Catnip

Research corpus coverage

Chemistry notes

• CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include nepetalactones; iridoids; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.

Traditional / historical use

Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.

• TRADITIONAL: Catnip has been used for digestive spasm; nervousness; colds; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries

Modern evidence

• EVIDENCE: For the major use set (digestive spasm; nervousness; colds), the evidence assessment is insufficient: Insufficient clinical evidence.

  LOW · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries

Forms used traditionally

A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.

Cats

• Caution

  ASPCA lists catnip (Nepeta cataria; family Lamiaceae) as toxic to cats. Nepetalactone may cause vomiting and diarrhea; some cats become sedated, while others become stimulated.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Unspecified · HIGH · poison_control_database · Catnip - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants

• Caution

  During play with catnip, altered behavior and lowered inhibitions may cause cats to bite or scratch more or differently than usual, despite no significant toxicity being expected.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Whole plant used during play · HIGH · poison_control_database · Chemistry Behind Catnip | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Low concern

  Catnip is described as harmless for most cats and may provide enrichment; the page does not report toxic effects or adverse clinical signs.

  Intrinsic toxicity · UNKNOWN · Catnip plant and air-dried stems; no safety distinction stated for fresh versus dried material or plant parts. · MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · What Is Catnip & How To Grow Your Own

• Low concern

  For the catnip plant (Nepeta cataria), no significant toxicity is expected in cats from the described exposure; nepetalactone produces behavioral responses to the scent.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Whole plant; scent · HIGH · poison_control_database · Chemistry Behind Catnip | Pet Poison Helpline®

Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)

Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.

• SAFETY: Major issues include Sedation; GI upset; concentrated oil toxicity. Contraindications/cautions include Pregnancy.

  HIGH · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements

• SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Additive sedation.

  MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements

  Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.

• SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid medicinal use in pregnancy; lactation data insufficient.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries

  Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.

• Catnip is described as harmless for most cats and may provide enrichment; the page does not report toxic effects or adverse clinical signs.

  MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · What Is Catnip & How To Grow Your Own

  The characterization applies to most cats; no cat-specific dose, route-specific toxicity, dog safety classification, or preparation-specific risk is provided.

• ASPCA lists catnip (Nepeta cataria; family Lamiaceae) as toxic to cats. Nepetalactone may cause vomiting and diarrhea; some cats become sedated, while others become stimulated.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Catnip - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants

  No route, concentration, or preparation distinctions are provided.

• During play with catnip, altered behavior and lowered inhibitions may cause cats to bite or scratch more or differently than usual, despite no significant toxicity being expected.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Chemistry Behind Catnip | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page does not specify ingestion, inhalation, dermal exposure, or another toxicological route.

• For the catnip plant (Nepeta cataria), no significant toxicity is expected in cats from the described exposure; nepetalactone produces behavioral responses to the scent.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Chemistry Behind Catnip | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page does not provide toxic-dose, concentration, amount, or preparation-specific evidence.

Taxonomic identity note

• Catnip is treated here as Nepeta cataria L. in the family Lamiaceae; recorded older names include Cataria vulgaris Gaterau.