The Science Behind Why Cats Love Catnip
An intoxicating TED-Ed by biology professor Jaap de Roode of Emory University explains the scientific reasons why cats love both silver vine and catnip. According to a 2013 study, these herbs are rich in the happy-making compounds nepetalactol and nepetalactone, which also act as insect repellents.
In chemical terms, both nepetalactol and nepetalactone are classified as iridoids— a type of natural compound known to contain insect-repelling properties.So perhaps cats rubbing their faces in silvervine and catnip were applying an ancient form of bug spray.
![Bella Band playing flute, clarinet, and bass for her cover of Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole”]"](https://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Supermassive-Black-Hole-One-Woman-Cover-1.jpg?w=768)
