Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, or catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, central Asia
Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, or catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of China. It is also widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole. The names catnip and catmint are derived from the intense attraction most cats have towards them.
Nepeta cataria is a short-lived herbaceous perennial, growing 50–100 cm (20–39 in) tall and wide. It resembles a typical mint family member in appearance by having the characteristic square stem that members of the Lamiaceae plant family have,[6] but with brown-green foliage. The coarse-toothed leaves are triangular to ovate.
The small bilabiate flowers can be white and finely spotted with pale purple or pink. They are showy and fragrant. The plant blooms from late spring through autumn.
Uses
The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation.
Cultivation
Nepeta cataria is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens. It is also grown for its attractant qualities to house cats and butterflies.
The plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. It can be a repellent for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs. Catnip is best grown in full sunlight and grows as a loosely branching, low perennial.
Varieties include Nepeta cataria var. citriodora (or N. cataria subsp. citriodora), or "lemon catnip".
Attractant
The compound iridodial, extracted from catnip oil, has been found to attract lacewings which eat aphids and mites.
Repellent
Nepetalactone is a mosquito and fly repellent. Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites. Research suggests that, while ten times more effective than DEET,[17] it is not as effective as a repellent when used on the skin when compared with DEET or SS220.
Effect on humans
Nepeta cataria can be brewed to produce a herbal tea. It is also used as a culinary herb for many dishes. Catnip can also be ingested through smoking the herb. It has only a negligible effect on relaxation, like other herbal cigarettes.
Catnip has a history of medicinal use for a variety of ailments. The plant has been consumed as a tea, juice, tincture, infusion or poultice, and has also been smoked. However, its medicinal use has fallen out of favor with the development of more commonplace pharmaceutical drugs.
Effect on cats
Catnip contains the feline attractant nepetalactone. Nepeta cataria (and some other species within the genus Nepeta) are known for their behavioral effects on the cat family, not only on domestic cats but also other species of cats.[21] Several tests showed that leopards, cougars, servals, and lynxes often reacted strongly to catnip in a manner similar to domestic cats and while lions and tigers can react strongly as well, they do not react as consistently.
With domestic cats, N. cataria is used as a recreational substance for pet cats' enjoyment, and catnip and catnip-laced products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers. Common behaviors cats display when they sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip are rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it, licking it, and chewing it. Consuming much of the plant is followed by drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about and purring. Some growl, meow, scratch or bite at the hand holding it.[26][27] The main response period after exposure is generally between five and fifteen minutes, after which olfactory fatigue usually sets in.[28]:p.107
Cats detect nepetalactone through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ.[29] At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors.
Not all cats are affected by catnip;[21] roughly 33% are not affected by the plant.[30][31] The behavior is hereditary.
Other plants that also have this effect on cats include valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and plants that contain actinidine.[32] Some domestic house cats that do not react to catnip may react to Tartarian honeysuckle in a manner similar to those that do.
To find the tracking number, see picture number 2
Important notice for buyers from Brazil and Mexico:
1. Remember that we are sending the shipment as a registered shipment (with signature confirmation) and that it can be given only by the one to whom the shipment is addressed, and that it must be signed by this person.
2. Ordering:
Always write your mobile number with the country code. Sample: +365 456 7686 576
You will receive an email notification for each step regarding your order. If you do not receive the notification, check your Spam / Junk folder, or contact your Email provider.
Once we have sent your order, you will be able to find a shipment tracking number in your order history. Keep tracking of your order using the tracking number (we cannot do that for you).
Be sure to register a valid e-mail address. You will receive notification of your order at this email address.
3. Please do not order from our site if you want to receive a shipment in a Post office box, or if you are not at home. If you do order and the shipping address is a P.O. box, and you don't get your package or the package gets lost, you lose the right to a refund.
Do not make an order from our site and leave a message: "Leave the parcel at my neighbor's house if I am not at home (read 1.) (We cannot do it)."
4. If your package comes back to us, we need to pay a return shipping fee. This means that if you want us to re-send your package, you have to pay the return shipping fee as well as the postage for sending it again.
5. If you see that tracking shows that the shipment is still in the place from where it was sent, it means only that the shipment is in transit, and other post offices and countries where the shipment is currently located do not provide data. We advise you in this case to ALWAYS CONTACT your post with a tracking number and ask them about your package.
We are not a post, so we cannot give you an answer where your parcel is located, even post cannot tell you this so long is shipment in transit.
WE ARE NOT A POST AND NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERY TIMES.
First of all, keep in mind that shipments around the world are delayed due to the situation with the coronavirus.
If you didn't get your package, We can submit a request for investigation only after 30 days have passed from the date of sending. That's why we recommend Insured shipping.
1. Priority delivery (with priority order processing):
Shipped within 1-7 business days maximum. (In some cases, there may be a delay in delivery with a delay of 3 to 10 days. Especially during the season, holidays, or public holidays.).
This means that Priority Delivery orders will be processed first from our site. Not that you will receive the order in the time it takes to process the order.
2. Secured delivery (with priority processing):
Order value up to 150 €, safe delivery. This is the safest delivery, and if the post office loses your package they will refund you.
3. Standard delivery:
Shipped within 7-10 business days. (In some cases, there may be a delay of delivery with a delay of 7 to 14 days. Especially during the season, holidays, or public holidays.)
Shipping and handling costs will be calculated automatically when ordering, and the rate depends on the weight of the parcel and the country to which it is sent.
Please note that on Saturday and Sunday we do not process orders.
1. Payment by Bank Transfer
2. Payment via PayPal
3. Payment by card on our other site https://www.exotic-seeds.store
4. Payment with cryptocurrencies Bitcoin
5. Payment by Westernunion, Moneygram
Read below for more information:
1. PAYMENT WITH BANK ACCOUNT SEPA / IBAN-SWIFT-BIC
We have several bank accounts (across the world) where you can make a payment from your local bank account without high fee provision.
Please specify your order reference in the bank payment description. (Sample "SGS-19811702") If you do not write an order reference, it can cause the problem so that we cannot find who made the payment... Always write ORDER REFERENCE.
Our system will automatically cancel the order if we have not received bank payment within 7 days.
2. PAYMENT WITH PAYPAL
For PayPal, we accept only Euro, so if you want to pay with PayPal you must change the currency in the Euro.
3. PAYMENT WITH CARDS
If you want to make a payment by card, you have to make an order on our website https://www.exotic-seeds.store/
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, CB (Cartes Bancaires), Diners Club / Discover, China UnionPay, JCB, Discovers
4. PAYMENT BY WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM
These options are available only for countries from 3rd world countries (Africa...), for other countries send us an inquiry.
As a customer, you are obliged to pay all transaction fees.
You must provide us with transaction details so that we can know that you have made the payment, as well as to withdraw the money for your order.
Please note that if you want to pay for the order this way, you are obliged to pay within 3 days.
If we do not receive your payment within 3 days, your order will be canceled and you will no longer have the option to order again with Western Union or MoneyGram.
Our system will automatically cancel the order if we have not received bank payment within 7 days.
Please always read here important notices (if there are any) to see if we maybe have the vacation or anything else in the time you ordered the seeds from us: Important Notices
Some of the products that are not in stock and their quantity is limited, you can order. But you'll have to wait up to 30 days until we get the seeds from our supplier.
If you order other products that are available, along with products that are not currently in stock, your order will be sent only when we receive a seed that is currently not available and you have ordered it.
