Catnip, catmint, catwort, field balm -- it doesn't matter what you call Nepeta cataria. Lions, tigers, panthers, and your common domestic tabby just can't seem to get enough of this fragrant herb.

When cats chew and rub against the leaves, the plant releases a compound that repels insects like mosquitoes Most cat owners know catnip as a treat for their feline friends to roll in and chew, but a ...