Scientists reveal why cats desire catnip

THE reason cats love catnip has finally been revealed, according to a new study.

Scientists say the herb contains a chemical called nepetalactol, which triggers feelings of euphoria in felines and acts as natural defence against mosquitoes.

Catnip and other plants, such as silver vine, have been known to attract cats for hundreds of years.

When a cat comes into contact with catnip it displays unusual behaviour, rolling and rubbing itself up against the plant.

But why cats go crazy for the herb has remained a mystery until now.

Lead author Professor Masao Miyazaki, of Iwate University in Japan, said: “The first appearance of silver vine as a cat attractant in literature in Japan dates back to more than 300 years ago.

“A drawing from 1859 shows a group of mice trying to tempt some cats with a smell of silver vine.

“Still, the benefits of the cats’ response remained unknown.”

The researchers extracted active ingredients from the plants’ leaves and tested them on domestic, feral and wild cats, including jaguars, leopards and lynxes.

A novel substance known as nepetalactol was found to be responsible for the cats obsessive behaviour.

First author Reiko Uenoyama, a master’s student, said: “We applied nepetalactol to laboratory paper filters and tested with 17 laboratory and 17 feral cats. They displayed the typical response to silver vine.

“We also tested the substance with larger, non-domestic cats. They showed a similar reaction.”

The animals’ endorphin levels were measured before and after the experiment.

The findings, published in Science Advances, could be used to develop insect repellents.