Catnip is well known to be of great interest to many domestic cats, although the compounds arousing cats presumably evolved as deterrents against insect herbivores (Eisner 1964) and interactions between catnip and cats are presumably not of ecological or evolutionary significance. Tucker and Tucker (1988) reviewed the effects of catnip on cats. They noted that cats respond to catnip with predictable behaviors, including (1) sniffing, (2) licking and chewing with head shaking, (3) chin and cheek rubbing, and (4) head-over rolling and body rubbing. They may also exhibit digging or pawing, scratching, salivating, washing or grooming. stretching, animated leaping, licking of the genital region, apparent hallucinations, sexual stimulation, euphoria, sleepiness, and/or eating. The complete response rarely exceeds 10 to 15 minutes and is followed by a refractory period of about an hour during which catnip does not elicit a behavioral response. Interestingly, no response to catnip is evident in kittens during the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth, and this response may not develop until 3 months of age. (Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
Not all domestic cats respond to catnip. Based on a study using a documented pedigree of Siamese cats and a random sample of 84 cats from the Boston area, Todd (1962) concluded that the catnip response is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene. Investigations of a variety of mammals have revealed no catnip response in non-felids tested, but within the Felidae (cat family) many (though apparently not all) wild cat species, both males and females, exhibit a catnip response (for details, see Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial mint, native to Eurasia, but widely naturalized in North America, southeastern Australia, and possibly elsewhere. It is often found growing in disturbed areas. The foliage has a minty odor that is often considered mildly unpleasant by humans, but is very attractive to many cats. The flowers are whitish or pale lilac, dotted with pink or purple; the lower lip is slightly toothed.
The physiologically active component of catnip oil is a now well-characterized compound known as nepetalactone. Cats respond to catnip with predictable behaviors, including (1) sniffing, (2) licking and chewing with head shaking, (3) chin and cheek rubbing, and (4) head-over rolling and body rubbing. The complete response rarely exceeds 10 to 15 minutes and is followed by a refractory period of about an hour during which catnip does not elicit a behavioral response. Interestingly, no response to catnip is evident in kittens during the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth, and this response may not develop until 3 months of age. (Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
Not all domestic cats respond to catnip. Based on a study using a documented pedigree of Siamese cats and a random sample of 84 cats from the Boston area, Todd (1962) concluded that the catnip response is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene. Investigations of a variety of mammals have revealed no catnip response in non-felids tested, but within the Felidae (cat family) many (though apparently not all) wild cat species, both males and females, exhibit a catnip response (for details, see Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is native to Eurasia, but now established widely in North America (e.g., Hitchcock 1973; Gleason and Cronquist 1991; Hickman 1993), and naturalized in southeastern Australia (Australia's Virtual Herbarium, queried 21 July 2010) and possibly elsewhere.
Catnip is often found growing in disturbed areas (e.g., Hitchcock 1973; Newcomb 1977; Clapham et al. 1981; Gleason and Cronquist 1991; Hickman 1993).
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial mint, 30 to 100 cm in height, and branched above. The leafy stems are gray-pubescent (downy). The 3 to 8 cm leaves are stalked, somewhat heart-shaped at the base, and coarsely toothed. The densely clustered flowers have a corolla (collective term for petals) 8 to 12 mm long, subtended by a calyx (collective term for sepals) 5 to 7 mm. Flowers are whitish or pale lilac, dotted with pink or purple; the lower lip is slightly toothed. (Newcomb 1977; Gleason and Cronquist 1991)
The physiologically active component of catnip oil is a now well-characterized compound known as nepetalactone (for details, see Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein). Tucker and Tucker (1988) discuss what is known about the chemistry of a range of other plants and insects that have reported to be attractive to cats.
Catnip is well known to be of great interest to many domestic cats, although the compounds arousing cats presumably evolved as deterrents against insect herbivores
The dried leaves of catnip are sometimes used to make a tea (Peterson 1977) and catnip is often used in toys designed for pet cats.
