December 2, 2024, 11:56 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Cat toys with matatabi are considered a miracle cure for many problems that animals can develop. Among other things, it is said to be more effective than catnip, clean the teeth, and even have a detoxifying effect. PETBOOK has tested various products against their grand promises.
Cat owners are increasingly being offered products made from or with matatabi in specialist shops and various online stores. These are usually available as small sticks or in combination with a catnip ball or, as in the picture above, glued in slices to a dangling toy with feathers. But what is Matatabi actually, what effect does it have on cats, and should you give it to them without hesitation? PETBOOK editor Louisa Stoeffler and her cat Remo have tried it out.
What is Matatabi?
The product sold under the name Matatabi is also known as silver vine and comes from the Japanese plant Actinidia polygama. This is a climbing plant that is found exclusively in Asia. The plants, which can grow five to six meters tall, are mainly found in mountainous regions in countries including Japan, China, Korea, and eastern Siberia.
The word ‘matatabi’ also originates from Japanese, meaning ‘to travel again’ or ‘the wandering life of a gambler.’ In Germany, matatabi is primarily known as the woody parts of the plant, which are often sold as sticks for cats. However, the flowers and fruits of the matatabi plant are also commercially available.
What effect does it have on cats?
The plant, which is also advertised as a Japanese catnip, has a strong effect on cats similar to that of conventional catnip. However, it is advertised that even cats that are insensitive to catnip will respond to silver vine. It is also said to be better tolerated overall than catnip. Supposedly, Matatabi is also used as a stick to clean cats’ teeth because they gnaw on the sticks and salivate or chew them.
My cat Remo has had several Matatabi toys for years, which he received as gifts from friends. We have tried both the sticks and the ball, which also contains catnip. The catnip lollipop has been his absolute favorite so far, rubbing against the green ball until half his face was the same color.
Remo currently prefers the ball with pieces of matatabi glued to it, which has feathers on it. However, we – my vet and I – haven’t noticed any effect on his dental health so far. Cats are not dogs that take a stick or a chew bone and chew on it with gusto. Remo does not use the Matatabi sticks to “brush his teeth.” At most, he tears off a piece of bark and spits it on the floor.
I also cannot confirm the grand promises of some manufacturers that Matatabi has a detoxifying effect on cats or stimulates their appetite when they appear exhausted. Matatabi is also often described as reducing stress and promoting arterial health in cats. I have not found any scientific evidence for this either. Personally, I see it more as a nice toy that has a stimulating and, at the same time, relaxing effect on my pet.
Is Matatabi addictive for cats?
Matatabi is often said to be like a drug for cats or to get them high. Many people, therefore, wonder whether there is also an addictive effect when it is used. However, from what we know, this does not seem to be the case.
The Matatabi active ingredients are also not so penetrating that I have to hide the toys. Remo has obviously had enough after a few minutes and leaves it alone. There is also no evidence that sniffing or licking the toys has any habituation effect on him. When I bring out his toys again a few days later, he accepts them with the same enthusiasm as before.
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Is Matatabi a sustainable product?
Matatabi is also often advertised as particularly sustainable, as it is a naturally manufactured product. However, you should be aware that it is a plant with very specific care requirements, which is found in only a few areas of Asia and almost exclusively in the high mountains.
Therefore, it often takes a very long time before matatabi sticks are sold here. It is also impossible to verify the extent to which sensitive ecosystems are already being interfered with in order to meet the growing demand for this alternative to catnip. Therefore, this hyped product of the pet scene is not truly sustainable nor the absolute miracle cure it is often advertised to be.