Japanese scientists explained the love of cats for catnip: animals eat it not only because of the pleasant sensations – the leaves of catnip and actinidia (Actinidia polygama) contain substances that repel mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects. Biological research is published in Science Advances.
It was previously assumed that cats eat the leaves of the plant, as they contain substances from the terpene class, which have an almost narcotic effect on them.
Biologist Masao Miyazaki said that during the study, experts observed how cats reacted to extracts of various organic molecules from plant pulp. It turned out that cats’ attraction to actinidia was primarily associated with the substance nepetalactol. It worked not only on pets, but also on jaguars, tigers and other large wild cats.
Scientists have blocked the work of the receptors with which this substance binds, and looked how the behavior of domestic cats will change. It turned out that the pets continued to be interested in actinidia, but stopped in a typical way “rubbing their muzzles and wallowing in the leaves of the plant.”
Experts have come to the conclusion that cats can perform similar actions in order to scare off blood-sucking insects. Biologists applied nepetalactol extract to paper napkins and placed them in cat enclosures to test the response. The animals rubbed their muzzles against the paper, smearing plant pheromones on it. Further observations showed that after contact with this substance, mosquitoes attacked animals half as often.
According to scientists, the habit of wallowing in catnip and actinidia leaves is an evolutionary adaptation that helps them and their wild relatives protect themselves from mosquitoes and parasites.
Earlier, British psychologists assessed the impact of cats on the work of their owners at a distance. Their presence in the home has been found to have a positive effect on telecommuting employees, as pets help them relieve stress and cheer them up. Some people get used to talking to pets and discussing work issues with them.