Cats Love Catnip Because It Protects Them From Mosquitoes, New Research Suggests
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A zoned-out cat lying next to some silver vine leaves. Image: Masao Miyazaki & Reiko Uenoyama
When exposed to catnip or silver vine, cats engage in some fairly predictable behaviors, such as licking and chewing the leaves, rubbing their heads and faces against the plants, and rolling on the ground. Cats get a real kick out of these plants, but surprising new research points to a more practical purpose than just wanting to get high.
Nepetalactol—the most potent active ingredient in catnip ( Nepeta cataria ) and silver vine ( Actinidia polygama )—provides cats with a chemical defense against mosquitoes, according to new research published in Science Advances. The discovery could explain why felines, whether domesticated cats or hulking jungle predators, display similar behaviors after being exposed to these plants.
The new research, led by Masao Miyazaki from Iwate University in Japan, offers fresh insights into nepetalactol and how it affects feline behavior and their opioid receptors. That nepetalactol deters mosquitoes is a stunning revelation, and it could result in an entirely new class of insect repellent, according to the researchers. Nepetalactol had previously been associated with mosquito repellent activity, but “our data is the first to show it,” explained Miyazaki in an email.
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What’s more, the new paper is the “first to show that nepetalactol is a potent bioactive compound to cats.” Indeed, it’s no secret that the chemical has some kind of neurological effect on cats, but catnip, a plant from the mint family, and silver vine, a kind of kiwifruit, contain a plethora of other bioactive compounds, such as isoiridomyrmecin, iridomyrmecin, isodihydronepetalactone, and dihydronepetalactone.
Miyazaki and his colleagues, including researchers from Nagoya University in Japan and the University of Liverpool in the U.K., focused on nepetalactol because of its suspected potency.
After coming into contact with catnip and silver vine, cats engage in some stereotypical behaviors, such as rubbing their heads and faces against the plants, rolling on the ground, and giving the impression of euphoria. This lasts for around five to 15 minutes and is followed by the crash phase, in which the cats lounge for around an hour or more.
The effect these plants have on cats has been known for centuries, but scientists don’t fully understand the purpose of all this, such as a biological or evolutionary reason for it—assuming it’s not just some quirky coincidence having to do with the feline brain.
“These results show that nepetalactol, transferred to face and head fur by rubbing against silver vine leaves, functions as a repellent against A. albopictus in cats,” the authors write. “This is convincing evidence that the characteristic rubbing and rolling response functions to transfer plant chemicals that provide mosquito repellency to cats.”
This, the authors argue, could explain why the behavior evolved. The cats get high on these plants, roll around in the leaves, and unwittingly become protected against mosquitoes in the process. This theory makes a lot of sense, but scientists now need to explain why this behavior isn’t seen in other animals, and if the repellant action actually happens in nature, not just in a laboratory setting. We also need to find out if nepetalactol works to repel A. aegypti, the mosquito responsible for spreading yellow fever, dengue, and Zika.
Miyazaki said there might be a very good reason why felines have evolved this special relationship with catnip and silver vine. Many felines “rely on stealth to stalk and ambush their prey,” requiring them to remain quiet and still, he said. A repellant that “reduces their susceptibility to both the irritation of biting mosquitoes and the diseases that these insect vectors carry is likely to provide a strong selective advantage.”
Catnip repels mosquitos also in humans. Similar as garlic but not as effective.
I have eaten catnip when fishing and camping. It does work.
Wow-- that's interesting.
How did you find out Catnip repelled Mosquitos?
I learned about it in the "Book of Spells." Which discussed herbs, their uses in medicinal purposes and of course other things in Witchcraft.
I learned about it in the "Book of Spells." Which discussed herbs, their uses in medicinal purposes and of course other things in Witchcraft.
That's interesting-- I didn't there was anyone on a site like this that would know about that sort of thing.... (well, actually there is one person who has done some Mediumship--inadvertently--but apparently hasn't pursued it. Also another person who from an early age sees Auras (but didn't know what they were!
Did you study Wicca or related approaches, or just mainly used the Book of Spells?
(I have never followed the path of Wicca myself, but know people who have. Long ago I also bought a copy of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick) ... a wonderful book. (But later gave it away as I have since moved on to other modalities).
I have been interested in the Occult-- and "Other Dimensions of Consciousness) since High School...
No. Am not an adherent to Wiccan or any other occult--including organized religion. However, knowledge on ( many things ) does have its merit and of course usefulness.
I've never used Catnip.
I do eat Garlic, but not to repel Mosquitos. I like the taste in cooking, and its supposed to be very healthy.
Also, its useful to keep Garlic around for when a Vampire enters your house. The traditional approach of course (highly effective BTW) is to use a Crucifix and Holy Water. But when that's not available, I use Garlic on the rare instances when a Vampire actually does enter the premises!
I googled it. Here is some interesting information:
Catnip contains the feline attractant nepetalactone. N. cataria (and some other species within the genus Nepeta) are known for their behavioral effects on the cat family, not only on domestic cats, but also other species. Several tests showed that leopards, cougars, servals, and lynxes often reacted strongly to catnip in a manner similar to domestic cats; while lions and tigers can react strongly as well, they do not react as consistently
About one-third of cats are not affected by catnip. The behavior is hereditary.
Other plants that have a catnip-like effect on cats include valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root and leaves; silver vine (Actinidia polygama), or matatabi, popular in Asia; and Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) wood. Many cats that do not respond to catnip do respond to one or more of these three alternatives. (LINK)
Many years ago I grew a couple of catnip plants in my vegetable garden. I put tomato cages over them to keep neighborhood cats away. A number of times when I went out to the garden I'd find tufts of fur on the cages.
What were you going to use them for? Decorative-- or to put in Salad?
I had an indoor cat at that time that liked it. I never knew about the mosquito repellent quality. Good to know.
Yeah, mosquitos. Sure. That's what every cat addict says. You find them everywhere, strung out in ally's, looking for their next hit of catnip. "C'mon, man! Just a taste! The mosquitoes are so bad!"
You find them everywhere, strung out in ally's, looking for their next hit of catnip. "C'mon, man! Just a taste!
See comment # 8, above
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What this site needs are more seeds re: Cats. I will post a video.
What this site needs are more seeds re: Cats. I will post a video.
Tada!