Two studies point in the same direction: when cats are offered silver vine and catnip, more of them respond to silver vine. In a 2017 study of 100 domestic cats, almost 80% responded to silver vine, while about one in three did not respond to catnip at all. A 2026 free-choice study also found that cats engaged more reliably with silver vine than with catnip when self-anointing. That makes silver vine a strong option to try, especially if your cat has shown little interest in catnip. It does not mean every cat will prefer it, and the percentages describe the groups that were studied, not the odds for your particular cat.
What the 2017 study tested and found
The 2017 study published in BMC Veterinary Research compared four plant materials in 100 domestic cats: catnip, silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian. Each material was offered repeatedly, alongside a control, so that the cats’ responses could be compared against a baseline rather than judged from a single exposure. Nearly all of the cats responded positively to at least one of the olfactory enrichment stimuli.
The response rates are where the study separates the materials:
| Material | Share of the 100 cats that responded | Notes from the study |
|---|---|---|
| Silver vine | Almost 80% | Fruit galls drew the predominant response; some cats also responded to the wood |
| Tatarian honeysuckle | About 50% | Reported as a single figure for the sample |
| Valerian | About 50% | Reported as a single figure for the sample |
| Catnip | About two in three (about one in three did not respond) | The study’s most common comparison point for silver vine |
The most useful figure for readers who already own catnip toys is the subgroup result: among the cats that did not respond to catnip, almost 75% responded to silver vine. Silver vine therefore reached a meaningful share of cats that catnip had not reached.
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The study also identifies silver vine powder made from dried fruit galls and catnip as the most popular materials among the domestic cats tested. The authors note that the plant materials are commercially sold as cat toys or enrichment products, which is why both appear as realistic options for owners rather than laboratory-only curiosities.
What the 2026 free-choice study adds
The 2026 study in the Journal of Chemical Ecology looked at self-anointing, the rubbing and rolling behavior cats show toward plants. Its free-roaming observations found that cats rarely self-anointed toward catnip but consistently engaged with silver vine. A captive comparison, in which cats were presented with extracts, showed a similar bias toward silver vine.
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Two features limit how far that result can travel. The outdoor observations involved six identifiable free-roaming cats at one site, and the captive comparison included 22 cats. The study supports a silver vine advantage in those settings. It is not a broad preference survey, and it did not test a commercial product directly.
Comparing the two studies
Both studies favor silver vine, but they measure different things, so they should be read side by side rather than added together.
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- Better Digestion and Easy Feeding Method: Catnip can promote intestinal peristalsis to improve digestion and keep pets healthy. Directly feed your cats or cut off the skin of the sticks. After a period of use, to keep the effect, you need to cut off the used layer.
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| Feature | 2017 BMC Veterinary Research study | 2026 Journal of Chemical Ecology study |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior measured | Response to offered plant material, compared with a control | Self-anointing toward plants, in free-roaming and captive cats |
| Cats included | 100 domestic cats | Six identifiable free-roaming cats at one site; 22 captive cats |
| Silver vine result | Almost 80% responded; almost 75% of catnip nonresponders responded | Consistently engaged with silver vine; rarely self-anointed toward catnip outdoors |
| Catnip result | About one in three did not respond | Rarely self-anointed toward catnip in free-roaming cats |
| Material form | Fruit galls and wood of silver vine; catnip as offered in the study | Free-roaming plants; extracts in the captive comparison |
| Practical reading | Silver vine reached more cats than catnip in that sample | Silver vine drew more sustained interaction in those specific settings |
The two studies do not measure the same outcome, which is why the 2026 result is best read as confirmation of direction rather than as a replication of the 2017 percentages.
Why some cats ignore catnip
Catnip is not a dependable trigger for every cat. The 2017 study documents nonresponse to catnip, and it also records that some of those same cats responded to other plants. A 2022 paper explicitly examined behavioral differences among cats in their responses to cat-attracting plants and volatile compounds, which supports the view that the variation is real and not just a feature of one study.
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No published result here shows which factors, such as age, sex, genetics or past experience, decide whether a given cat responds. Treat a cat’s lack of interest in catnip as a reason to try another material, not as a sign that something is wrong with the cat.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the safety study does and does not establish
A 2023 peer-reviewed study assessed the safety and suitability of silver vine as olfactory enrichment. Its title is a useful signal that safety was examined, but the material available for this article does not include enough detail to give dosing, handling or preparation instructions for any product.
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That means the study cannot be used to claim that every silver vine product is safe for every cat. Formulations differ, and a powder, a dried wood piece and a spray are not interchangeable. If your cat has a medical condition, is pregnant or nursing, or is very young or old, check with your veterinarian before introducing a new plant material.
What to do if your cat does not respond to catnip
If you want to test silver vine, a simple trial is more informative than switching materials after one attempt.
- Start with a single material in a quiet room, placed on a cat tree, scratching post or a dedicated toy so that the cat can approach on its own terms.
- Offer it at the same time of day for several sessions over one to two weeks, and note whether the cat sniffs, rubs, rolls, chews or ignores it.
- Offer catnip in the same way so that you have a direct comparison in your own home, rather than relying on the studies alone.
- If the cat responds to neither, try a different material rather than increasing the amount, and stop if the cat shows signs of distress or unusual agitation.
- Keep plant materials out of reach when you are not supervising, and store them away from curious animals and children.
Silver vine cat toys and silver vine fruit gall powder are the forms the 2017 study describes as commercially available. Catnip toys and dried catnip are the direct comparison. No particular brand was evaluated in the studies, so choose a product based on its ingredients and manufacturer information rather than on the studies’ findings alone.
Reading the results responsibly
The studies support a clear practical message: silver vine deserves a place next to catnip in your enrichment kit, particularly if catnip has failed to interest your cat. They do not establish that silver vine will win for your cat, and the percentages should not be read as probabilities for an individual household cat.
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Sources: BMC Veterinary Research (2017); Journal of Chemical Ecology (2026); behavioral differences study (2022); peer-reviewed safety study (2023).
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