Catnip | Medicinal Uses, Aromatic Properties, Relaxing Effects

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class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/catnip">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/44196-050-6C3EA57A/Catnip.jpg" data-href="/media/1/99968/124946" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/44196-004-751C94DD/Catnip.jpg" alt="catnip" height="50" /> </a> <a 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md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/plants-from-cute-to-carnivorous"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/166071-131-35933486/Venus-flytrap-one-fly-trap-meat-eating-plants.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Venus's-flytrap. 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"browserTitle": "Catnip | Medicinal Uses, Aromatic Properties, Relaxing Effects", "firstTopicPage": true, "topicId":99968 } </script> <div class="reading-channel"> <div class="desktop-header-image module-spacing"> <figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-20 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="13684" data-asm-type="image"> <div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"> <a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/44196-050-6C3EA57A/Catnip.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/99968/124946"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/44196-050-6C3EA57A/Catnip.jpg?w=300"> <img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/44196-050-6C3EA57A/Catnip.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop" alt="catnip" loading="eager" /> </picture> <button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white 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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-authors-initial="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-title="catnip" data-published-date="14 Feb. 2025" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=99968] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="catnip" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip">https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> <div> <button class="qa-external-website-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=99968] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/99968"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-831/catnip" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">WebMD - Catnip - Uses, Side Effects, and More</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/what-is-catnip" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">PetMD - What Is Catnip and What Does It Do to Cats?</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/catnip.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Kentucky - College of Agriculture, Food and Environment - Catnip</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://core.ac.uk/reader/481675964" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">CORE - Nepeta catariaCultivation, Chemical Composition and Biological Activity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/nepeta/cataria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Native Plant Trust - Go Botany - Nepeta cataria — catnip</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/catnip-nepeta-cataria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Wisconsin-Madison - Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension - Catnip</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-catnip-plants-2132328" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Spruce - How to Grow Catnip Plants</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/files/2016/06/catnip.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Wisconsin-Extension - Master Gardener Program - Catnip, Nepeta cataria</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfinderdetails.aspx?kempercode=e433" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Missouri Botanical Garden - Catnip</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/instance/1480656/pdf/canvetj00079-0049.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Catnip: Its uses and effects, past and present</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nepeta-cataria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Nepeta cataria</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Nepeta cataria, catmint</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-14T00:00:00CST" >Feb 14, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/catnip/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also called: </dt> <dd>catmint</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/animal/cat" topicid="168536">cat</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/feline" topicid="98895">feline</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/herb-culinary-and-medicinal-plant" topicid="262606">herb</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>On the Web: </dt> <dd><a href="https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfinderdetails.aspx?kempercode=e433" target="_blank">Missouri Botanical Garden - Catnip</a> (Feb. 14, 2025)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/catnip"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref178745"></span>catnip</strong>, (<em>Nepeta cataria</em>), <span id="ref178746"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/spice-food" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">herb</a> of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Mentha" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mint</a> family (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Lamiaceae" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lamiaceae</a>), noted for its aromatic leaves, which are particularly exciting to <span id="ref1224266"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/cat" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cats</a>. Catnip is commonly grown by cat owners for their pets, and the dried leaves are often used as a stuffing for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/cat" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cat</a> playthings. The herb is native to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Eurasia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eurasia</a> and is used as a seasoning and as a medicinal tea for colds and fever in some places.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="207900" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="187067"><a data-id="187067" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/pheromones-catnip-cats-earth-additives-reactions-cat/-207900"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/187067-138-D6DE2466/pheromones-catnip-cats-earth-additives-reactions-cat.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="catnip's effect on cat behavior" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/FozY91Yd.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/67/187067-138-D6DE2466/pheromones-catnip-cats-earth-additives-reactions-cat.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/TDWU2uOF", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/hY3ikGxP.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="187067">catnip's effect on cat behavior</span><span>Understand how catnip triggers excitatory reactions in cats and how kitty litter (fuller's earth) along with additives like baking soda, artificial scents, and antibacterial agents absorb foul-smelling cat urine.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/plant/catnip/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Catnip is a short-lived <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/perennial" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">perennial</a> herb. The stems are typically square and bear oppositely arranged toothed <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/leaf-plant-anatomy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">leaves</a>. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">plant</a> produces spikes of small white purple-dotted <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/flower" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">flowers</a> and readily reseeds itself. The leaves and stems contain a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/essential-oil" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">volatile oil</a> known as <span id="ref1224265"></span>nepetalactone, which <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="stimulates" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/stimulates" data-type="EB">stimulates</a> sensory neurons in most cats, attracting them to the plant. The effect generally lasts about 10 minutes and triggers a wide range of behaviours, including purring, rolling, vocalizations, head rubbing, drooling, jumping, and sometimes aggression.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Mic-Anderson/9504556">Mic Anderson</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":99968,"pageLength":145,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"SMALL","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Catnip | Medicinal Uses, Aromatic Properties, Relaxing Effects | Britannica