Easily mistaken for : Catmint (Nepeta cataria) which grows to a similar 1m height, but the hairs are denser although the leaves are a similar grey-green. When crushed the leaves smell of mint as do those of Garden Catmint. But the flowers are white with purplish spots.

It is the Hybrid of : Eastern Cat-mint (Nepeta racemosa) (which is shorter with shorter inflorescences too and is more decumbent) with Lesser Cat-mint (Nepeta nepetella) (which has no recorded presence in the UK but is found in Southern Spain). It is usually sterile, but fertile plants are said to exist. Thus it is not invasively rampant like other Catmints.

Some similarities to : Claries (Salvia) species such as Balkan Clary (Salvia nemorosa)but the leaves are totally different, except for those of Whorled Clary (Salvia verticillata) where the leaves are similar (but not identical).

No relation to : No relation to : numerous Cat's-tail grasses nor to Cat's-ears such as Spotted Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris maculata) or Smooth Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris glabra) or Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) [plants with similar names from differing families].

It is in the same genus as Cat-mint Nepeta cataria better known as Catnip, which contains Nepetalactone in greater abundance which sends cats wild. Cat-mint was once much more common as it spreads (is not sterile like Garden Cat-mint).