What is Silvervine? The Japanese Cat Herb Your Cat Needs to Try

If your cat has ever turned its nose up at catnip — or if you're simply looking to upgrade your cat's herb game — silvervine is about to become your new favourite discovery.

Used in Japan for over 400 years, silvervine is the cat herb that works on 80 to 90% of cats, including most that don't respond to catnip. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Silvervine?

Silvervine (Actinidia polygama) is a woody climbing plant in the family Actinidiaceae, native to the mountainous forests of Japan and China. It's closely related to the kiwi fruit plant — and like kiwi, it produces small fruits that are edible (though strongly astringent to humans).

In Japan, silvervine is called matatabi (またたび). The name comes from a traditional saying: "matatabi mata tabi" — roughly, "another journey, another journey" — a nod to the wandering effect the herb has on cats that encounter it.

Japanese fishermen historically kept silvervine sticks on their boats to reward working cats and keep them content on long voyages. The herb has been woven into Japanese cat culture for centuries.

Why Does Silvervine Affect Cats?

Silvervine contains two primary active compounds that trigger a feline euphoric response:

• Actinidine: A monoterpene iridoid found in high concentrations in silvervine. This compound is the main reason silvervine works on cats that don't react to catnip — it activates different olfactory receptors than nepetalactone.
• Dihydronepetalactone: Chemically similar to catnip's nepetalactone, this compound provides a second layer of stimulation that amplifies the response.

The dual-compound action is the key to silvervine's broad effectiveness. By triggering multiple olfactory pathways simultaneously, it reaches cats that catnip misses entirely.

Silvervine Gall Fruits: The Most Potent Form

This is where it gets especially interesting. Silvervine plants are sometimes parasitized by a specific insect, causing abnormal growths called gall fruits (also known as galls or silvervine fruit galls).

These galls are the single most potent form of silvervine available. Research has shown that silvervine gall fruits contain 2 to 3 times more active compounds (particularly actinidine) compared to plain silvervine sticks.

In scientific studies comparing cat responses to different forms of silvervine, gall fruits consistently produced the strongest and most sustained reactions — even in cats with reduced sensitivity to other herbs.

How to Identify Quality Gall Fruits

• Irregular, lumpy shape (not smooth round fruits)
• Stronger, more complex aromatic profile compared to plain sticks
• Typically darker in colour with a rough exterior

Silvervine Sticks: Chewing as Enrichment

One of the unique advantages of silvervine over catnip is the silvervine stick format. These are dried sections of silvervine branch that cats can chew, bite, and wrestle with.

Chewing on silvervine sticks isn't just about the herb effect — it provides:

• Dental benefits: The chewing action helps remove plaque and tartar buildup
• Jaw exercise: Natural chewing satisfies a feline instinct often frustrated in indoor cats
• Extended enrichment: Unlike loose herb, a stick can provide enrichment value over multiple sessions as the cat gradually releases the compounds through chewing

To use: simply offer the stick to your cat. They'll typically sniff it, begin to lick and chew one end, and the response should follow within minutes. As the chewed end dries out and loses potency, you can cut it back to expose fresh wood.

Silvervine vs Catnip: The Quick Comparison

• Reaction rate: Silvervine 80–90% vs catnip 50–70%
• Active compounds: Silvervine has two (actinidine + dihydronepetalactone) vs catnip's one (nepetalactone)
• Formats: Silvervine offers sticks and galls (chewable) in addition to powder
• History: Silvervine 400+ years of use in Japan; catnip centuries of Western use
• Safety: Both are 100% safe and non-addictive

For a full deep-dive on how they compare, see our Catnip vs Silvervine guide.

Is Silvervine Safe?

Yes — completely. Silvervine is non-toxic to cats. The euphoric rolling and rubbing response is a natural behavior triggered by olfactory stimulation — not a chemical reaction with any harmful effects.

Cats that chew silvervine sticks may ingest small amounts of plant material, which is perfectly fine. Silvervine is not on any veterinary toxicity list for cats.

How to Introduce Silvervine to Your Cat

1. Start with a small amount of silvervine powder or one stick
2. Place it near your cat without forcing interaction
3. Allow them to sniff and investigate at their own pace
4. Most cats that will react do so within 30–60 seconds of sniffing
5. Session done — store the remainder in a sealed bag to preserve potency

Limit sessions to 2–3 times per week for best results, same as catnip.

→ Shop Catnabis Silvervine — including premium gall fruits. Your cat's dispensary, stocked and ready.