Cats, Mosquitoes, and Silver Vine: A Tale of Euphoria and Protection

  • Thread starter Thread starter BillTre
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Protection Silver
Click For Summary
Catnip and silver vine contain iridoids that protect against aphids and induce euphoria in cats. Research led by Masao Miyazaki at Iwate University identified nepetalactol, a potent compound in silver vine, as the key to this effect, previously unrecognized in cats. The study confirmed that both domestic and wild felines, including feral cats and big cats like leopards and jaguars, respond strongly to this compound, engaging in behaviors such as rubbing against it for about 10 minutes. In contrast, dogs and mice showed no interest. Additionally, nepetalactone, another iridoid, has mosquito repellent properties, suggesting its role in plant defense. The discussion also touches on the influence of aroma on preferences, likening it to choosing environments based on pleasant scents.
BillTre
Science Advisor
Gold Member
2024 Award
Messages
2,711
Reaction score
11,911
TL;DR
Why are cats so crazy about catnip?
Chemicals, which are also mosquito repealants.
From a Science mag news article.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and silver vine (Actinidia polygama) both contain chemical compounds called iridoids that protect the plants against aphids and are known to be the key to the euphoria produced in cats. To determine the physiological effect of these compounds, Iwate University biologist Masao Miyazaki spent 5 years running different experiments using the plants and their chemicals.

his team extracted chemicals present in both catnip and silver vine leaves and identified the most potent component that produces the feline high: a minty silver vine chemical called nepetalactol that had not been shown to affect cats until this study. (The substance is similar to nepetalactone, the key iridoid in catnip.)

It can also affect non-domestic cats:
they repeated the experiment with 30 feral cats—and one leopard, two lynxes, and two jaguars living in Japan’s Tennoji and Oji zoos. Big or small, the felines surrendered to the substance, rubbing their heads and bodies in the patches for an average of 10 minutes (see video, above). In contrast, dogs and mice that were tested showed no interest in the compound.

Apparently, nepetalactone is known to have mosquito repellent properties (similar to DEET).
Not that surprising if its supposed to protect the plants from aphids.
 
  • Like
Likes Greg Bernhardt, jim mcnamara and Drakkith
Biology news on Phys.org
To be honest I believe cats like it so much because of the smells. You see aromas are more influential than you might believe. See imagine you go to a doctor the room smells terrible then you go to a doctor's office that smells nice your going to the doctor that smells nice. Why? Because your mind tells you that the one that smells nice is better. So I might be wrong but I believe aroma has something to do with it.
 
Last edited by a moderator: