A Japanese study claims that cats prefer silver vine over catnip, showing more interest and longer reaction times. The news has spread quickly on social media. But there are details that are omitted: the study was funded by a company that already sells toys filled with silver vine. The researchers did not declare the conflict of interest.
Feline behavior science as a sales tool 🧪
The positive reaction of cats lasts only a few minutes, then they get used to the stimulus. To maintain the effect, the owner must constantly buy products. Catnip already works on 70% of cats; silver vine achieves a similar percentage. The company seeks to position its product as superior to increase sales. Additionally, the cats in the study were from controlled colonies, not domestic pets, which limits the generalizability of the results.
Your cat would prefer a cardboard box, but no one tells you 📦
The average cat owner will read the news and rush to buy more expensive silver vine. Meanwhile, their feline will be just as happy rolling around in an empty cardboard box. Feline behavior science is used to sell, not to understand animals. Cats don't prefer anything; they just react to stimuli, and companies exploit this without shame.