Little Nip Will Do Ya
There’s no mistaking its effect: the sniffing, rubbing, rolling. Catnip is the feline version of a leaf from heaven. According to Cat World (cat-world.com.au), about half of all cats are affected by this mint-family herb. Related to basil, oregano and spearmint, this little perennial is native to Europe and some parts of Asia.
The active element in catnip is nepetalactone, the compound that gives the plant its catty nip. The essential oil is found in the leaves, stem and seedpods of the plant and any bruising or crushing releases the oil. For most cats, a sniff of the crushed plant leads to licking, chewing, head shaking, whole body rubs and head-over-tails romp and rolling.
However, not all cats love an occasional nip. According to the Feline Health Center at Cornell University, kittens under the age of three months aren’t affected by the plant and the attraction appears to be inherited.
The plant, although loved by felines, was used in teas and is said to have a calming effect on humans, among other uses. In the 1960s, a Cornell University naturalist reported that catnip oil repelled insects and further studies have shown that it may repel insects even quicker than DEET, but its effect is short-lived, lasting only a couple of hours.
While chemical explanations may be interesting to us, for Frisky the answer is simple. For a little harmless R and R, break out the catnip, will ya?
- Teresa Brown Posted 10/30/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
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