natural insect repellent and induces playful, euphoric behavior in cats. It is used in herbal teas for its sedative and relaxant properties; it is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.

Description

Nepeta cataria is a short-lived perennial that grows {{cvt|30 to 100|cm|in}} tall, usually with several stems.{{sfn|Cronquist et al. 1984|p=318}} Each of its stems is square in cross section, as typical of the mint family, and somewhat gray in color.{{Cite web |url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e433 |title=Nepeta cataria |date=n.d. |website=Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder |access-date=15 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804233433/https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e433 |archive-date=4 August 2024 |via= |quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}} It is a herbaceous plant that regrows from a taproot.{{sfn|Cronquist et al. 1984|p=318}} However, it does not deeply root.{{sfn|Lawton|2002|p=12}} Older plants tend to have more branches with particularly healthy plants becoming mound shaped.{{sfn|Heil et al. 2013|p=618}}

The leaves are {{plantgloss|canescent}} in appearance, white in color due to being covered in fine hairs, especially so on the lower side of the leaves.{{sfn|Cronquist et al. 1984|p=318}} They are attached in pairs to opposite sides of the stems.{{sfn|Cox|2005|p=90}} Leaf shapes vary from cordate, deltoid, to ovate; shaped like a heart, triangle, or like an egg.{{sfn|Heil et al. 2013|p=618}} They are attached by leaf stems and have a length of {{cvt|2 to 9|cm|1}} and {{cvt|0.6 to 6|cm|1}} wide.{{sfn|Welsh et al. 1987|p=333}} The edges of the leaves are coarsely crenate to serrate, having a wavy, rounded edge to have asymmetrical teeth like those of a saw that point forward.{{sfn|Cronquist et al. 1984|p=318}}

The flowers are in loose groups in an inflorescence. The lowest flowers more widely spaced and the end more tightly packed into a spike.{{sfn|Heil et al. 2013|p=618}} The inflorescences are at the end of branches and may be {{cvt|2 to 8|cm|1}} long and have inconspicuous bracts.{{sfn|Cronquist et al. 1984|p=318}} A single plant may produce several thousand flowers, but at any time less than 10% of them will be in full bloom.{{sfn|Sih|Baltus|1987|p=1680}} The flowers themselves are somewhat small and inconspicuous,{{sfn|Lawton|2002|p=69}} but quite fragrant. They are bilaterally symmetrical and measure 10–12 mm long.{{sfn|Sih|Baltus|1987|p=1680}} The petals are off white to pink and usually dotted with purple-pink spots.{{sfn|Strid|2016|p=363}} They are {{plantgloss|bilabiate}} with the upper lip having two lobes and the lower one much wider with a scalloped edge.{{sfn|Cronquist et al. 1984|p=318}}

The fruit is a nutlet that is nearly triquetrous, three sided with sharp edges and concave sides, and over all shaped like an egg. They are approximately 1.7 mm by 1 mm.{{Cite web |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019873 |title=Nepeta cataria |last1=Li |first1=Xi-wen (李锡文) |last2=Hedge |first2=Ian C. |date=1994 |editor-last1=Wu |editor-first1=Z. Y.|editor-last2=Raven |editor-first2=P. H. |website=Flora of China @ efloras.org |access-date=15 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110133732/http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019873 |archive-date=10 November 2024}} Each nutlet may contain between one and four seeds.{{sfn|Sih|Baltus|1987|p=1680}} They are dark reddish-brown in color with two white spots near the base.{{sfn|Muenscher|1949|p=401}}

Taxonomy

Nepeta cataria was one of the many species described by Linnaeus in 1753 in his landmark work Species Plantarum.{{sfn|Linnaeus|1753|p=570}} He had previously described it in 1738 as {{lang|la|Nepeta floribus interrupte spicatis pedunculatis}} (meaning "Nepeta with flowers in a stalked, interrupted spike"), before the commencement of Linnaean taxonomy.{{sfn|Spencer|Cross|Lumley|2007|p=14}} Catnip is classified in part of Nepeta in the Lamiaceae, commonly known as the mint family.{{sfn|Lawton|2002|pp=11, 69}} It has no subspecies or varieties.

