Nepeta cataria, commonly called catnip, is an ancient member of the mint family. It has been used in western folk practices for millennia, and is loved for its gentle, calming properties. Herbalists and parents often brew this child-friendly herb into a soothing tisane, but it can also be taken internally as a tincture. For topical use, catnip can be infused in oils, or used as an essential oil or hydrosol to bring an herbaceous, relaxing scent to body care products. Perhaps, however, catnip is best known as the herb most loved by our feline friends.
It is said that the genus name, Nepeta, is a reference to the Etruscan city of Nepete, which was overthrown by the Romans back in the Iron Age. As well as their desire for Etruscan city states, the Romans, and presumably their cats, were great fans of the local mint both as a culinary addition and as a health-supportive herb.
“Nep” or “catmint” also showed up regularly in medieval European medical texts and was considered such a home-apothecary staple that European immigrants to the Americas brought plant cuttings with them in the early 18th century. It was here that the herb became “catnip.” According to America in So Many Words, by Allan Metcalf and David Barnhart, the first evidence of “catnip” is from a Massachusetts recipe from 1712: “He boiled tansy, sage, hyssop, and catnip is some of ye best wort.” Indigenous communities quickly incorporated this wonderful herb into their healthcare regimens as both a gentle tea for children with occasional upset bellies or sleeplessness, and as a strengthening tonic.
As people migrated westward, they brought catnip cuttings with them, and by the 19th century, from the East Coast to the West Coast, catnip was American’s tea of choice for a soothing "cuppa." Today catnip, along with its other mint cousins, continues to be valued for its calming and relaxing properties. It has become such a part of the American landscape, in many places it grows pervasively as a weed.
We don’t fully understand exactly how catnip gets our kitties “high.” We know that nepetalactone is the volatile oil that is released into the air when the plant is touched, and the oil is what makes cats react (including lions, tigers, and other wild cats). We also know it has to do with felines’ excellent sense of smell. The nepetalactone enters a cat’s brain via a special scent organ in the roof of the mouth, which is why cats will sometimes make funny mouth or face movements when they get around catnip; they’re just trying to get as much of the smell as they can.
The catnip high doesn’t hurt cats in any way and only lasts about ten minutes, after which kitties are desensitized to the effects for half an hour or so. Afterwards, they may or may not want to try it again. Catnip is not addictive.
Also, other plants can have a catnip-like effect on felines, including valerian, and cats that don’t respond to catnip will sometimes react to this herb. It’s a wonderful choice to plant in your garden for outdoor cats to enjoy.
There is obviously a plethora of catnip-filled toys on the market, but we think DIY catnip toys are really where it’s at!
The beauty of this project is that the bags can be reused repeatedly for any number of storage and craft ideas when your cat tires off the catnip game. It is a good kids’ craft day project and is also a wonderful gift for the cat lovers in your life; wrap up a couple of hand-decorated bags with organic catnip for refills.
Ingredients
Directions
Catnip kickers and balls made out of old socks are the ultimate cat toys. They are perfect for throwing, pouncing on, biting, and of course kicking. If you want a longer “kicker”, use a knee-high sock and fill more of it to get a long tube. If you want to make more of a ball shape, use a child’s sock or an ankle sock.
Ingredients
Directions
Pro Tips
If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own catnip toys, the feline friends of Mountain Rose Herbs have given the paw of approval to our fleece catnip carrot toy.
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Herbal Gift Ideas, Herbalism
Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is proud to have earned a certificate of completion for the Herbal Medicine Making Course at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.
Nepeta cataria, commonly called catnip, is an ancient member of the mint family. It has been used in western folk practices for millennia, and is loved for its gentle, calming properties. Herbalists and parents often brew this child-friendly herb into a soothing tisane, but it can also be taken internally as a tincture. For topical use, catnip can be infused in oils, or used as an essential oil or hydrosol to bring an herbaceous, relaxing scent to body care products. Perhaps, however, catnip is best known as the herb most loved by our feline friends.
It is said that the genus name, Nepeta, is a reference to the Etruscan city of Nepete, which was overthrown by the Romans back in the Iron Age. As well as their desire for Etruscan city states, the Romans, and presumably their cats, were great fans of the local mint both as a culinary addition and as a health-supportive herb.
“Nep” or “catmint” also showed up regularly in medieval European medical texts and was considered such a home-apothecary staple that European immigrants to the Americas brought plant cuttings with them in the early 18th century. It was here that the herb became “catnip.” According to America in So Many Words, by Allan Metcalf and David Barnhart, the first evidence of “catnip” is from a Massachusetts recipe from 1712: “He boiled tansy, sage, hyssop, and catnip is some of ye best wort.” Indigenous communities quickly incorporated this wonderful herb into their healthcare regimens as both a gentle tea for children with occasional upset bellies or sleeplessness, and as a strengthening tonic.
As people migrated westward, they brought catnip cuttings with them, and by the 19th century, from the East Coast to the West Coast, catnip was American’s tea of choice for a soothing "cuppa." Today catnip, along with its other mint cousins, continues to be valued for its calming and relaxing properties. It has become such a part of the American landscape, in many places it grows pervasively as a weed.
We don’t fully understand exactly how catnip gets our kitties “high.” We know that nepetalactone is the volatile oil that is released into the air when the plant is touched, and the oil is what makes cats react (including lions, tigers, and other wild cats). We also know it has to do with felines’ excellent sense of smell. The nepetalactone enters a cat’s brain via a special scent organ in the roof of the mouth, which is why cats will sometimes make funny mouth or face movements when they get around catnip; they’re just trying to get as much of the smell as they can.
The catnip high doesn’t hurt cats in any way and only lasts about ten minutes, after which kitties are desensitized to the effects for half an hour or so. Afterwards, they may or may not want to try it again. Catnip is not addictive.
Also, other plants can have a catnip-like effect on felines, including valerian, and cats that don’t respond to catnip will sometimes react to this herb. It’s a wonderful choice to plant in your garden for outdoor cats to enjoy.
There is obviously a plethora of catnip-filled toys on the market, but we think DIY catnip toys are really where it’s at!
The beauty of this project is that the bags can be reused repeatedly for any number of storage and craft ideas when your cat tires off the catnip game. It is a good kids’ craft day project and is also a wonderful gift for the cat lovers in your life; wrap up a couple of hand-decorated bags with organic catnip for refills.
Ingredients
Directions
Catnip kickers and balls made out of old socks are the ultimate cat toys. They are perfect for throwing, pouncing on, biting, and of course kicking. If you want a longer “kicker”, use a knee-high sock and fill more of it to get a long tube. If you want to make more of a ball shape, use a child’s sock or an ankle sock.
Ingredients
Directions
Pro Tips
If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own catnip toys, the feline friends of Mountain Rose Herbs have given the paw of approval to our fleece catnip carrot toy.
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Herbal Gift Ideas, Herbalism
Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is proud to have earned a certificate of completion for the Herbal Medicine Making Course at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.
