Cats and Catnip, Herb Uses, Culture and Cuttings

Catmint for Felines and People, Useful Herb to Grow, Root, Maintain

May 10, 2009

Catnip herb is a mystery to non-cat owners. To herbalists and others, it is a beneficial herb for cats and humans. Plants can be divided, and cuttings can be propagated.

Every spring and summer, food markets, supermarkets, big box and hardware stores and other shops sell potted herbs. Oregano, rosemary, thyme, lavender, tarragon, fennel, spearmint and peppermint are the more popular. Tucked away among these is catnip, which is being sold more frequently. Why? Perhaps, more cats and people are demanding it.

Catnip, Member of the Mint Family, Characteristics and Features

Nepeta cataria, catnip, is in the mint family. The mint family members have distinctive tastes and aromas. Square stems are characteristic of the mint family, other plant genera and species have round stems. This herb is of European origin, a frost-hardy perennial, grows upright as high as 3 feet (about a meter), and branches. Nepeta produces abundant white to light pink or violet flowers in whorls during the spring and well into fall.

Biochemical and Features of Catmint for Cats

Members of the mint family produce strong and potent chemicals that may be beneficial to health. Aside from the breath-freshening character of spearmint and peppermint there is the peculiar tang of catnip that acts as a pheromone stimulant for cats. The pheromone reacts with olfactory nerves and causes playfulness and relaxation in many, but not all, cats.

Catnip Cultivation and Propagation

Catnip does well in alkaline, neutral to slightly acid soils. Full sun to partial shade is acceptable. The plant tops can be cut back when the plants reach 12-14 inches. These can be rooted as described below.

Catnip can be propagated easily from healthy plants. A recently-purchased catnip is a good example. The plant was about 8 inches high with about 15 lengthy shoots. Twelve shoots were cut perpendicularly with scissors. The bottom leaves were snipped off at the nodes. Six cuttings each were placed in recently-drawn tap water in two, 8 ounce clear glasses, filled two-thirds with water (see photo below). Each glass was placed 6-8 inches from a continuous illumination from a workbench grow light. Within 2 weeks, an ambient temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, distinct roots were evident, and by three weeks the roots were as shown in the photo below.

These details are for perspective for these catnips. Other lighting conditions, arrangements and temperatures should work well, and each person needs to check his own details.

Botany and cutting experiments and variations are fun to do, and herbs contribute to that playfulness for many. All should make notes and keep a log to remember what worked and what did not.

Catnip Catmint Infusions, Teas, Benefits, and Antiseptic and Insect Repellant Uses

Infusions of flowering tips are reported to be useful as outlined below. Water is boiled and about 2 tablespoons of the flowering tips are added after 1 minute of cooling the boiled water. Infusion is for 5-10 minutes. Flowers and leaves are strained off, and the liquid is used. A favorite traditional tea may be added to the mix for added flavor and antioxidant benefits. Weiss and Weiss note that catnip tea was very common and popular in England prior to the arrival of imported Chinese teas.

Sources

The copyright of the article Cats and Catnip, Herb Uses, Culture and Cuttings in Medicinal Plants is owned by Donald Reinhardt. Permission to republish Cats and Catnip, Herb Uses, Culture and Cuttings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.