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 …

Jan 31, 2025 · Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb that is a member of the mint family. It’s a plant that’s easy to grow in North America and has light-green foliage with lavender …

Jul 5, 2022 · Catnip contains nepetalactone, an essential oil found in the catnip plant. Here's how it affects your cat and why it makes them feel so good.

May 7, 2025 · The plant produces nepetalactone in microscopic bulbs that coat its leaves, stems, and seedpods. When these fragile bulbs rupture, they release the compound into the air, …

May 21, 2021 · Catnip’s status as kitty kryptonite is due to a specific chemical compound called nepalacatlone that the plant naturally releases when its leaves or stem are bruised.

Nov 7, 2025 · 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 …

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a plant famous for the excitement it creates in cats. The flowering tops are used to make medicine. Catnip contains chemicals that might have a calming effect. It's...

May 13, 2025 · The organic compound in catnip, nepetalactone, is what gives cats these bizarre reactions. Once the nepetalactone enters the cat’s nose, it binds to the olfactory cells which …

Apr 29, 2025 · They can be made from pure catnip oil or mixed with other essential oils, such as lavender, valerian, or silvervine. Like sprays, some catnip oils contain preservatives and other …

Jun 19, 2025 · Catnip contains a compound known as nepetalactone, which is responsible for the euphoric effects it has on most felines. The nepetalactone is stored in microscopic bulbs that …