We love Catnip for both people and cats.
Catnip for People (see below, for Cats): Catnip flies under the radar as a medicinal herb for humans, but Catnip leaves and flowers have a long history of safe use for the people in cat’s lives. In their important paper about the attributes of Catnip published in the journal, Chemistry & Biodiversity, Tiwari and colleagues (2023) write:
Herbal tea made from the plant’s leaves and flowers is used to treat fever, colds, and coughs… The plant possesses various biological activities, i. e., analgesic, antiasthmatic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, cardio protective, antimicrobial, and insecticidal properties.
This short, bushy plant, which resembles mint (with whom it shares the family Lamiaceae) has soft, velvet-like leaves. Harvest Catnip at any stage of the plant’s growth, even after the small pink-to-whitish flowers have appeared. The aroma and flavour of home grown Catnip is divine.
A cup of Catnip tea (from fresh or dried leaves) is the perfect way to wind down the day. Use 1 tsp leaves (dried or fresh) per cup of water, steep 5 minutes.
Catnip for Cats: About 70 to 80% of cats react to the essential oil nepetalactone in Catnip. When they roll around in Catnip or rub against it, the nepetalactone releases “happy” pheromones/chemicals and a cat’s brain responds with delight. When eaten, catnip usually has a mellowing effect on cats. There is no hard or fast rule about how much catnip to give your cat. Offer a few pinches (fresh or dried) and go from there. Catnip is safe for cats, not addictive and the effect usually wears off after about 15 minutes.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Sow seeds just below the soil surface and then place in a sunny spot once sprouted.
Location: Sun, Partial Sun
Life cycle: Annual (it’s a short-lived perennial, so we are listing it as an annual)
Usable Parts: Leaves, Flowers (dried, fresh)
Uses: Tea for People & Treats for Cats
Height: 12 to 24 inches
Photo caption: Photo ca. 1907. From the book: Cat: Our domestic animals, their habits, intelligence and usefulness. Published 1907.
