Talk:Nepeta/Archive 1

Old entries

Removed the section where it is said to be an insect repellent, studie have actually shown that this is not the case.Sikkema 13:22, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

I don't find the Cookbook link to be appropriate; the "recipe" in question is used in-context as part of a complete article. Andrew Rodland

I agree. Removed. A reference for the recipe would be good, of course - David Gerard 15:32, 19 May 2005 (UTC)

Effects On Cats

Regarding the statement "A diabetic cat can also experience complications from catnip.[citation needed]" the only reference to this I've found is at http://www.cat-toy.net/article/5952/catnip where it says "Diabetic cats will have a severe reaction to catnip. Make sure that your cat has no allergies that can be related to catnip or any other ingredient in catnip products." The author/source of this article is not mentioned though so it wouldn't be a good source for the claim. Can anyone find a better citation for this? The claim seems very plausible (if my cat had diabetes I definitely wouldn't have catnip around) - I just haven't found a good reference for it yet. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Thewonky (talk • contribs) 18:34, 24 May 2007.

I have swapped the organisation of paragraphs in this section as it was not very clear to the casual reader... byo 03:13, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Quick Interesting Question about catnip and insect repellant

Has anyone done a study to determine if there is a linkage in the attraction of cats to catnip and the repellant qualities of the plant? It seems genetically beneficial to be attracted to a plant that repels certain insects, for health reasons... A study could check for linkage between breeds of cat and location of origin and compare the ones that are susceptible to catnip to those that aren't.. .showing linkage between cats that live in insect-ridden areas or, no such link, just a crazy thought, I dunno... but reading about it would be very interesting. JudgeX 05:35, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

possible copyvio

Some of the text in the article looks remarkably like the text in howstuffworks.com (link at bottom of article). Who is copying who? --Publunch 14:47, 7 October 2005 (UTC)

Does anyone know if it is safe/affordable/a good idea to give catnip to one's cat, as a treat of sorts?

Quoting from this fine fine article: "Cat owners do not need to worry about allowing their cats access to catnip because there are, for the most part, no negative side effects to it. However, some cats become overly excited when exposed to catnip, and so aging cats with heart troubles should not be given catnip."

Catnip is fairly cheap, and makes a nice treat for cats. I wouldn't recommend growing it, though, unless you can build some sort of impenetrable fence to keep your cats out ^_^. Mistercow 03:41, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

DEET vs. Nepatalactone

I have changed the passage on nepatalactone as a mosquito repellant for two reasons:

1. The study did not find that catnip contains nepatalactone (that was already well known)
2. While the study did suggest that catnip may be an effective repellant, it seems (from my cursory Googling) to be the only one of its kind. I am also unable to find any information about the study (how large were the test groups, control groups, etc.), so I think it is unwise to state its findings as fact. Mistercow 03:41, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

Was the study published in a peer reviewed scientific journal? If so, you should link to it, either directly or to the pubmed citation. Nil Einne 18:22, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

ive smoked it and its efects are akin to marijauna. no arousal towards animals though. lol68.204.164.119 10:10, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

Catnip and tigers

The article refers to tigers as an example of a big cat. However according to this page, which is of course completely unreliable [1] catnip doesn't in fact affect tigers. As I said, this source is not a reliable source by any stretch of the imagination but perhaps we should give another big cat, e.g. a lion as an example unless we can find a specific reference that suggests it does effect tigers Nil Einne 18:22, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Nickname?

Is its commonly known a "cat marijuana", or is that just a comic expression in my parts.--Porsche997SBS 21:27, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

What about "cat cannibus"? Ooh, ooh, how 'bout "Mary Jane Cat"? I do enjoy this silliness. --Porsche997SBS 21:31, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Here in California, "cat pot" is common. In Oregon, there's a brand called "Kitty Hootch". Frotz 20:39, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

The stuff my Mothra's got now is called "Maui Meowi."--24.213.177.161 14:00, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

VNO??

I looked into the claim that catnip is mediated by the vomeronasal organ, and there's a scientific paper that claims this is not true:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=3834921&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum

The experiment is pretty straightforward. Surgical removal of the VNO does not affect the behavioral catnip response, but removal of the olfactory bulb stops it completely. I think the main page should be updated.

hi mom!

--Son? What are you doing on the catnip page?

lol

The entire second paragraph of the effect on cats sounds like a load of bull if you ask me. Even if it is true, I don't see how it contributes much to the article.

