The Furkidz Instincts Burlap Cat Toys made from eco-friendly burlap are a simple and essential part of every cats toy box. These toys offer hours of playful stimulation with the extra enticement of silver vine (Matatabi) which is often more attractive to cats than catnip.
- Made from eco-friendly burlap
- Size: Octopus approx 23 x 6cm, Owl approx 23.5 x 6.5, Bird approx 9 x 6cm, Mallard Duck approx 13 x 4cm, Grasshopper approx 10 x 9cm
- As these toys have strings and pieces that can be chewed of please supervise your cat when playing with this toy, examine for wear and tear and replace when appropriate
What Is Matatabi?
Matatabi is a natural plant native to the mountainous regions of eastern Asia. It is widely used in Japan and China as a cat stimulant. According to the experts only about 50% of cats will react to Catnip, perhaps less for cats here in Australia as the gene that triggers the euphoric response appears to be hereditary, so a lot of Australian cats don’t have that gene. That doesn’t mean they miss out on all the fun as around 80% will react in some way to Matatabi!
Why Do Cats React To Matatabi?
Plants like the Matatabi plant release natural chemicals (allomones) which cause a reaction when sniffed. When your cat sniffs Matatabi it causes a chain reaction which ends up basically activating the pleasure centre in your cat’s brain and giving it a natural high. One of the active components in both Matatabi and Catnip is Nepetalactone but research shows that Matatabi or Silvervine has at least six other active components your cat may react too which may be why Matatabi is more potent than Catnip and why more cats may respond to it.
Is Matatabi Harmful Or Addictive To Cats?
Even though cats can receive a natural high to Matatabi, research shows that it is not addictive and it usually wears off in around 30 minutes. It is non toxic so even if your cat swallows some it will not be harmful, however we recommend always supervising your cat whilst using Matatabi sticks in case it manages to break off a large piece that if swallowed may cause choking or an obstruction.
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