The Truth About Catnip

Catnip, catmint, catwort or field balm, whichever name you use, lions, tigers, panthers and the ordinary tabby curled up on your sofa all seem powerless to resist this fragrant herb.

Native to Europe and Asia, catnip, or Nepeta cataria, has a minty, lemony scent and a long association with cats; even its Latin name, cataria, translates roughly as "of a cat." Research confirms that cats both large and small are drawn to this invasive member of the mint family, but the reasons behind the attraction, and what it means if a cat shows no interest at all, are worth understanding.

How catnip affects cats

Whether a cat responds to catnip comes down to genetics. Roughly half of all cats inherit the sensitivity, and even then, a kitten will not show any reaction until somewhere between three and six months of age.

The appeal lies in catnip's volatile oil, and specifically in one compound within it, nepetalactone, found throughout the plant's leaves, stems and seeds. It takes only a sniff or two of that oil before a susceptible cat starts licking, chewing and rolling around in evident bliss.

That bliss, however intense, is usually short-lived, lasting around ten minutes in most cats. For some, the effect translates into boisterous, energetic play; for others, it brings on a calm, mellow mood. Whatever the reaction, once the effect wears off, it typically takes around two hours before the cat responds to catnip again.

Catnip as a training aid

Because cats respond to catnip again and again rather than losing interest after one exposure, it can be a genuinely useful training tool. Rubbing catnip onto a scratching post can help redirect a cat away from the furniture, while a sprinkle on a new cat bed can make it far more appealing.

Homemade catnip toys are easy to make for an indoor cat: a pinch of the herb inside an old sock, knotted at the top, or a generous pinch tucked into a small paper bag scrunched into a tight ball, both work well.

How strongly a cat responds to catnip toys or training depends partly on the form used. Most cats enjoy both dried and fresh catnip, but tend to show far less interest in catnip sprays, which generally do not contain enough nepetalactone to have much effect.

Catnip itself is non-addictive and entirely safe to eat, and it grows easily in a sunny window. Some owners go further and grow a small indoor garden combining a pot of catnip with a pot of wheat, oat, rye or barley grass, both of which cats tend to enjoy, with the added benefit that a cat with its own plants to nibble may leave the rest of the houseplants alone. If grown outdoors, bear in mind that, like most mints, catnip can spread vigorously and become invasive.

Catnip's potency fades over time as its essential oils dissipate, so any dried catnip you are not using straight away is best kept in the freezer.

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