Good news for all of our regular, local catnip connoisseurs!

We have increased production to offer cured catnip all year round. This compliments the fresh variety we offer at all our spring, summer and fall locations as live plants and fresh catnip sprigs. This increased supply will allow us to offer the coveted catnip flowers for those kittens deserving of extra special rewards.

What’s the deal with catnip?

The most common question we get at our booth about catnip is: “why does kitty initially act silly when first encountering catnip, but seem to become unaffected after 5 or 10 minutes?” The answer is “satiation.” As kitty releases the active ingredient (nepatialic acid) by rolling in, pawing at, and chewing on the leaves, the effect will peak and gradually subside as kitty gets his or her fill. Then kitty will return for another fill-up in an hour or two.

What good is catnip?

An additional benefit of providing catnip and other cat grasses to your kitties is they will often stop eating your houseplants for roughage, which often contain harmful pesticides. Bush’s Kitty Crack is grown with a pure fish fertilizer to make kitty’s experience wonderfully wholesome.

Some folks will add catnip to kitty’s food dish to entice finicky felines to eat regularly.

Catnip History

Catnip is a perennial herb (nepeta cataria) introduced to America via the settlers from Europe, who kept it as an element of their kitchen gardens. It was primarily used for cooking and medicinal purposes, in soups in stews and as a tea both for enjoyment and a nighttime sedative. It was also employed as a treatment for anxiety and tension, as well as a calmative for hyperactive children.

Our primary purpose for the propagation and growing of catnip, however, is as an aphrodisiac for cats. Because the catnip response is linked to sexual behavior, kittens under six months don’t usually respond to the herb. Even after sexual maturity, 15-20% of felines are immune to its comical effects, which have also been observed in lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars. So, if you’re planning a safari in Africa, Asia or India, leave the Kitty Crack at home to avoid the potential of becoming amored by the big cats!