Cats protect themselves from insect pests by damaging certain plants

If cats reign supreme on social media, it’s largely because of their inquisitive behaviors. For example, those that have before catnip (Nepeta Qatar) and silver vine (actinidia polygamma), floors that emit chemical substances (iridoids) capable of repel to insects and that produce psychotropic effects in these cats.

in a recent search published in the magazine iScienceJapanese researchers have observed how these animals, when damaging these plants by biting, rubbing or rolling over, cause the release of a greater amount of the referred natural insecticide. In this way, they protect themselves from pests by incorporating iridoids into their skin..

His behavior caught the attention of the lead author, Masao Miyazakianimal behavior researcher Iwate University, who was curious to know what benefits this brought them: “We found that the physical damage caused by cats chewing the vine increased the emission of iridoids tenfold.” In addition, this increase triggered a prolonged effect in these animals.

An attraction born of evolution

“Catnip affects not only domestic cats, but also many species of wild cats, including lions, tigers and ocelots,” warns SINC Benjamin R. Lichman, first author of another studying Which explains this attraction.

These plants produce psychotropic effect thanks to a pungent odor emanating from nepetalactone, a chemical. The emission of said substance repels insects and attracts and ‘drugs’ cats at the same time.

“Perfume targets certain receptors, activating the same neural pathways that use sex pheromones in the cat’s brain. It’s an evolutionary mechanism,” explains Lichman, a plant biologist at york university.

on the scent trail

Precisely, the researchers observed that the vine leaves wrinkled and torn by the cats had a much stronger aromatic odor than that of the intact leaves. Thus, they measured the emission in the air and the chemical profiles of iridoids (such as nepetalactol, dihydronepetalactone and isoiridomyrmecin) before and after chewing the leaves.

With the data in hand, they realized that the physical damage received by the plant caused the secretion of this insecticide was ten times higher. Not only that, but the chemicals went up and down after the plants were attacked.

These plants are active from April to November, so there may be a correlation between their presence and the number of active insect pests.

Masao Miyazaki, Iwate Univ.

For example, nepetalactol went from representing more than 90% of iridoids to 45% of damaged leaves. These changes in the composition of these substances had an unexpected effect for the authors: prolonged the effect that these plants produce in cats.

In parallel, to test whether the cats reacted specifically to iridoids, they were given dishes containing pure nepetalactone and nepetalactol. “Cats show same answer for iridoid cocktails than for natural plants. Its behavior only varies according to chewing”, emphasizes Miyazaki.

The cat’s behavior towards vines and catnip does not depend on the seasons. /Pixabay

Doubts to be clarified

Then the expert and his team want to understand which gene or genes are responsible for cats’ reaction to catnip and vine and why some cats don’t respond to these plants.

As to whether the cats could intensify this behavior in times of plague, Miyazaki denies. “Cats acquired the response during evolution as instinctive behavior, so the duration of the response would be observed in all seasons, not just summer.”

However, these plants are active from April to November, so there could be a correlation between their presence and the number of active insect pestsconcludes the Japanese researcher.