CATNIP'S DOUBLE-EVOLUTION EXPLAINS WHY CATS LOVE THIS PLANT

[Judi Lynn]

Catnip's evolutionary history is key to its powerful effect on felines.


Watching a cat react to catnip is to seemingly watch a cat react to a recreational drug. It makes some cats chill and others incredibly stimulated.

Why this plant affects cats so powerfully is newly explained by a study released Wednesday in Science Advances.

Catnip is technically called catmint, or Nepeta cataria. It's a plant in the mint family. Previously, scientists established that it evolved to have a pungent order because that repels insects that want to eat it. This odor comes from a chemical called nepetalactone. It's inhaling this chemical that causes cats to be affected by the plant — that's why they often rub against and roll around with catnip.

In this new study, researchers examined the evolutionary history of nepetalactone.

After conducting genetic analysis on catmint, the team discovered that, over the course of its evolutionary history, catmint evolved to make nepetalactone not once, but twice.

This means catmint's ancestor plants actually stopped making nepetalactone at some point, then EVOLVED A SECOND TIME to create the chemical.

More:
https://www.inverse.com/science/evolutionary-origins-of-catnip-study

[tblue37]

1. My boy cat Tico also goes nuts rolling in regular old mint plants. nt

[KT2000]

2. no nepetalactone??

apparently the cats would have none of that - evolve again! I knew they had weird powers, but wow!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. When I get anxious

I make catnip tea and I feel better

I have used feliway( friendly cat pheremones)
To stop anxiety attacks,it works. Dunno how but it does. If I know therapy is going to be rough I pack
a spray bottle of feliway
in my bag. My therapist is amazed how it calms me.

So I don't know how catnip and feliway work on humans,but I know it helps me.

I discovered the effect when I got really upset and was having flashbacks . I freaked out my cat. Poofed it in the air around us. It calmed us both down.

[Judi Lynn]

4. While reading your comments I kept thinking about your screen name! This is interesting.

Plants have always been used in medicine, it's no wild reach at all to think there might be something to consider there.

Thanks for sharing the effects you have experienced. I'm curious to know if it would work for me, too! I've got both catnip leaves and spray in case I get daring and decide to test it on myself! I've seen cats in my life who do go wild with it, themselves, absolutely adore it.

I grew it outside my house years ago, and would pick it to bring in for my cat who would be entertained to the max, and lie down by it to nap when he got tired. Very mysterious!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

5. Hope it works for you

Catnip tea is also a remedy for stomachaches and colicky babies.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

6. My screen name

Was from a dream I had as a kid,never forgot it was a wonderful vivid dream very spiritual.

I plan to change my name
asap to Panther when the courts resume and social security is open. People I know already call me Panther. Been using Panther as my name for decades.

I am transgendered and my old name I hate it,
It will feel right to be known as Panther on my official stuff, ID card , SS card,ect.