Home |  Index |  Submit Request |  Share Photos |  Share Tips |  Active Topics |  New Feedback  |  Contact Us  |  Search
 User Login:  Username:    Password:      Forgot It?  | Join ThriftyFun!

 Popular Topics
 - Beauty
 - Budget and Finance
 - Christmas *
 - Cleaning
 - Consumer Advice
 - Craft Projects
 - Craft Tips
 - Food Tips
 - Garage Sales
 - Gardening
 - Gifts
 - Green Living
 - Home Improvement
 - Organizing
 - Parenting
 - Parties
 - Pest Control
 - Pets
 - Product Reviews
 - Recipes
 - Repair
 - Thanksgiving
 - Weddings for Less

More Topics

Google Search:

Web thriftyfun.com

About:
RSS Feed
About Us
Media
Advertising
Contact Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer

Is Cat Mint the same as Catnip?

1x1
Date: 02/22/2007 Topics: Gardening > Herbs | Readers Request > Gardening  
1x1
1x1
Post Feedback! | Email Friend | Print | Get Responses | Bookmark | del.icio.us | Link | Rate: Thumbs Up Thumbs Down

Question:

I got some "cat mint" from a swap last year. Is this the same as cat nip? It certainly looks like it's in the mint family.

Chuck R. from Grand Rapids, MI

Answer:

Chuck,

Catnip and Catmint are not the same (although the two are often lumped together) but you're right, Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) is related to Catnip (Nepeta cataria). Botanically, both are in the genus Nepeta. To make things even more confusing, there is also Lesser Calamintha (Calamintha nepeta) a subspecies of catnip and several other varieties and hybrids in the Nepeta genus.

Many cats are attracted to both plants, but their response tends to be more intense to Catnip. The chemical responsible for their crazy behavior is called nepetalactone, which is found in the leaves, stems and flowers. The amount of this chemical found in each plant varies a bit by species. It seems that catnip has larger amounts of it and so attracts more felines. Incidentally, all members of the cat family (Felidae) are supposed to be attracted to it, so take care when giving it to lions and tigers. As for telling the two plants apart, Catnip generally has a taller, more upright growing habit, and Catmint tends to mound and has more pronounced purple/pink flowers.

Ellen

About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
Jump to Feedback | Post feedback
Related Links:
Previous: Monthly Resolutions ThriftyFun Next: Growing Fruit In Pots
1x1
 Feedback
1x1
1x1
1x1
1x1
 Sponsors
1x1
1x1

Post by Persnickety Paula (322) | (01/25/2007)
Contact
I had catmint for years at my old house and I just loved it. My cat never went near it, she liked to lay amongst the daisies and catch grasshoppers!

The catmint that I had was "nepita" something, something. It had lovely purple flowers in the spring and they would last a very long time. But, like Robin said, it is invasive. It will take over your garden. I had catmint babies sprout up everywhere....I gave neighbors plants, I took little pots of catmint to plant exchanges, I placed pots of catmint at the road with a free sign, I even just yanked the little buggers and threw them out in the neighbors field, where they took root and started to grow! I would suggest to plant it far away from the rest of your garden, in an area that nothing else will grow, and let it have a life of its own.

It is also very hardy. I used a lawn mower to cut it down and it grew right back strong and healthy the next spring.


Post By Lynda (Guest Post) (01/25/2007)
It's the equivilent to Marijuana for cats. They actually can get addicted quickly and become viscious when they don't get it when they want it, which gets more and more frequent. This is a fact most folks just don't know. Mint family or not, it's not a good thing for a cat or any pet, in my opinion. Stores that sell it just want big profits at the pet's expense, because it's so cheap/easy to grow in large amounts. It would be purposefully addicting an innocent animal
who depends upon it's owner to take good care of it
and protect it. I know you'll do the right thing. God
bless you. : )


Post By jcinmo (Guest Post) (01/16/2007)
An easy way to tell if something is in the mint family is by the shape of the stem. All mint family plants have "square" stems which you can easily feel with your finger tips.


Post By Robin in Texas (Guest Post) (01/15/2007)
Cat Mint and catnip are the same, I believe. It IS in the mint family, so plant it where it can be contained, as with ALL mints, as it is INVASIVE. I am in zone 7b, so the hardiness may differ. It is the devil(mint) to eradicate once established and spreading. Recommend a self- enclosed bed as along a driveway, or a pot.
Robin in Texas


1x1

Post Feedback:
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback if you have registered with ThriftyFun. If you have not yet registered, click here. It's FREE!. If you are not registered you can post feedback as a guest below. Please don't use your email address for your name because spam robots can dredge it from our site. Please do not post your feedback more than ONCE. We need to approve all guest feedback and it may take from minutes to hours for that to happen.
(1x1 graphic )
Your Name

Subject

Feedback

text tool text tool text tool text tool

Image Upload: Add an image to your post! Click the "Browse" button below and select an image from your hard drive. Please only select gifs or jpegs. If you have any problems, just email the image to images@thriftyfun.com

  

If you want to post your email address for responses from readers, obscure it in some way like put spaces between the name and @ sign and service address with (remove spaces) behind it or name (at) server (dot) com . This is for your protection from those creepy Robots.

(1x1 graphic )

© 1997-2008 ThriftyFun.com - Design by Cumuli Design
Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer. If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.