====== Catnip ======

The herbaceous plant [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catnip#Effect_on_cats|Catnip ]](//Nepeta cataria//) dramatically affects several members of the cat family (//Felidae//) causing them to sniff, roll over, and undulate the skin on their back (amongst other things).

It generally only affects about 50% of cats, and the effects are profound - often lasting 15 minutes or so.

Although many of the active-ingredient chemicals (e.g. //Nepetalactone//) have been identified and isolated, no-one has any idea why they affect felids in the ways they do.

In 2017, a study published in //BMC Veterinary Research//, compares Catnip with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinidia_polygama|Silver Vine]] (//Actinidia polygama//) – or to be more specific, Silver Vine that has been parasitised by the gall midge //Pseudasphondylia matatabi//, producing fruit-galls. The vine galls were found to be around 40% //more// potent than catnip.

See : [[https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-017-0987-6|BMC Veterinary Research]]{{:oa_padlock_grn.png?16&nolink|Open Access}}13, Article number: 70 (2017)