=Synonyms=

Nepeta cataria has {{table row counter|id=Synonyms}} botanical synonyms, 16 of which are species. Only three are exactly equivalent to the current description of the species.{{cite POWO |id=452333-1 |title=Nepeta cataria L. |access-date=13 December 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="Synonyms" \|+ class="nowrap" \| Table of Synonyms ! Name ! Year ! Rank ! Notes
Calamintha albiflora {{small\|Vaniot}} \| 1904 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Cataria tomentosa {{small\|Gilib.}} \| 1782 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het. opus utique oppr.
Cataria vulgaris {{small\|Gaterau}} \| 1789 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=A \| ≡ hom.
Glechoma cataria {{small\|(L.) Kuntze}} \| 1891 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=A \| ≡ hom.
Glechoma macrura {{small\|(Ledeb. ex Spreng.) Kuntze}} \| 1891 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta americana {{small\|Vitman}} \| 1789 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het. nom. illeg.
Nepeta bodinieri {{small\|Vaniot}} \| 1904 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta cataria var. canescens {{small\|Sennen}} \| 1903 \|data-sort-value=C \| variety \|data-sort-value=B \| = het. nom. nud.
Nepeta cataria var. citriodora {{small\|Dumoulin ex Lej.}} \| 1825 \|data-sort-value=C \| variety \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta cataria f. laurentii {{small\|(Sennen) Font Quer}} \| 1951 \|data-sort-value=D \| form \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta ceretana {{small\|Sennen}} \| 1931 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta citriodora {{small\|(Dumoulin ex Lej.) Dumort.}} \| 1827 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta laurentii {{small\|Sennen}} \| 1934 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta macrura {{small\|Ledeb. ex Spreng.}} \| 1825 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta minor {{small\|Mill.}} \| 1768 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta mollis {{small\|Salisb.}} \| 1796 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het. nom. illeg.
Nepeta ruderalis {{small\|Boiss.}} \| 1879 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het. nom. illeg.
Nepeta tomentosa {{small\|Vitman}} \| 1789 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=B \| = het.
Nepeta vulgaris {{small\|Lam.}} \| 1779 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \|data-sort-value=A \| ≡ hom. nom. superfl.
colspan=4 style="text-align: left;" \| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="Synonyms"

|+ class="nowrap" | Table of Synonyms

! Name

! Year

! Rank

! Notes

Calamintha albiflora {{small|Vaniot}}

| 1904

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Cataria tomentosa {{small|Gilib.}}

| 1782

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het. opus utique oppr.

Cataria vulgaris {{small|Gaterau}}

| 1789

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=A | ≡ hom.

Glechoma cataria {{small|(L.) Kuntze}}

| 1891

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=A | ≡ hom.

Glechoma macrura {{small|(Ledeb. ex Spreng.) Kuntze}}

| 1891

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta americana {{small|Vitman}}

| 1789

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het. nom. illeg.

Nepeta bodinieri {{small|Vaniot}}

| 1904

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta cataria var. canescens {{small|Sennen}}

| 1903

|data-sort-value=C | variety

|data-sort-value=B | = het. nom. nud.

Nepeta cataria var. citriodora {{small|Dumoulin ex Lej.}}

| 1825

|data-sort-value=C | variety

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta cataria f. laurentii {{small|(Sennen) Font Quer}}

| 1951

|data-sort-value=D | form

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta ceretana {{small|Sennen}}

| 1931

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta citriodora {{small|(Dumoulin ex Lej.) Dumort.}}

| 1827

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta laurentii {{small|Sennen}}

| 1934

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta macrura {{small|Ledeb. ex Spreng.}}

| 1825

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta minor {{small|Mill.}}

| 1768

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta mollis {{small|Salisb.}}

| 1796

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het. nom. illeg.

Nepeta ruderalis {{small|Boiss.}}

| 1879

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het. nom. illeg.

Nepeta tomentosa {{small|Vitman}}

| 1789

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=B | = het.

Nepeta vulgaris {{small|Lam.}}

| 1779

|data-sort-value=A | species

|data-sort-value=A | ≡ hom. nom. superfl.

colspan=4 style="text-align: left;" | Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym

=Names=

The species name cataria means "of cats". It derives from the medieval Latin herba catti or herba cattaria used by medieval herbalists.{{sfn|Casselman|1997|p=}} The English common name catnip is first recorded in 1775 in the colony of Pennsylvania, but now has worldwide usage.{{Cite OED|catnip|9859799}} The variant catnep was also coined in the United States around 1806, but never became common elsewhere and is now very rarely used.{{Cite OED|catnep|1365832950}}

