A lot of the behaviors you see in cats, such as purring, are associated with positive moods in cats, suggesting catnip sends them into a state of bliss,” certified cat behavior cat consultant Joey Lusvardi told The Spruce Pets .

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But why does nepetalactone trigger such a specific feline response? In other words, why would a plant insect repellent drive cats so wild? This catnip-infused scratcher is aptly named The Original Scratch Lounge and it is designed to invite a cat inside to hang out, play, and fall asleep. Natural and Unique Design – Catnip, Silver vine and Gall Nut are 100% natural, organic and safe. The uniquely designed catnip toy is adhered to the wall and uses strong double-sided adhesive to easily attach to any surface.Native to Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, catnip is now grown all over the world, including the United States.

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Actinidia polygama, more commonly known as silver vine, is a popular alternative to catnip, which is sometimes marketed as even stronger or better. Native to China, Korea, and Japan, silver vine is a species of kiwi. While catnip is loaded with nepetalactone, silver vine features a very similar terpene called nepetalactol. Both are confirmed cat attractants. Only about two-thirds of cats react to the active cat attractant component in catnip, called nepetalactone. Nepetalactone belongs to a class of more than 30,000 natural compounds known as terpenes, which are produced by plants to serve a variety of functions, including ecological interactions like fighting off plant diseases, creating bitter tastes to ward off animals, and attracting pollinators. Essential oils are made up primarily of terpenes. Nepetalactone is a specialized terpene that keeps certain species of insects away from the plant. Nepeta cataria, a herbaceous plant in the mint family, is more often known as catnip, because approximately two-thirds of domestic cats—and even wild feline species, like jaguars and lions—are attracted to it with a surprising intensity of interest. Cats who encounter catnip stems or leaves will roll around in it, paw at it, drool over it, meow, leap, and purr.

These SmartyKat balls are nearly entirely made from compressed catnip. Blended with a little rice flour and water for cohesion, each ball is baked into a round shape, with a nearly two-inch diameter. The only downside is that if your cat gets too excited, these balls can get soggy and, eventually, a little crumbly. It’s best to only deploy these in rooms with easy-to-clean surfaces and minimal hard-to-reach spots, since these balls are easy to lose under furniture. Also, while many cats go absolutely nuts for these, there’s something about the compressed and baked catnip that a minority of cats reject, so your results may vary. Protection for Gingival – Catnip, silvervine and gall nut all can effectively eliminate dental tartar, clear off fetid breath and protect oral health so as to get you and your pets closer. When your cat smells nepetalactone their brain responds similarly to the human brain on opioids. However, since the response is limited to endogenous endorphins, it doesn't create dependence or withdrawals. The interactive fish toy comes with a short USB charging cable, and charging the fish motor is straightforward—once the red light goes out, you’re fully charged. It’ll keep flopping for as long as 40 minutes on a charge.

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There’s also a new version of the Potaroma Flopping Fish Toy that includes a remote for turning on or off the fish’s flopping. We’re excited to try it out for ourselves, and very curious about the multiple buyers describing interference from their TV remote controls. In comparative studies, silver vine both attracted a larger percentage of cats tested and produced more intense responses. About 80 percent of cats responded to silver vine, including three-quarters of the cats that were immune to the charms of catnip!

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Whether you and your cat play with the ball together, or your cat likes to play by itself, this 100% natural catnip ball will provide plenty of fun and games. Uenoyama R, Miyazaki T, Hurst JL, et al. The characteristic response of domestic cats to plant iridoids allows them to gain chemical defense against mosquitoes. Sci Adv. 2021;7(4):eabd9135. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd9135 Catnip is a plant in the mint family, Nepeta cataria,” Lusvardi said. “It’s a green, leafy plant with triangle-shaped leaves that have jagged edges on them.”

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Our favorite wand toys let you swap out different lures, and while the Fat Cat Tadpole Wand can’t do that, it does come loaded with one of our favorite lures and a potent quantity of catnip. The Fat Cat Tadpole’s lure is six inches long, with ribbon streamers and a plush body your cat will want to sink their claws into. It’s also stuffed with organic catnip. And while the ten-inch wand is nothing special, we love the 25-inch long tether, which is a stretchy, ribbon knit that’s attractive to cats all on its own. Catnip is generally thought to be safe for kittens, though ingesting too much of it can cause them to not feel great,” Lusvardi said. The Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish has a little motor inside that creates a surprisingly realistic flopping motion. When we tested it, we found that cats could absolutely not resist the urge to stop the flop. The Flopping Fish also comes with a blend of silver vine and catnip in a sachet, which can be inserted into the zippered compartment alongside the motor, making the flopping fish even more attractive. When they go gaga for catnip, your cat is responding to an active ingredient called nepetalactone, a compound generated by the plant as an insect repellent. But you don't need to know the science to enjoy watching your cat react to catnip. While you can buy catnip alone, it's also a common component of cat toys.Catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone,” Lusvardi said. “This substance and related substances are found in many plants and act as an insect repellent for the plant. It’s thought that cats respond to catnip because the behaviors they exhibit in response to catnip will cause nepetalactone to coat their fur, acting as a natural insect repellent.” While scientists have yet to the actual biological mechanism of a cat's nepetalactone response, we do have a promising evolutionary theory, characterized in research published by the American Association for the Advance of Science. When cats rub against catnip, it spreads nepetalactone on a cat's face or body, repelling mosquitos. Thus, pleasurable reactions to catnip conferred an evolutionary advantage. This article was written by Steven Asarch, a freelance writer for The Spruce Pets. He has firsthand experience working with different feline products and taking care of two rambunctious felines.