References

The first reference is to another encyclopedia. As the reference is not an original source, I believe it is inappropriate. The information in question, however, is whether or not catnip is a weed. This seems obviously subjective, though not uncommon as seen here in the Ohio University Weed Guide. The article on Weeds describes many qualifying features which are not described for catnip in either article.

I would recommend removing the citation and linking to the weed article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.66.200.188 (talk) 13:50, 30 March 2008 (UTC)

Nepitella/nipitella

Is Nepeta nepetella the "nepitella"/"nipitella" used as an herb in Italian cuisine (especially in Tuscan mushroom dishes)? Badagnani (talk) 03:20, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

No, it isn't. That is Calamintha nepeta. The Italian for Nepeta cataria is erba gatta. Aelwyn (talk) 19:36, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

other minty subtances

I've seen cats react similarly to Altoids and Vicks Vaporub. Does anyone have any idea what's at work there? My guess is that menthol may also set cats off. Frotz 20:46, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Quite possibly. My cat goes nuts when it smells tooth paste. ArdClose (talk) 20:06, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject Food and drink Tagging

This article talk page was automatically added with {{WikiProject Food and drink}} banner as it falls under Category:Food or one of its subcategories. If you find this addition an error, Kindly undo the changes and update the inappropriate categories if needed. The bot was instructed to tagg these articles upon consenus from WikiProject Food and drink. You can find the related request for tagging here . If you have concerns , please inform on the project talk page -- TinucherianBot (talk) 11:40, 3 July 2008 (UTC)

Smoking effects on human

I would like to see a citation of the statement, "Many humans may feel arousal towards cats following the smoking of catnip." I just find it to be a little hard to believe. I am not saying that it is impossible but it sounds more like a prank than a fact. Tinman8443 14:25, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Yea i also saw this and thought that it could not be correct. If there is any evidence please bring it to my attention.

-- I am removing it untill some kind of evidence is presented.

Look it up at Erowid, or google for "catnip" or "nepeta" plus "marijuana alternatives" and you'll find plenty of related material. Kosebamse 07:33, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Mediterranean region east of Mainland China

Either I don't get it, or somebody has its geography painfully thorough mixed up. There is no Mediterranean region east of China, unless you circle the globe. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.106.39.91 (talk) 16:11, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Question on legality

I've just heard a rather hard-to-swallow bit of hearsay reporting that catnip is to be taken off the market (I must assume by placing it on some sort of controlled substance schedule) in the U.S. due to people smoking it as a marijuana substitute. Is there any truth to this, or is it just another rumor/hoax? I can't find any substantiation for it anywhere online. Cheers, Kasreyn 00:25, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

As it has no effect on humans I would imagine that is bullshit.TrevorLSciAct (talk) 22:18, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Second that, it has not effect on people, so no, I doubt it will.

RTFA — NRen2k5^(TALK), 23:41, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Removal of incorrection information

The section referring to the reaction of cats to catnip appears to have been hacked, or input incorrectly. As shown below:

"lick it, snort it, boil it into a fine liquid and inject it, or leap about and purr"

There seems to be a strong reference to drug use here, and last time I checked, our feline friends were not running around "shooting up" catnip.

Suggest removal of "snort it, boil it into a fine liquid and inject it" as neither of these are common reactions of felines to catnip.

If this reference is directed at the human usage of catnip, perhaps a new section could be started 210.50.143.21 (talk) 08:01, 18 April 2009 (UTC)

Good resource

Here's a good resource with information that could be integrated into this article (or perhaps an article devoted to catnip):
Chemican & Engineering News
August 1, 2005
Volume 83, Number 31, p. 39
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/83/8331catnip.html
--98.70.43.154 (talk) 15:53, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

valerian

"Other plants that also have this effect on cats include valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and plants that contain actinidine or dihydroactinidiolide (Smith, 2005)."
Is valerian a member of nepeta also? Do plants that contain actinidine or dihydroactinidiolide belong to nepeta? Additionally, while the citation format is incorrect, the reference itself no longer exists. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.70.43.154 (talk) 16:04, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

Citation needed?

"Additionally, catnip and catnip-laced products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers.[citation needed]" The [citation needed] seems unnecesary because the section after that statement describes the effects catnip has on domesticated cats. And besides, isn't it common knowledge that catnip is available to consumers? Should it be removed? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.13.25.115 (talk) 21:09, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

Addictive?

Is catnip addictive?74.33.174.133 (talk) 13:51, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a discussion forum, this question doesn't belong here. Svick (talk) 14:25, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

Addictive to whom? Cats will exhibit odd behavior when they first come into contact with catnip, however after some time they will acclimate and act 'normal'. Remove the catnip for several hours and you can repeat the experiment with the same results. --98.70.43.154 (talk) 15:58, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

In other words, no.

