The Hidden Environmental Footprint of Catnip: What Most Cat Owners Never Think About

Catnip seems low-impact at first glance. It’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and capable of thriving in places where fussier herbs would collapse. But how catnip is grown varies so widely that two similar-looking pouches can come from farming systems with completely different environmental footprints.

One of the most overlooked factors is soil. Like many aromatic herbs, catnip relies on nitrogen to produce high levels of nepetalactone, the essential oil responsible for the classic feline response. Farms that harvest repeatedly without restoring nutrients gradually deplete the soil. As fertility drops, some growers resort to synthetic fertilisers, which contradicts the “all-natural” image catnip often carries.

The structure of the farm itself matters too. Many producers grow catnip in monoculture rows, planting the same crop season after season. While this makes harvesting predictable, it reduces biodiversity and increases pest pressure. Other growers take a more regenerative approach—mixing catnip with companion plants, rotating crops, or managing fields in ways that support soil microbes. These methods tend to produce more aromatic catnip because healthy soil promotes stronger essential oil development.

Water use adds another layer. Catnip doesn’t demand much once it’s established, making it more water-efficient than herbs like basil, mint, or lemon balm. However, high-yield farms that aim for multiple harvests per year often irrigate more heavily to boost growth. Greenhouse-grown catnip, which is becoming more popular for its potency and uniformity, can require significant water to maintain controlled indoor conditions. In contrast, catnip grown outdoors and allowed to follow natural rainfall patterns has one of the smallest water footprints among enrichment plants.

Regrowth is where sustainability can truly shine—or collapse. Catnip is naturally “cut-and-come-again.” When only the upper portion of the plant is harvested, it rebounds quickly and can keep producing for years. But aggressive harvesting—cutting too close to the base, or taking too many harvests in a single season—weakens the plants. This shortens the lifespan of each planting and forces growers to re-establish fields more frequently, increasing resource use.

Post-harvest techniques also vary widely. Some farms still rely on traditional sun-drying, a method that uses no energy beyond sunlight and airflow. Others use dehydrators or heated drying rooms to speed production, which increases the carbon footprint. The catnip may look the same on the shelf, but the processes behind it can be dramatically different.

Transport might be the most invisible factor of all. Much of the catnip available in the UK is grown and processed in North America or Eastern Europe. The environmental cost of shipping often exceeds the cost of growing the plant itself. This is one reason many cat owners are beginning to source catnip from small, local herb farms when possible.

And then there’s the simplest option: growing it yourself. Catnip is remarkably easy to cultivate. A small pot on a windowsill or balcony can produce leaves all year with minimal care. It rarely needs fertiliser, grows well in average soil, and is naturally drought tolerant. For anyone who enjoys a bit of gardening, home-grown catnip may be the most sustainable choice of all.

The environmental footprint of catnip is larger and more varied than most people realise. It touches on soil regeneration, biodiversity, irrigation methods, energy use, and global supply chains. Understanding these factors doesn’t require becoming a botanist—it simply means looking a little deeper at the dried leaves our cats adore. And for many people, that small shift in awareness is enough to make more thoughtful choices about the enrichment products they bring into their home.