Cats have a strong nose for smells. Some smells, like catnip, can affect cats in different ways, helping them feel at home and get along with others.
If your cat isn’t interested in catnip, don’t worry. Other plants like silvervine, honeysuckle, and valerian can also make your cat happy by appealing to their sense of smell.
More cats are attracted to silvervine’s smell than to catnip, making it the most powerful of these plants.
Let’s learn about silvervine: what it is, how it affects cats, how it’s different from catnip, and the best ways to give it to your cat.
Key Takeaways
- Silvervine for cats produces a euphoric effect on cats, like catnip.
- Silvervine has many benefits for cats.
- Some silvervine supplements can be ingested by cats such as chew sticks, sprays, and powders.
What Is Silvervine?
Silvervine is a plant that grows naturally in the mountains of China, Japan, and Russia. It belongs to the same family as the kiwi fruit and is named for the silvery-white spots on its leaves.
Silvervine has white flowers shaped like cups. Unlike most plants that have both male and female parts in their flowers, silvervine plants are either male or female.
Each plant is either male or female, and you need both types to get fruit. Silvervine, also called matatabi, makes cats roll around on the ground.
Silvervine grows orange, egg-shaped fruit that people can eat. The fruit shows up in October and November and contains lots of vitamin C. Some people use silvervine as a natural medicine.
Cats were first exposed to silvervine in 1906 when Harvard scientists brought it from China. Japanese people also used it early on to make cats more active.
Silvervine can act as a natural mosquito repellent for cats. When cats rub against the plant, they pick up its protective properties on their fur.
What Does Silvervine Do to Cats?
Cats need different activities to stay happy. Silvervine makes cats feel good and excited, similar to how catnip affects them.
Cats react to silvervine right away, but the effects only last about 30 minutes. When cats smell silvervine, they often become calm or very active, roll around, and lick things.
Cats in parts of Asia often play with silvervine, and when they do, they show a playful behavior called the matatabi dance.
Matatabi is a Japanese word that means “to travel again.” It’s also used as a nickname for silvervine, a plant that makes cats roll and squirm on the ground.
Studies at Harvard found that nepetalactone, a key ingredient in silvervine, makes cats feel happy by triggering their brain’s pleasure center. But cats can’t get addicted to it.
Benefits of Silvervine for Cats
Silvervine has many benefits for cats. These include:
- Exercise: Silvervine makes cats more playful and active, helping them burn extra calories compared to regular toys. These energy bursts can help cats lose weight.
- Stress relief: The plant’s natural compounds help cats feel calm and happy, reducing their anxiety and stress.
- Dental health: Silvervine treats and chew sticks can help clean cats’ teeth by removing buildup and plaque.
- Enrichment: Cats need activities to stay out of mischief. Silvervine toys keep them entertained and content.
- Attracting cats: Cats love Silvervine’s smell. Sprinkling it on new items, like a cat bed, can encourage your cat to use them.
Silvervine vs. Catnip
Most cats prefer silvervine over catnip. A 2017 study found that 80% of cats reacted to silvervine, while only 68% liked catnip. Even better, three out of four cats that didn’t respond to catnip still enjoyed Silvervine.
Kittens younger than 8 months and pregnant cats usually don’t respond to silver vine, or they show a weaker reaction. Scientists aren’t sure why this happens.
Plants like catnip and silvervine make chemicals that affect cats through smell rather than eating.
Catnip has one main active ingredient called nepetalactone. Silvervine, however, contains eight active ingredients, including actinidine and dihydroactinidiolide, that can attract cats.
How To Give Cats Silvervine
Cats can safely enjoy silvervine in many forms, including sticks to chew, powder, or mixed with catnip leaves. The plant and its products are completely safe, with no risk of poisoning your cat.
Sprinkle silvervine powder on the floor, in your cat’s bed, or on scratching posts to make your cat more active and playful.
Watch your cat carefully when giving them new toys or things to chew on. Small pieces can break off, which your cat might choke on or get stuck in their stomach.
Silvervine is safe for cats but may cause an upset stomach if they eat too much. Follow the instructions when giving Silvervine to your cat.
Talk to your vet about silvervine choices and what would work best for your cat.
Silvervine Plant FAQs
Can cats eat silvervine?
Cats can safely eat silvervine in different forms, such as chew sticks, sprays, and powders. However, before cats can use silvervine, the fruit it come from must be boiled or dried in sunlight.
Is silvervine safe for all cats?
Silvervine is completely safe for cats to use. It won’t make them sick or harm them, whether they play with the plant or take it as a supplement.
Is silvervine toxic to dogs?
Silvervine is safe for dogs and won’t make them sick.