Effect on humans

I've removed this:

"The scent of the plant has a stimulating effect on cats as well as humans. Since this plant is a close relative to marijuana it can be smoked to get high. The legality of this plant is still pending in some states but it is not yet illegal."

It's not a close relative of marijuana. Nepeta is an asterid, while cannabis is a rosid. —Ashley Y 07:38, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I heard somewhere that catnip oil has a numbing effect on human skin. I came to this article to check it out, but there's no mention of it. I can assume that it's either untrue or wasn't considered important enough to mention. Which is it? --TwilightDuality (talk) 06:33, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Catnip smells exactly like Cannabis when it burns, but other than that it has no similarity at all. Give any stoner the choice and of course they will take the weed, catnip is not psychoactive in humans in more than a negligable way at least.

"It can also induce mild euphoria in humans.[1]"

This myth has been in for a while, but nowhere does the cited article even suggest that catnip induces euphoria in humans. At most, it says that catnip (as tea) can be used as a sedative, or to settle an upset stomach. Any reason why this "tidbit" has been left in? Greyblue9 (talk) 10:09, 24 July 2009 (UTC)

I think that covers it to be honest. The fact it smells simmilar to marijuana when it burns and has that effect on cats simply produces wishfull thinking.

Proposed move to Catnip

Based on the small discussion above, it seems to me that this article should be moved to Catnip per WP:NCCN. Does anyone have any objection? garik (talk) 12:16, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

I've raised the issue here, so probably discussion should be kept there, where more people are likely to see it. garik (talk) 12:36, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

Oppose per [2] Hesperian 13:23, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

As I say here, I think the disambig option is probably the best solution, so unless anyone feels very strongly that it's not, let's leave it at that. garik (talk) 14:45, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

The current article is about the genus, and generally the genus is know as catmints and typically one species is generally know as catnip. When people are looking for catnip they are looking for one particular plant and it makes little sense to direct them to the genus (this page) for that search. Hardyplants (talk) 06:58, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

I've heard this claim elsewhere. Unfortunately, I've also found (in similarly reliable sources, such as the OED) the claim that "catmint" is used both for the genus and for Nepeta cataria, but that the US term for both is "catnip". So there's obviously some confusion. The most likely explanation I can see is that usage simply varies: that both "catnip" and "catmint" are used variously for both the genus and for nepeta cataria, and that some speakers make a distinction that others don't. garik (talk) 11:16, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

Do you have a link to such usage? Ofcoarse catnip, being in that genus is a type of catmint. Common names are often very imprecise in their usage, thankfully we have dinomial names that make things a little easer to find. Hardyplants (talk) 18:13, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

Sorry I didn't reply sooner; I was away. The relevant OED entries are here: catmint and catnip. Specifically, the OED claims that "catmint" is used both for the genus and for the species Nepeta cataria and that "cat-nip" is the "The common name in U.S. of CATMINT.". A visit to Dictionary.com gives similar results from a more American perspective. The American Heritage Dictionary, for example, defines "catnip" as referring to either Nepeta cataria or to the genus Nepeta.

As you say, usage varies when it comes to common names. garik (talk) 23:40, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

Smoking catnip

I tried smoking some cat nip and experienced arousal towards my cat. Therefore, this statement is true.

Can someone fix the page to include a "[citation needed]" rather than the metacomment that exists now? I apologize, but I don't know how to place a [citation needed] stamp (having trouble in the sandbox), and it bothers me that someone thought it acceptable to argue with the author within the article.68.101.70.151 09:24, 21 June 2007 (UTC)Britt

WP:NOR, No Original Reseach.

"I tried smoking some cat nip and experienced arousal towards my cat. Therefore, this statement is true."

THat was original research, against wikipedia policy. -Oxinabox (talk) 00:48, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Stop being such a rule nazi. hybrid.evolution 18:30, 11 April 2008

It has nothing to do with being a "rule nazi" and has everything to do with ensuring the accuracy and value of the article. Simply because one person claims to have smoked it and felt said effect is hardly sufficient to merit inclusion. Stories like that are what Erowid is for. 206.194.127.112 (talk) 21:52, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

No apparently you feel a mild buzz similar to pot, and that makes no sense that you have some cat-directed emotions just because you smoked catnip. LarsendeSLO (talk) 23:47, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

this is a no brainer, it won't make you attracted to cats, there is no evidence of this anywhere! however, the cat may become atracted to your catnip smelling jacket. Smoking catnip won't get you anymore high than smoking cloves or chilli powder.

