Catnip Organically Grown Catnip Nepeta Cataria Organic Catmint Grown in South Wales UK
We at Retrosheep.com / Catnip4Cats.com are a Small Family run Organic Business.
We grow all our Catnip / Nepeta Cataria Organically here in South Wales Uk.
Our Plants are super winter hardy and are well used to temperatures below -18 deg Fahrenheit so all our plants are form good strong stock.
We provide Plug Plants / Large potted Plants
Dried Catnip / Nepeta Cataria in Bags / Tubes of various sizes
Dried Extra Strong Catnip Organic Herb For Cats
Various Sizes Nepeta Cataria
We have been growing Catnip for many years. I first started growing catnip when after buying shop bought industrially grown catnip from the local pet store. After looking at the added ingredients i found that not all of the contents that was been sold to me was pure catnip.
I couldn’t guarantee that what i was buying had no chemical contamination from pesticides what so ever .
So i started growing my own organic chemical free 100 % Pure catnip and my cats loved it . I have been doing ever since and here we are today.
We dont add anything to our Dried Catnip we harvest the bud full of flowers and Pollen and then hung to dry and cure.
The dried Catnip is then stripped with all stick and twiggy bits removed and Packed.
Our Cats Always helps with the harvest and its a good way to test the strength of the catnip
If Molly Starts twitching as soon as she smells it you know its a good years harvest
Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family Labiatae.
It has a square, hairy stalk with typically geen/grey coloured heart shaped leaves that have scalloped edges. Flowers grow in spikes, reaching 1/2 inch in length.
It is best known for its ability to get cats high.
There are approximately 250 species of flowering plants in the family Labiatae, some of which include:
Nepeta cataria (catnip or true catnip): White flowers, grows up to 3 feet. This is the variety most cats enjoy.
Nepeta camphorata (camphor catnip): White flowers with purple dots, grows up to 18 inches.Camphor scent.
Nepeta parnassica (Greek catnip): White, pale pink flowers, grows up to 18 inches.
Nepeta cataria citriodora (Lemon catnip): White flowers, spotted with purple, grows up to 3 feet. The leaves have a lemony scent.
Nepeta mussinii (Persian cat mint): Purple flowers. This plant has smallish, grey/green leaves. It grows up to 15 inches high.
Native to Europe and Asia, catnip became naturalised in North America and Canada after being introduced by the colonists in the 1600s.
The name Nepeta is believed to have come from the town of Nepete in Italy, and Cataria is thought to have come from the Latin word for cat.
Nepeta cataria is also known by the following names: cataria, catmint, catnep, catrup, cat’s healall, cat’s-play, true catnip, cat’s wort, catswort, catwort, chi hsueh tsao, field balm, Garden Nep, Herba Cataria, Herba Catti, Nebada, Nep.
Catnip effects on cats:
The active ingredient that causes a high in cats is an essential oil callednepetalactone, which can be found in the leaves and stems of the plant. Other constituents include acetic acid, alpha and beta-nepetalactone, citral, nepetalactone, geraniol, dipentene, citronellol, nerol, butyric acid, valeric acid and tannins.
Nepetalactone causes a hallucinogenic effect. Some say the effects are similar to LSD; others say they are more similar to marijuana (some people claim that smoking catnip induces a high like that of marijuana, not that we recommend you try it).
Because cats affected by catnip roll on the floor—which mimics a female in estrus—it has been suggested that the plant acts as an aphrodisiac, but this is unlikely, as males react the same way as females.
What is probable is the cat is reacting to similar feel-good pheromones released during sexual courtship/activity. However, non-sexual behaviour—including playing, chasing, and hunting—can also be observed.
Around 50–66% of cats are affected by catnip, and to differing degrees. Kittens younger than eight weeks old aren’t able to enjoy its effect; in fact, they show an aversion to it.
The response to catnip is mediated through the olfactory system. When nepetalactone enters the cat’s nasal passages, it binds to olfactory receptors located at the olfactory epithelium.
This stimulates sensory neurons, which trigger neurons in the olfactory bulb to send signals to the brain. The response to catnip is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene, which means the gene only needs to be passed on from one parent.
It’s not just domesticated cats who enjoy the effects of catnip; many other wild species of cats also enjoy it. Cats can smell 1 part per billion in the air. Males and females, fertile or desexed—there appears to be no one group more readily affected by catnip than another.
A typical response includes sniffing, chewing, licking, head shaking, and chin, cheek, and body rubbing (in that order).
Additional responses may include stretching, drooling, jumping, licking, aggression, and hyperactivity. Sniffing that produces the high; it is believed that cats eat catnip to bruise the catnip, thereby releasing more of the nepetalactone.
The high produced will usually last between five and ten minutes, followed by a one hour refractory period.
Interestingly, researchers say that nepetalactone is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, which is the active ingredient in most insect repellents. It was also discovered that catnip repels cockroaches!* Plants aren’t alone in containing nepetalactone; some insects and ants also contain it. It’s been speculated that this protects them from other insects.
Rats and mice are also believed to have a strong dislike of catnip and will avoid places where it grows.
Is catnip harmful to cats?
Catnip is not harmful to your cat. They won’t overdose on it. Most cats know when they’ve had enough and will refuse any further offers.
How to give catnip to a cat:
There are a number of ways to give catnip to your cat.
- You can grow it in a pot and keep it near a window or in their cat enclosure. They can have a nibble as they see fit.
- You can dry it out and sprinkle some on the floor for them.
- You can buy toys with catnip in them. Most pet shops sell toy mice filled with catnip.
How much catnip should I give my cat?
If you are giving him dry catnip, a couple of small pinches will do.
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