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Store catnip in a moisture-free, airtight container kept
in a dry area at room temperature and out of direct
sunlight. Air, moisture and cold are the enemies of
catnip, since you degrade its effectiveness.
Some
people make the mistake of refrigerating catnip,
thinking this will preserve its potency. In fact, the
opposite is true; refrigeration only serves to weaken
catnip. So don’t refrigerate your catnip.
Catnip’s scientific name is Nepeta cataria. The plant is
a member of the mint family. A chemical in the leaves of
a catnip plant called nepetalactone is what sends our
pets into a feline frenzy. The fragrance of this
chemical closely resembles a scent of a substance found
in the urine of female cats. No one is quite sure why
catnip has such a powerful effect on so many cats.
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