To identify catnip growing in your garden or yard, use these guidelines. The plant has a square-shaped stem and is covered in fine hairs, like other plants in the mint family.

However, catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone, which is known for its relaxing properties. This means it may offer some soothing, calming benefits for people who consume it as tea.

Catnip is a plant—known scientifically as Nepeta cataria—that is a member of the mint family. The active ingredient is called nepetalactone, which many domestic cats respond to in a variety of ...

Catnip is a strong-smelling herb. It is native to Central Europe, though it can now be found in most of Canada and the Northeast United States. It belongs to the mint family and has oval-toothed ...

Studies have shown that catnip may be as effective as the widely used synthetic repellent diethyl-m-toluamide, or DEET (SN: 9/5/01). But it was unknown how the plant repelled insects.

Like catnip, silver vine appears to be safe for cats. ... While the study population was small, they checked cats over a three-year period and didn’t identify any causes for concern.

Catnip, in other words. Cat people know what this is all about—frisky, tripped-out felines entranced in drug-induced euphoria. Catnip, in other words. Advertisement. Advertisement.