Why Cats Go Crazy for Catnip and Silver Vine
Have you ever wondered why your cat goes crazy for catnip? Or silver vine? What causes their backs to twitch, their tails to swish and their pupils to dilate until they look like big, black saucers? And is it really safe to basically give our cats what is essentially a recreational kitty drug? If you’ve ever wondered any of the above, read on for answers!
What is catnip and silver vine?
So we all know that catnip is a plant. Specifically, catnip is in the mint family, Latin name Nepeta cataria. It is native to Europe and Asia, but it can now be found growing in the wild in the Americas, too. It might look like an ordinary, everyday plant, but thanks to a special, harmless chemical produced in its microscopic buds, catnip transforms into a special treat for our feline friends.
Silver vine, also called matatabi in its native Mountainous regions of eastern Asia, is a catnip alternative. While catnip contains a single cat attractant, silver vine contains a cat stimulant that makes silver vine even more potent. It is an ideal choice for cats that don’t respond to catnip! Silver vine has been used in Asia for centuries as a preventative health measure for humans.
How Does It Affect Cats?
The special little ingredient that makes your cat go bonkers when it gets a whiff of catnip is nepetalactone. When your cat inhales catnip, they inhale nepetalactone, which binds to receptors inside your cat’s nose, which then stimulates sensory neurons leading to the brain.
Once it reaches the brain, it triggers the euphoric state in cats that many cat owners have seen, including behaviors like rolling, swishing tails, twitchy backs, rubbing their faces in the catnip or on their toy, meowing, licking and even drooling. Reactions vary from cat to cat, but the bottom line is that most cats go bonkers for catnip! The effects generally last anywhere from 5-30 minutes, and cats will often become immune to the effects of catnip for about 10 minutes afterward.
If you’ve tried to no avail to get your cat interested in catnip, don’t worry. They’re not weird or broken! One in three cats actually do not respond to catnip, according to a 2017 study. However, about 80 percent of all cats will respond to a catnip alternative known as silver vine.
Silver vine is chock full of actinidine, which acts as a powerful cat attractant. It elicits the same euphoric behaviors that catnip does, but more cats are likely to respond to this potent catnip alternative!
When and How to Use Catnip or Silver Vine
Catnip and silver vine do more than just get your cat really, really high. These natural stimulants encourage your cat to exercise, but also act as a source of stress relief for frustrated or anxious kitties.
Catnip and silver vine come in different forms, all of which trigger that fun, feline trip in your cat. There is, of course, the standard bag of dried catnip – which is also available in bottled shakers for less mess (and to keep your cats from tearing the bag apart – it’s happened to me too many times!)
A lot of cat owners don't like the mess that dried catnip offers, so they opt for catnip-filled toys. Refillable catnip toys are especially handy, so you can easily freshen up the catnip (or silver vine) if it goes stale - which your kitty will no doubt appreciate.
Other catnip-based products take advantage of catnip oil extracts, like catnip bubbles, which can be even more enticing and aromatic to cats.
And yes, there is such thing as catnip wine, for all you wine lovers out there who want to drink with your cats! Don't worry, it's completely non-alcoholic and infused with organic catnip extract cats will love.
My cats go crazy for silver vine. Now don’t get me wrong he loves catnip but silver vine is a lot easier to hide from my cat. It’s a special treat he loves! He will carry it around like his prize and he’s even given me his silver vines ( half eaten) to me if I’m sad. If I don’t take it he will take it back and sit by me. I can even get him to play fetch with it.
Of our two cats, only the neutered male, Brodie, reacts to catnip and he reacts strongly.
Our neutered female, Hilary, has no reaction. SHE however loves and loves to lick antibiotic salve off of anyone with it on!
I think most “catnip filled toys” are a joke….either the catnip is too old or is of a lesser quality. We buy good catnip and occasionally sprinkle it on the floor for Brodie.
My kitties love catnip. I have some growing in my yard so they can have it fresh in the summer.
Mine doesn’t react to the silver vine stems at all…And wont have anything to do with the wine. However they do like some types of catnip but not all…not sure why. One of them loves Vicks and goes nuts if you rub it on his toys. My other one hates it!!
They smell it and eat it.
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