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.
Catnip's allure is in its volatile oil, specifically one chemical in that oil -- nepetalactone. Found in catnip's leaves, stems, and seeds, it only takes one or two sniffs of that wondrous oil...
Catnip, (Nepeta cataria), herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), noted for its aromatic leaves, which are particularly exciting to cats. Catnip is commonly grown by cat owners for their pets, and the dried leaves are often used as a stuffing for cat playthings.
In this article, we’ll dig deeper into the ways of catnip, discovering what it is, how it affects cats, and how your cat can enjoy catnip.