The first usage of catmint was in about 1300 in the form kattesminte. It continues to be used for Nepeta cataria, though it is also used for other species in the genus and the Nepeta as a genus.{{Cite OED|catmint|9859669}} In medieval English it was also called cat-wort, but this ceased by about 1500.{{Cite OED|cat-wort|10063893}}

Another name with a medieval origin was nep, neps, or nepe. Originating about 1475, it was more common but has become a regional name for catnip used in East Anglia.{{Cite OED|nep|35130398}}{{sfn|Britten|Holland|1886|p=353}}

In medieval England it was known by various names in botanical manuscripts. It was called calamentum minus and nasturcium mureligi.{{sfn|Hunt|1989|pp=60, 184}} It was also called nepeta or variants, but other species or genuses like the dead-nettles (Lamium) were also sometimes called this.{{sfn|Hunt|1989|p=185}} It was also sometimes called collocasia, but this was more often applied to horse-mints especially Mentha longifolia.{{sfn|Hunt|1989|p=85}}

Range and habitat

According to Plants of the World Online, the native range of catnip includes a large part of Eurasia. In Europe it is certainly native to the south around the Mediterranean and in the east, but sources disagree on its native status in the north in countries like the Baltic Countries, Germany, the Netherlands, and England. Around the Mediterranean it is identified as native in Portugal, Spain, France, Corsica, Italy, Switzerland, the former Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece. In the East it is native to Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, European Russia, and the Caucasus. It is generally agreed to be an introduced species in Scandinavia, Poland, and may also grow in Ireland.{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldplants.de |title=Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 24.12 |last1=Hassler |first1=Michael |date=6 December 2024 |website=World Plants |language=en |access-date=15 December 2024}}

In Asia its range extends from Turkey into Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Eastward it continues to Iran and Pakistan and the western Himalayas, but no further into India. It is native to all of Central Asia including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kirghistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and also extends to western Siberia. Its native status in China is disputed as it also is in the Russian Far East, Nepal, Korea, and Japan.

In Africa it may grow in Morocco, but this report is doubtful. It also grows as introduced species on the island of Java. In Australia it has been reported in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania.{{cite web |title=Species: Nepeta cataria (Catmint) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2896023 |website=Atlas of Living Australia |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=en-AU}} It grows on both the north and south islands of New Zealand, having been introduced there in 1870.{{cite web |title=Nepeta cataria L. |url=https://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/taxa/c6caabca-1acb-4135-a0dd-94db1fa93d67 |website=Flora of New Zealand Series |publisher=Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research |access-date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216001443/https://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/taxa/c6caabca-1acb-4135-a0dd-94db1fa93d67 |archive-date=16 December 2024 |url-status=live}}

In North America it grows in Canada from the island of Newfoundland to British Columbia, but not in Labrador or the three northern Canadian territories.{{cite web |last1=VASCAN |title=Nepeta cataria Linnaeus |url=https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/6426?lang=en |website=Database of Vascular Plants of Canada |access-date=15 December 2024 |date=2022}} In the United States it is present in 48 states, only absent from Florida and Hawaii.{{cite usda plants|symbol=NECA2 |title=Nepeta cataria |date=15 December 2024}}

In South America it grows in many parts of Argentina as well as in Colombia.

It grows in a variety of soils from clay to sandy or even shallow and rocky. It requires good drainage to prevent it from becoming waterlogged.{{cite web |title=Nepeta cataria (Catmint, Catnip, Catswort) |url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nepeta-cataria/ |website=North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox |publisher=North Carolina State University |access-date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909025314/https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nepeta-cataria/ |archive-date=9 September 2024 |url-status=live}}

Uses

{{multiple image

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The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation.{{cite web |url= http://www.instructables.com/id/EMDCESQF2DSDRAG/ |title=DIY Kitty Crack: ultra-potent catnip extract |work=Instructables |date=3 June 2007 |access-date=14 February 2009 |archive-date=12 July 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070712035206/http://www.instructables.com/id/EMDCESQF2DSDRAG/ |url-status=dead}}

=Cultivation=

Nepeta cataria is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens. It is also grown for its attractant qualities to house cats and butterflies.

The plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. It can be a repellent for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs. Catnip is best grown in full sunlight and grows as a loosely branching, low perennial.{{Cite web |url= https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-catnip/ |title= Growing Catnip – Bonnie Plants |access-date= 27 August 2016 |archive-date= 8 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120208063911/https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-catnip/ |url-status= dead }}

The cultivar Nepeta cataria 'Citriodora', also known as lemon catmint, is known for the strong lemon-scent of its leaves.{{Cite web |url=https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lemon-scented-plants/ |title=Lemon-scented Plants |last1=Mahr |first1=Susan |date=n.d. |website=Wisconsin Horticulture, Division of Extension |publisher=University of Wisconsin, Madison |language=en |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614224444/https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lemon-scented-plants/ |archive-date=14 June 2024}}

=Biological control=

The iridoid that is deposited on cats who have rubbed themselves against the plants and scratched the surfaces of catnip and silver vine (Actinidia polygama) leaves repels mosquitoes.{{sfn|Reiko et al. 2022|p=7}} The compound iridodial, an iridoid extracted from catnip oil, has been found to attract lacewings that eat aphids and mites.{{sfn|Bliss|2007|p=7}}

=As an insect repellent=

Nepetalactone is a mosquito and fly repellent.{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_355524.htm |title=Catnip sends mozzies flying |first=Danny |last=Kingsley |work=ABC Science Online |date=3 September 2001 |access-date=14 February 2009}}Junwei J. Zhu, Christopher A. Dunlap, Robert W. Behle, Dennis R. Berkebile, Brian Wienhold. (2010). Repellency of a wax-based catnip-oil formulation against stable flies. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58 (23): 12320–12326 (8 Nov 2010, {{doi|10.1021/jf102811k}}). Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches, and termites.{{sfn|Schultz|Peterson|Coats|2006|pp=170–173}}{{cite web |url= http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/110 |title=Termites Repelled by Catnip Oil |date=26 March 2003 |publisher=Southern Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service}} Research suggests that, while it may be a more effective spatial repellant than DEET,{{Cite web |url= https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm |title=Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEE |website=ScienceDaily.com |access-date=16 July 2016}} it is not as effective as SS220 or DEET when used on human skin.{{sfn|Chauhan et al. 2005|p=643}}

=Effect of ingestion on humans=

Catnip has a history of use in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments such as stomach cramps, indigestion, fevers, hives, and nervous conditions. The plant has been consumed as a tisane, juice, tincture, infusion, or poultice, and has also been smoked.{{sfn|Grognet|1990|p=456}} However, its medicinal use has fallen out of favor with the development of modern medicine.{{sfn|Grognet|1990|p=455}}

=Effect on felines=

File:Catnip-effects.jpg root and leaves, silver vine, and Tatarian honeysuckle wood.]]

Catnip contains the feline attractant nepetalactone. N. cataria (and some other species within the genus Nepeta) are known for their behavioral effects on the cat family, not only on domestic cats, but also other species.{{sfn|Grognet|1990|p=455}} Several tests showed that leopards, cougars, servals, and lynxes often reacted strongly to catnip in a manner similar to domestic cats. Lions and tigers may react strongly as well, but they do not react consistently in the same fashion.Reader's Digest: [http://www.readersdigest.ca/pets/fun-facts/does-catnip-work-big-cats-lions-and-tigers/ Does Catnip "Work" On Big Cats Like Lions And Tigers?] Accessed 22 May 2015 Archived:https://web.archive.org/web/20130118224630/http://www.readersdigest.ca/pets/fun-facts/does-catnip-work-big-cats-lions-and-tigers/{{Cite AV media |publisher=Big Cat Rescue |title=Q: Do Tigers Like Catnip? |date=2 August 2010 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tklx3j7kgJY |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211103/tklx3j7kgJY |archive-date=3 November 2021 |url-status=live |people=Poole, Chris |access-date=2 January 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite AV media |publisher=Big Cat Rescue |title=Q: Do Tigers Like Catnip? Part 2 |date=19 March 2013 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OPA1bZwOWc |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211103/_OPA1bZwOWc |archive-date=3 November 2021 |url-status=live |people=Poole, Chris |access-date=22 March 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url= http://www.catsplay.com/thedailycat/2003-04-14/mind_happycat/heavenly_catnip/heavenly_catnip.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130515082417/http://www.catsplay.com/thedailycat/2003-04-14/mind_happycat/heavenly_catnip/heavenly_catnip.html |title=Heavenly Catnip |first=Marcella |last=Durand |date=4 March 2003 |work=CatsPlay.com |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-date=15 May 2013}}

