Shutterstock.com
Referred to as the “Japanese catnip,” silver vine is the super-charged various to catnip that you simply might need by no means heard of. It causes the identical head-rubbing, rolling-over, purring euphoria as catnip however is extra highly effective and extra in style too.
Fast Overview
01
Silver vine causes the identical pleasure and euphoria as catnip, however its results are even stronger.
02
Most cats reply to silver vine, in comparison with solely two-thirds of cats that reply to catnip.
03
Like catnip, silver vine is secure for cats and isn’t addictive.
Regardless of catnip’s fame, solely two-thirds of cats truly reply to it. Whereas 80% of cats reply to silver vine—together with 75% of the cats who didn’t reply to catnip. So in case your cat isn’t a fan of catnip, there’s probability they’ll get pleasure from silver vine.
What Is Silver Vine?
Silver vine (Actinidia polygama) is a climbing plant that grows in mountainous areas of japanese Asia and Russia. It produces a kind of kiwi fruit however truly will get its title from the attractive silvery-white suggestions of its leaves.
Silver vine has been utilized in conventional Chinese language and Japanese medication for hundreds of years to deal with every part from irritation to hypertension. However its exceptional impact on cats wasn’t recorded till 1704 by a Japanese botanist referred to as E. Kaihara.
It turned so in style that the response of cats to silver vine has been captured in Japanese artwork and historical past. A conventional Japanese portray courting again to 1859 exhibits a battle between cats and mice, the place the mice are utilizing silver vine to intoxicate the cats. To at the present time, it is likely one of the hottest cat treats in Asia.
Nevertheless, as a result of silver vine solely grows in sure areas, it’s tough to fabricate commercially worldwide. Regardless of its benefits, this in all probability explains why silver vine is much less well-known in Western international locations than catnip. In actual fact, in 2017 a research on the responsiveness of cats to silver vine confirmed that 95% of veterinarians and 100% of veterinary technicians within the USA and Australia had been unaware of silver vine and its impact on cats.
How Silver Vine Impacts Cats
As a cat lover, you’re in all probability conversant in the catnip impact. Like catnip, the scent of silver vine triggers an instantaneous euphoria in cats which causes them to roll round on the ground, rubbing their heads, purring, and meowing. While silver vine produces the identical results as catnip, it’s usually extra highly effective.
Its results are so attribute that it’s nicknamed the ‘Matatabi dance’ in Japan. Matatabi actually means “journey once more” in Japanese. It’s used as a nickname for silver vine because it causes cats to wiggle round on the bottom!
So, why do sure crops set off this euphoric state in cats? All of it comes right down to chemistry. When cats sniff the chemical substances (allomones) launched by crops like catnip and silver vine, it stimulates the sensory neurons of their noses.
This kick-starts a sequence of reactions that result in a launch of pure endorphins into your cat’s bloodstream. These endorphins act on the opioid receptors within the mind, inflicting the speedy feeling of euphoria and pleasure – like a pure excessive. However don’t fear, neither catnip nor silver vine is addictive.
We all know that the key energetic ingredient in catnip is a substance referred to as nepetalactone. Nevertheless, analysis has discovered that silver vine incorporates not solely nepetalactone however no less than six different energetic compounds. This may increasingly clarify why silver vine will not be solely stronger than catnip but in addition appeals to a better number of cats.
The one group of home cats who do appear to be proof against silver vine are kittens beneath eight months previous and pregnant females. No one is strictly certain why that is.
Silver Vine vs Catnip
| Catnip | Silver Vine | |
| Scientific title | Nepeta cataria | Actinidia polygama |
| Grows in | Asia, Africa, Europe, USA | Mountainous areas of China, Japan, Korea, and Russia |
| Lively elements | Nepetalactol | Nepetalactone, actinidine, neonepetalactone, isoiridomyrmecin, iridomyrmecin, isodihydronepetalactone, and dihydronepetalactone |
| Responsiveness of cats | 68% | 80% (together with 75% of the cats who don’t reply to catnip) |
| Common size of impact | 5-Quarter-hour | 5–half-hour |
| Results | Pleasure, playfulness, hyperactivity, purring, miaowing, head and chin rubbing, rolling over, drooling, sniffing, licking, operating round, treading with hind legs |
There are just a few different crops that produce related results to catnip and silver vine. These embrace Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis).
