Does Your Cat Love Catnip?

[4Maddie44]

I have catnip plants growing in my back garden and the cats I have had love it.  I have recently got a new cat, and the first thing he does when he goes out, is sniff the cat nip plant.  My last cat used to roll over and over on it, and look like she was in ecstasy.  I guess it acts like a drug to cats.  I know cats love toys filled with catnip, but if you haven't seen the pleasure the plant gives them, perhaps you would like to try growing it.

[opus88]

I wrote down the name and will try to find it in the nursery this spring.....here it would be too cold to winter over I'm sure, but would make an interesting annual plant that my kitties may enjoy. thanks Maddie....)
I will have to be careful, I've already got one mint family ground cover thats invaded my backyard...called creeping charlie. anyone ever had this?

[4Maddie44]

Hi, I live in the UK, and perhaps it  is only available here.  Its proper name is Nepeta Cataria, or catmint.  I prune it hard back every year, and it does not get out of control.

[swampcritter]

Catnip is in the mint family, it loves cool moist climates

[AnnieBrooke]

You can get catnip seeds at pretty much any nursery, and often catnip plants as well.  If you plant it as a plant, try to avoid bruising the leaves, as the oil from the catnip will smell strongly, and all the neighbor cats will come and take down the plant before it has a chance to get established.

Please also be aware that if you *don't* have a lot of cats around to keep it under control, catnip can be invasive.  It's a member of the mint family, and (like mint) is best planted where you don't mind if it spreads, or planted in a pot or clay drainage pipe set upright in the ground (to keep the plant from spreading).

[opus88]

Maddie I have never grown it outdoors like a plant(?) I have only ever seen the cat grass and that I have NO success growing inside. Is there a difference? where would one get the plant from....I'm in Canada, have never seen one.