​Matatabi is a plant that grows in the mountainous areas of Japan and has the scientific name Actinidia polygama. Matatabi has two ingredients that get cats excited: actinidine and dihydroactinidiolide. The leaves are also used to make tea for humans.

​

Matatabi has a similar effect on cats as catnip, but it is even more dynamic, and a higher percentage of the cat population is attracted.

​

Cats love catnip, but about 50% of cats only react to catnip Well what about the  50% that seem to pay no attention to catnip?

​

​A study published in the BioMed Central Veterinary Research (source) comparing the effects of Matatabi, Tatarian honeysuckle, valerian, and catnip on 100 domestic cats. Almost 80% of the cats responded to  Matatabi. This was the largest reaction to any of the stimulants used, showing that Matatabi has some genuine effects.

​

​