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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Cats’ familiar reaction to catnip is triggered by smell, not evidence that they experience a human-like drug high. The plant contains nepetalactone, an odor compound associated with rubbing, chewing, and rolling. Related compounds in silver vine and some other plants can prompt similar behavior. Researchers have also linked the response to the opioid reward system, while noting a possible practical benefit: rubbing may transfer mosquito-repelling compounds onto a cat’s face and head.
What people mean when they say cats “get high”
After sniffing catnip, some cats rub their faces against it, roll on the floor, chew the plant, or become visibly animated. These are observable behaviors; they do not reveal exactly what a cat feels. “High” is a colorful shorthand for the apparent excitement or pleasure, not proof of a human-like drug effect.
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Animal behavior researcher Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado describes the typical response as “rubbing, chewing and rolling in or around the plant.” The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s explanation also discusses research connecting the response to the opioid reward system. That connection helps explain why the behavior may be rewarding, but it does not let researchers report a cat’s subjective experience as fact.
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Which plant compounds trigger the response?
Catnip: nepetalactone
Catnip contains nepetalactone, the compound most abundant in catnip among those examined in a 2017 comparative study. Its odor is associated with the characteristic feline response.
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Silver vine: several related compounds
Silver vine, also called matatabi, is chemically distinct from catnip. The 2017 study found higher concentrations of several other analyzed compounds in silver vine, and a 2021 study identified nepetalactol as a major silver-vine compound that elicits rubbing and rolling. The plants may produce similar-looking behavior, but they are not interchangeable in chemical composition.
Other plants can work for some cats
In a study of 100 domestic cats, researchers tested catnip, silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian. One in three cats did not respond to catnip; nearly 80% responded to silver vine, and about half responded to Tatarian honeysuckle or valerian. These are results across the tested group, not a guarantee for an individual cat. The 2017 comparative study also found silver-vine fruit galls and catnip to be the most popular tested materials.
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Why some cats respond and others do not
A cat’s response depends on whether it reacts to the particular plant odor. The 2017 study’s finding that one-third of its 100 cats did not respond to catnip shows why a cat’s indifference is not unusual. Silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian elicited responses in some cats that did not respond to catnip, but none is a sure thing.
Plant form matters when interpreting the evidence, too. The comparative study tested specific materials, including silver-vine fruit galls. A 2023 study examined silver vine and identified dried leaves as suitable olfactory enrichment. Those results do not establish that every commercial stick, powder, spray, or toy has the same composition, response rate, or safety profile.
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Could rolling in catnip help protect cats from mosquitoes?
Possibly. A 2021 study proposed that rubbing against plants transfers iridoid compounds onto a cat’s face and head, where they may deter mosquitoes. In the small live-cat test summarized by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, twice as many mosquitoes landed on the heads of cats given the control treatment as on cats with nepetalactol applied. This supports a possible repellent function under those study conditions; it does not show that plant exposure prevents mosquito-borne disease.
Catnip or silver vine is not a replacement for routine parasite prevention. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior advises that antiparasitic treatment be chosen in consultation with a veterinarian. Its explainer on the catnip response discusses the proposed mosquito-defense role and makes the distinction between that finding and veterinary prevention.
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- 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗛 𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗗𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗚: from climate controlled storage and sealed under the lid. Neighborhood cats are sure to appreciate this if being used for some under the hood gifts for cats.
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How to offer catnip or silver vine as enrichment
If your cat enjoys plant odors, dried catnip, a catnip-filled toy, silver vine, or a matatabi toy can be offered as optional olfactory enrichment. A cat that ignores catnip may respond to silver vine, but individual responses vary. Choose a form suited to your cat and supervise access to physical items such as sticks or toys.
A 2023 study found no hallmarks of addictive behavior during its silver-vine exposure study and no increase in the measured blood indicators of stress or liver or kidney injury. It identified dried silver-vine leaves as suitable olfactory enrichment. These findings apply to the study’s tested exposure conditions, not every product, amount, or pattern of use. The 2023 silver-vine study reports its methods and measured outcomes.
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These plants are enrichment, not treatment for a medical condition or a behavior problem. If your cat has an unusual reaction or you have a health concern, ask a veterinarian.
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