With domestic cats, N. cataria is used as a recreational substance for the enjoyment of pet cats, and catnip and catnip-laced products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers. Common behaviors cats display when they sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip are rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it, licking it, and chewing it. Consuming much of the plant is followed by drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about, and purring.{{Cite web |date=27 February 2023 |title=Catnip Overdose or Something More Serious? - TheCatSpace |url= https://thecatspace.com/how-to-identify-catnip-overdose/ |access-date=15 July 2023}} Some cats growl, meow, scratch, or bite at the hand holding it.{{sfn|Becker|Spadafori|2006|pp=164–165}}{{cite web |url= http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=PRINT&A=2396 |last=Spadafori |first=Gina |date=2006 |title=Here, Boy! |publisher=Universal Press Syndicate |access-date=3 May 2014}} The main response period after exposure is generally between 5 and 15 minutes, after which olfactory fatigue usually sets in.{{sfn|Moore|2007|p=147}} However, about one-third of cats are not affected by catnip.{{sfn|Bol et al. 2017|p=2}}{{sfn|Grognet|1990|p=455}} The behavior is hereditary.{{Cite web |last=Stromberg |first=Joseph |date=12 September 2014 |title=How catnip gets your cat high |url= https://www.vox.com/2014/9/12/6136451/catnip-cats-science |access-date=15 February 2021 |website=Vox}}

Cats detect nepetalactone through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ.{{sfn|Hart|Leedy|1985|p=38}} At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors.

A 1962 pedigree analysis of 26 cats in a Siamese breeding colony suggested that the catnip response was caused by a Mendelian-dominant gene. A 2011 pedigree analysis of 210 cats in two breeding colonies (taking into account measurement error by repeated testing) showed no evidence for Mendelian patterns of inheritance but demonstrated heritabilities of {{nowrap|h² {{=}} 0.51–0.89}} for catnip response behavior, indicating a polygenic liability threshold model.Todd 1962, [https://www.gwern.net/docs/catnip/1962-todd.pdf "Inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats"]Villani 2011, [https://www.gwern.net/docs/catnip/2011-villani.pdf "Heritability and Characteristics of Catnip Response in Two Domestic Cat Populations"]

A study published in January 2021 suggests that felines are specifically attracted to the iridoids nepetalactone and nepetalactol, present in catnip and silver vine, respectively.{{Cite news |last1=Moutinho |first1=Sofia |date=20 January 2021 |title=Why cats are crazy for catnip |work=Science |url= https://www.science.org/content/article/why-cats-are-crazy-catnip |access-date=28 January 2021}}

Cats younger than six months might not exhibit behavioral change to catnip.{{Cite web |title=Crazy for catnip |publisher=Humane Society of the United States |url=https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/crazy-catnip |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=HumaneSociety.org}} Up to a third of cats are genetically immune to catnip effects but may respond in a similar way to other plants such as valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root and leaves, silver vine or matatabi (Actinidia polygama), and Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) wood.{{sfn|Bol et al. 2017|p=1}}

