Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Catnip may protect cats from mosquitoes
The study suggests that catnip and silver vine could protect felines against mosquitoes.

Study reveals insights into why cats go wild for catnip and silver vine. 

Catnip, and the perhaps lesser-known plant silver vine, are renowned for sending cats into a frenzy. But new research, published in Science Advances, has revealed that attraction to the plants might be more practical than previously thought. 

Until now, the reasons why cats have a euphoric response to catnip and silver vine were unknown. In this study, researchers at Iwate University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, and the University of Liverpool set out to discover how the plants work and why cats respond in the way they do.

First, the group identified the active ingredient of silver vine that induces the euphoric response. After isolating substances from the extract of silver vine leaves, they administered each of them to cats to examine how they respond. The experiment revealed that the substance nepetalactone most strongly induces the characteristic behaviour.

Next, researchers looked at the biological response by feline animals to silver vine. They hypothesized that the plant activate the cat's opioid system, which is associated with euphoric effects in humans. Project leader Professor Masao Miyazaki of Iwate University said: "We tested β-endorphin levels before and after nepetalactol-induced response in cat blood. We found that silvervine activates the nervous system that is responsible for the euphorigenic reaction.” 

Finally, the group set out to see if the biological response enables cats to transfer nepetalactone to their fur to protect against mosquitoes. This was based on previous research that showed nepetalactone (the feline attractant in catnip) can act as a mosquito repellant. 

The team placed paper filters with nepetalactone on different parts of the cats' cages and found that when the cats rubbed against the paper, they transferred the substance to their faces and heads. This suggests that the most important function of rubbing is to apply the chemical to the fur.

Researchers then tested the mosquito repellent property of nepetalactone on cats by counting the numbers of mosquitoes that landed on their heads. They found that the mosquitoes landed less on the cats treated with nepetalactone.

Miyazaki explained: “To see whether mosquitoes react the same in a more natural setting, we compared the mosquito reaction between cats that responded to silver vine leaves and nonresponsive cats. Mosquitoes avoided the responsive cats. From these results, we found that the cats' reaction to silver vine is chemical defense against mosquitoes, and perhaps against viruses and parasitic insects. This was the most significant finding of our study.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.