nepetalactone

Nepetalactones are a group of iridoid analog stereoisomers produced by Nepeta cataria (catnip) and certain other plants in the genus Nepeta in order to repel insects. They are also produced by many aphids, in which they are sex pheromones. Nepetalactones are cat attractants, and cause the behavioral effects that catnip induces in domestic cats. However, they affect visibly only about two thirds of adult cats. They produce similar behavioral effects in many other felids, especially in lions and j