There's a good site for pictures over at this place: Well you should at least get a good friend that will actually sell you some legit ****. It will sprout in two to three weeks if started from seed. ? the smell of pot sticks to clothes,burning catnip does not. Related: In Photos: Animals That Get High. "The results of this study suggest that a much higher percentage of cats — if not all cats — are somehow affected by catnip.". Otherwise, catnip has dark leaves that are rough in texture and tend to look green or brown. It doesn’t grow as fast as catnip, though, so you’ll have to plan ahead if you want to grow your own. It has a square stem which is sort of hollow, and circles of tight flower buds at the top. Catnip can be planted in your garden in spring or fall, from seed or plants. A cat rubs or rolls over a catnip because it is attempting to make the leaves bruise so that there will be more addictive nepetalactone manna to be released from it. What does catnip look like? The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole. Fresh catnip has a mint smell, a little like the spearmint smell in toothpaste, but different. 3. Alan Walter serves his catnip cocktail in a bowl, with a lemon peel garnish meant to look like unraveled yarn. You will receive a verification email shortly. How Does Catnip Work? There was a problem. This is what wild growing catnip looks like. Cats affected by catnip roll on the floor—which mimics a female in estrus. The only thing CLOSE to it in appearance is stinging nettle. Give seedlings or young plants ample room to grow, leaving about 18 to 20 inches (45.7 to 50.8 cm) between each plant to prevent crowding. © "They become playful and get agitated, they get excited, and then they go to sleep. If your cat overdose on too much catnip, it can make your cat sick and your cat may start vomiting or have diarrhea. It originally comes from Europe, Africa and Asia, but now is found all over the world. If a cat has behaviors that can be blocked by naloxone, might one of those behaviors — in the cat's perception — be euphoria? But is that what's happening here? The plant has triangle-like leaves that feel fuzzy and at this time of year are prolly beginning to have pinkish buds. Although catnip is a stereotypical item that goes along with cats just like bones go with dogs, not all cats appear to be affected by it. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. I'm afraid what you're witnessing is most likely your cat's O-face. She may roll on her back, dart wildly around, drool, lick the catnip and rub it on her face and body, or flop over and lie there purring. There are other compounds in catnip that are similar to nepetalactone in their molecular structure, and some can even stimulate a response on their own, but nepetalactone is the strongest of the group, Simon said. Nepetalactone targets receptors in the cat’s olfactory epithelium located on the roof of the nasal cavity which activates the same neural pathways as sexual pheromones. It may also be grown in North America, New Zealand, and northern Europe. This is my first time growing catnip, and from the same pot and same packet of seeds I have two different looking plants growing. Look for jagged, heart-shaped leaves and thick stems that are both covered in fuzzy hairs. catnip comes tightly packed in plastic bags...similar to brown sugar but in a smaller container...it looks like shredded bark...thin, smaller than the size of your nail......it smells like a light spice, similar to cinnamon...Good Luck! However, some studies have shown that when cats are given compounds like naloxone that block opioid receptors in the central nervous system, catnip's effects are minimized or even eliminated, suggesting that opioid receptors might be involved. Cats are said to get "high" on catnip—interpret that as you like. It's in full flower here right now. The reason behind it is very logical and it requires some knowledge about the plant itself. A member of the mint family, catnip is also used in food and herbal remedies.