Notes

Citations

References

;Books

{{Cite book |last1=Becker |first1=Marty |last2=Spadafori |first2=Gina |date=2006 |title=Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? : 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Feline Unfathomables, Medical Mysteries & Befuddling Behaviors |url=https://archive.org/details/whydocatsalwaysl00mart/page/164 |url-access=registration |language=en |edition= |publication-place= |location=Deerfield Beach, Florida |publisher=Health Communications |isbn=978-0-7573-0573-3 |oclc=70775657 |access-date=15 December 2024}}
{{cite book |last1=Britten |first1=James |author-link1=James Britten |last2=Holland |first2=Robert |date=1886 |title= A Dictionary of English Plant-names |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_F3YKAAAAIAAJ/page/353 |language=en |location=London |publisher=For the English Dialect Society, Trübner & Ludgate Hill |oclc=3285670 |access-date=16 December 2024}}
{{cite book |last1=Casselman |first1=Bill |author-link1=Bill Casselman (writer) |date=1997 |title=Canadian Garden Words : The Origin of Flower, Tree, and Plant Names, Both Wild and Domestic, Entertainingly Derived from Their Sources in the Ancient Tongues Together with Fancy Botanical Names & Why You Shall Never Again Be Afraid to Use Them! |url=https://archive.org/details/canadiangardenwo0000cass_e9c9/page/116 |url-access=registration |language=en |edition=First |location=Toronto, Canada |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |isbn=978-0-316-13343-2 |oclc=37489809 |access-date=16 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Donald D. |date=2005 |title=A Naturalist's Guide to Field Plants : An Ecology for Eastern North America |url=https://archive.org/details/naturalistsguide0000coxd/page/90 |url-access=registration |language=en |edition=First |location=Syracuse, New York |publisher=Syracuse University Press |isbn=978-0-8156-0780-9 |oclc=56591627 |access-date=16 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Cronquist |first1=Arthur |author-link1=Arthur Cronquist |last2=Holmgren |first2=Arthur H. |last3=Holmgren |first3=Noel H. |last4=Reveal |first4=James L. |author-link4=James L. Reveal |last5=Holmgren |first5=Patricia K. |author-link5=Patricia Kern Holmgren |date=1984 |title=Intermountain Flora : Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. |url=https://archive.org/details/intermountainflo0000unse/page/318 |url-access=registration |language=en |volume=4. Subclass Asteridae (except Asteraceae) |edition=First |location=Bronx, New York |publisher=New York Botanical Garden |isbn=978-0-231-04120-1 |oclc=320442 |access-date=15 December 2024 |ref={{sfnref|Cronquist et al. 1984}}}}
{{Cite book |last1=Heil |first1=Kenneth D. |last2=O'Kane |first2=Steve L. Jr. |last3=Reeves |first3=Linda Mary |last4=Clifford |first4=Arnold |date=2013 |title=Flora of the Four Corners Region: Vascular Plants of the San Juan River Drainage, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah |url=https://archive.org/details/mobot31753003888887/page/n635 |language=en |edition=First |location=St. Louis, Missouri |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |pages=693 |isbn=978-1-930723-84-9 |issn=0161-1542 |lccn=2012949654 |oclc=859541992 |access-date=12 December 2024 |ref={{sfnref|Heil et al. 2013}}}}
{{Cite book |last1=Hunt |first1=Tony |date=1989 |title=Plant Names of Medieval England |url=https://archive.org/details/plantnamesofmedi0000hunt/page/60 |url-access=registration |language=en |edition=First |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=D.S.Brewer |isbn=978-0-85991-273-0 |oclc=18412592 |access-date=16 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Linnaeus |first1=Carl |author-link1=Carl Linnaeus |date=1753 |title=Species Plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas |trans-title=The Species of Plants |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358591 |language=la |volume=2 |edition=First |location=Stockholm, Sweden |publisher=Impensis Laurentii Salvii |oclc=18975793 |access-date=15 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Lawton |first1=Barbara Perry |date=2002 |title=Mints : A Family of Herbs and Ornamentals |url=https://archive.org/details/mintsfamilyofher0000lawt/page/11 |url-access=registration |language=en |location=Portland, Oregon |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0-88192-524-1 |oclc=46969962 |access-date=13 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Arden |date=2007 |title=The Cat Behavior Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nqq6ZgBCtn8C&pg=PT147 |language=en |edition= |location=North Adams, Massachusetts |publisher=Storey Publishing |isbn=978-1-60342-179-9 |oclc=776996991 |access-date=15 December 2024}}
{{cite book |last1=Muenscher |first1=Walter Conrad Leopold |date=1949 |orig-date=1935 |title=Weeds |url=https://archive.org/details/weeds0000walt/page/401 |url-access=registration |language=en |edition=First |publication-place= |location=New York |publisher=Macmillan Company |oclc=1277278 |access-date=16 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Schultz |first1=Gretchen |last2=Peterson |first2=Chris |last3=Coats |first3=Joel |editor-last1=Rimando |editor-first1=Agnes M. |editor-last2=Duke |editor-first2=Stephen |date=2006 |chapter=Natural Insect Repellents: Activity against Mosquitoes and Cockroaches |chapter-url=http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_schultz001.pdf |title=Natural Products for Pest Management |series=ACS symposium series, 927 |language=en |publisher=American Chemical Society |doi=10.1021/bk-2006-0927.ch013 |doi-access=free |isbn=978-0-8412-3933-3 |oclc=61309401 |access-date=15 December 2024}}
{{Cite book |last1=Spencer |first1=Roger |last2=Cross |first2=Rob |last3=Lumley |first3=Peter |date=2007 |orig-date=1990 |title=Plant Names: a Guide to Botanical Nomenclature |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wqTt-Oewk-8C&pg=PA14 |language=en |edition=Third |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |isbn=978-0-643-09945-6 |oclc=1162503799}}
{{Cite book |last1=Welsh |first1=Stanley L. |author-link1=Stanley Larson Welsh |last2=Atwood |first2=N. Duane |last3=Goodrich |first3=Sherel |last4=Higgins |first4=Larry C. |date=1987 |title=A Utah Flora |url=https://archive.org/details/utahflora0000unse/page/333 |url-access=registration |series=Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs, No. 9 |language=en |edition=First |location=Provo, Utah |publisher=Brigham Young University |jstor=23377658 |oclc=9986953694 |access-date=15 December 2024 |ref={{sfnref|Welsh et al. 1987}}}}