"Smoking catnip won't get you anymore high than smoking cloves or chilli powder."...Um...yes it will, and it does. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.72.243.143 (talk) 22:01, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

"....Um...yes it will, and it does." NO, it won't ,and it doesn't. Stop talking bullshit. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.124.84.10 (talk) 09:31, 16 December 2009 (UTC)

Wether or not it gets you high is irrelevant. The small (likely placebo) effect in humans has never been backed up in any reaserch. Considering the fact that smoking anything will proably produce simmilar effects (esspecially if you're reeeeeally hoping for one) it don't need to be mentioned here. If you enjoy taking it, great, if you want to tell people about it, find a more apropriet forum.

Wow. Somebody can't spell. P.S. I am smoking catnip right now and it is a very, very, mild effect, yet present nonetheless...going to smoke more and limit my normal breaths between "hits"...yep. that did the trick. still not anywhere close to weed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.197.65.183 (talk) 21:50, 24 November 2010 (UTC)

Why is this article called Nepeta?

Why is this article called Nepeta? It's about CATNIP! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 161.253.147.34 (talk) 15:26, 20 July 2009 (UTC)

Nepeta is the proper name for it. --Melon247 ^talk 17:27, 20 July 2009 (UTC)

That may be true, but lots of folks are coming here to look for catnip which is a member of Nepeta. Should there be a separate catnip article? --98.70.43.154 (talk) 15:53, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

There is already a redirect in place from catnip to this article (that's how I found it). It's true that Wikipedia is supposed to use the most frequently used name as the page name but as the plant is not in fact called catnip at all it'd be inaccurate to use it as the page name. No one typing 'catnip' into Wikipedia will have a hard time finding the page as it is and the situation is clearly explained in the first paragraph so there should be no need to change anything. Danikat (talk) 22:29, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

It's rather misleading to say that "the plant is not in fact called catnip at all". Of course it is; catnip and catmint are both commonly used names for plants in the genus nepeta. That's what it means for something to be called something! It's also rather meaningless to say that nepeta is the "proper name" for it. It may be the name that's usually used in technical discourse, but that doesn't mean that "catnip" is in any sense improper, or less correct. "Homo sapiens" is a more technical term than "human", but that doesn't make the latter less proper, and it's the former, not the latter, that's the redirect on Wikipedia.

However, it would also be ridiculous to have separate articles for "catnip" and "nepeta". We have to choose one or the other. Now, as noted above, it's Wikipedia policy to prefer common names for article titles (see WP:NCCN). Under normal circumstances, I think this would be a very strong argument for calling this article "catnip". It doesn't really matter that catnip redirects here; it should still be the less common name that redirects to the more common one. William Jefferson Clinton, after all, redirects to Bill Clinton, not the other way round. The only argument I can see for having "nepeta" as the title for this article is that it's clearly the name for the genus, while "catnip" is probably taken by most people to refer to a single species, the scientific name for which is Nepeta cataria. But this seems to me to be a slightly tenuous argument. So, on the balance of evidence so far, I'd be in favour of renaming this article "catnip" and having "nepeta" redirect to that, unless someone can present a good argument in favour of maintaining the status quo.

On a different note: it seems a reasonable hypothesis that catmint is derived by folk etymology from kalamintha, but I see no sources that support the claim (and have checked two particularly reliable sources that make no mention of it), so I've removed it. garik (talk) 15:47, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

I agree with garik. "Catnip" is the plant's common name, and there is nothing "inaccurate" about calling it that, any more than it would be inaccurate to refer to Coffea or Coffea arabica plants by their common name, coffee.

As far as the article name, here's the relevant guideline from Wikipedia:Naming conventions (flora):

"Scientific names are to be used as article titles in all cases except when a plant has an agricultural, horticultural, economic or cultural use that makes it more prominent in some other field than in botany; e.g. Rose, Coffee, Rice. These exceptions are determined on a case-by-case basis through discussion towards consensus."

I would say catnip clearly falls into the category of a plant that has a familiar cultural use that is prominent enough to put it in the category of exceptions described above.

Most telling is that most dictionaries and encyclopedias appear to list it under "catnip".

The most problematic thing about the status quo, in my eyes, is that Nepeta cataria (the current target of Catnip's redirect page) gives less information on catnip than Nepeta does. AtticusX (talk) 07:11, 27 October 2010 (UTC)