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TIL I learned about the "catnip gene"
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 01 May 2025
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There is another similar cat-drug called "silverline" or something that cats without catnip genes can still get high on. My sister's cat likes it but not a ton (he doesn't get high on catnip)
Silver vine ๐
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinidia_polygama
Some cats also respond to valerian root, carrots (fresh or dried) and chlorine (like when you bring home wet pool clothes). I had one who reacted the same way to all three of those and catnip, but not silvervine.
that's super interesting, wonder if stray cats annoy carrot farmers lol
Thanks! Our cat doesnt react to catnip at all and I had never heard of silvervine.
Our cat doesn't respond to catnip but she does respond to silvervine!
I don't think it's the classic catnip response (which I assume is because of her genes) but she gets more playful and her pupils enlarge... for a few minutes and then she just wants to take a nap ๐
This sounds like people who smoke Salvia because they can't get weed.