;Journals

{{Cite journal |last1=Bliss |first1=Rosalie Marion |date=May 2007 |title=A Natural Insect Attractant from Catnip |url=https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2007/may/insect |journal=Agricultural Research |language=en |publisher=US Government Printing Office |volume=55 |issue=5 |issn=0002-161X |access-date=15 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241029153232/https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2007/may/insect/ |archive-date=29 October 2024}}
{{Cite journal |last1=Bol |first1=Sebastiaan |last2=Caspers |first2=Jana |last3=Buckingham |first3=Lauren |last4=Anderson-Shelton |first4=Gail Denise |last5=Ridgway |first5=Carrie |last6=Buffington |first6=C. A. Tony |last7=Schulz |first7=Stefan |last8=Bunnik |first8=Evelien M. |date=16 March 2017 |title=Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria) |journal=BMC Veterinary Research |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |article-number=70 |doi=10.1186/s12917-017-0987-6 |doi-access=free |issn=1746-6148 |ref={{sfnref|Bol et al. 2017}}|pmc=5356310 }}
{{Cite journal |last1=Chauhan |first1=Kamlesh R. |last2=Klun |first2=Jerome A. |last3=Debboun |first3=Mustapha |last4=Kramer |first4=Matthew |date=1 July 2005 |title=Feeding Deterrent Effects of Catnip Oil Components Compared with Two Synthetic Amides Against Aedes aegypti |url=https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=3045&content=PDF |format= |journal=Journal of Medical Entomology |language=en |volume=42 |issue=4 |s2cid=13711455 |doi=10.1603/0022-2585(2005)042[0643:FDEOCO]2.0.CO;2 |doi-broken-date=15 December 2024 |pmid=16119554 |access-date=29 December 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329193622/https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=3045&content=PDF |archive-date=29 March 2021 |quote= |postscript= |ref={{sfnref|Chauhan et al. 2005}}|url-access=subscription }}
{{Cite journal |last1=Grognet |first1=Jeff |date=1990 |title=Catnip: Its uses and effects, past and present |journal=The Canadian Veterinary Journal |language=en |volume=31 |issue=6 |pmc=1480656 |pmid=17423611}}
{{Cite journal |last1=Hart |first1=Benjamin L. |last2=Leedy |first2=Mitzi G. |date=July 1985 |title=Analysis of the catnip reaction: mediation by olfactory system, not vomeronasal organ |journal=Behavioral and Neural Biology |language=en |volume=44 |issue=1 |doi=10.1016/S0163-1047(85)91151-3 |pmid=3834921}}
{{Cite journal |first1=Reiko |last1=Uenoyama |first2=Tamako |last2=Miyazaki |first3=Masaatsu |last3=Adachi |first4=Toshio |last4=Nishikawa |first5=Jane L. |last5=Hurst |first6=Masao |last6=Miyazaki |date=15 July 2022 |title=Domestic cat damage to plant leaves containing iridoids enhances chemical repellency to pests |journal=iScience |language=en |volume=27 |issue=7 |bibcode=2022iSci...25j4455U |doi=10.1016/j.isci.2022.104455 |doi-access=free |pmc=9308154 |pmid=35880027 |ref={{sfnref|Reiko et al. 2022}}}}
{{Cite journal |last1=Sih |first1=Andrew |last2=Baltus |first2=Marie-Sylvie |date=December 1987 |title=Patch Size, Pollinator Behavior, and Pollinator Limitation in Catnip |journal=Ecology |language=en |volume=68 |issue=6 |doi=10.2307/1939860 |issn=0012-9658}}
{{Cite journal |last1=Strid |first1=Arne |author-link1=Arne Strid |date=February 2016 |editor1-last=Turland |editor1-first=Nicholas J. |title=Atlas of the Aegean Flora Part 1: Text & Plates |journal=Englera |language=en |publisher=Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum |volume=33 |issue=1 |jstor=45057393}}