How To Use Silver Vine
You’ll find a variety of silver vine merchandise for cats in pet outlets and on-line shops. Based on research, probably the most highly effective type of silver vine is the powder produced by grinding the silver vine fruit galls – it’s additionally the shape most cats reply to. So, if you happen to’ve not tried silver vine earlier than, silver vine powder is an effective place to begin. To make use of it, simply rub a small quantity of powder onto a toy or scratching submit.
You should buy silver vine in a variety of different formulations, from entire fruits to toys, sprays, and sticks. In case your cat prefers the silver vine sticks, be sure you monitor them carefully. While the sticks are an incredible pure method to clear their tooth, fragments can break off and turn into a choking or obstruction threat.
The results of silver vine often solely final for about half an hour. Over time some cats turn into much less reactive to it. So, it’s a good suggestion to place silver vine toys away when your cat has completed with them and get them out each few days as a particular deal with.
The Advantages of Silver Vine
Greater than only a enjoyable exercise, analysis exhibits that stimulating your cat’s olfactory system (sense of scent) truly improves their well-being and reduces stress. When cats endure from stress or boredom, it may well result in behavioral points in addition to bodily ailments equivalent to decrease urinary tract illness and weight problems. That is notably true for cats who dwell indoors.
So, stimulating your cat’s wonderful sense of scent with pure merchandise like silver vine and catnip is a superb approach to enhance your cat’s well-being and hold them energetic. It’d even scale back their threat of sure well being circumstances.
However silver vine has one other surprising well being profit to your cat – it protects them towards bugs! A current research discovered that nepetalactone (present in each silver vine and catnip) is a pure insect repellent.
The authors write: “The rubbing and rolling response transfers nepetalactone from the plant leaves onto the cat’s face and head the place it acts as a mosquito repellent, lastly revealing the probably organic significance of this enigmatic feline conduct, first noticed greater than 300 years in the past”.
So it’s doable that cats developed this euphoric response to sure crops to benefit from the pure insect repellent!
Is Silver Vine Secure for Cats?
It’s clear that silver vine has the potential to give you and your cat a whole lot of enjoyable. It might even assist enhance their bodily and psychological well being (and shield them towards bugs!). However crucial query it’s worthwhile to know is, is it secure?
Sure, the excellent news is that silver vine may be very secure for cats. Based on the Pet Poison Helpline and the Animal Poison Management Heart, there have been no studies of toxicity or opposed reactions from silver vine in cats.
Importantly, analysis exhibits that regardless of providing a powerful excessive, it isn’t addictive. It is because silver vine triggers a launch of pure endorphins. It’s these pure endorphins that stimulate the opioid system, versus exterior medication like morphine which may be addictive.
The primary threat to your cat from silver vine comes from chewing silver vine sticks. It’s doable for small items to interrupt off and trigger injury if swallowed, or threat choking. So, make sure you monitor your cat fastidiously round silver vine sticks and throw away any fragments that break off.
Continuously Requested Questions
How a lot silver vine is secure for cats?
Silver vine will not be poisonous, so you may’t actually give your cat an excessive amount of. Nevertheless, you solely want to make use of a small quantity to supply an impact. It is best to comply with the directions on the packet, however it’s often a couple of quarter of a teaspoon of silver vine powder.
Is silver vine the identical as catnip?
While silver vine produces the identical impact in cats, it’s a fully totally different plant. Each silver vine and catnip include the energetic ingredient nepetalactone, which is chargeable for the euphoric impact. However silver vine additionally incorporates no less than six different energetic substances, which explains why it isn’t solely extra highly effective than catnip, however appeals to extra cats.
Is silver vine good for cat tooth?
Chewing on silver vine sticks will help take away tartar and hold your cat’s tooth clear. Simply make sure you supervise your cat fastidiously and take away any small fragments that fall off as these could possibly be harmful to your cat to swallow.
How usually can I give my cat silver vine?
As silver vine will not be poisonous, you will not hurt your cat by giving it incessantly. Nevertheless, its results solely final for round half-hour, and a few cats turn into much less delicate to it over time. Subsequently, it often works greatest to present it as a deal with each few days and put it away after every use.
Is silver vine good for cat nervousness?
Sure. Cats usually turn into anxious once they haven’t got sufficient environmental enrichment. Analysis exhibits that crops like silver vine can enhance cat’s well-being and scale back stress, notably in indoor cats.
