Catnip is a plant that can bring about a euphoric state and cause most cats to act unusually. Scientists long thought the only driving force of their obsession was the euphoric experience, just like when humans drink alcohol. However, researchers have found that the chemical in catnip called nepetalactone is an effective mosquito repellant, and protects cats from infectious diseases.
If you own a cat, you may have used catnip products and witnessed your cat rolling, flipping, and rubbing, just like in the video below. Some cats even zone out!
Video Credit: Wild At Heart | BBC Earth
As mentioned in the narrative, catnips are harmless to cats, and the euphoric effect does not last long. The responses to catnip are also observed in other felids such as lions and bobcats.
“For cats, catnip may be a recreational drug but it’s totally harmless. […] After about 10 minutes, the cats come back down to Earth” (Wild At Heart, BBC Earth)
Why do cats behave in this way?
Since first found by a British botanist back in 1759 (9), this behaviour remained mysterious for a long time. However, in January 2021, a team of scientists from universities in Japan and The University of Liverpool found that the responses allowed cats to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
The team found that in the catnip, the significant component that induces the characteristic behaviour is called nepetalactone, which is the oil in the plant that gives its distinctive odour. The team also found that it has mosquito repellent activity.
When cats sniff nepetalactone, it stimulates the brain system called u-opioid, which is a part of the brain that controls the rewarding effects. Researchers confirmed that the stimulation induces cats to rub their bodies and face against the chemical. These rubbing and rolling behaviours transfer the chemical onto their fur, allowing cats to gain a chemical defence against mosquitoes.
The research sheds light on developing new mosquito repellents for humans using nepetalactone.
The neurophysiological and functional significance of silver vine response in cats.
Image Credit: Chie Nakayama, adapted from Reiko Uenoyama, Iwate University. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd9135
You can access the research paper from here.
– Chie Nakayama
