It's called nepetalactone, and it has the unique ability to mimic a cat pheromone.

它被称为荆芥内酯，具有模拟猫信息素的独特能力。

When cats react to catnip, they're really reacting to an organic molecule released by the plant known as nepetalactone.

当猫对猫薄荷起反应时，实际上是在与植物荆芥内酯释放的有机分子起反应。

So what's going on? Well researchers think nepetalactone is similar to a cat's natural pheromones, the molecules it uses to communicate.

发生什么了？ 嗯，研究人员认为荆芥内酯类似于猫的天然信息素， 即猫用来交流的分子。