Most people have heard of catnip. But at CATWANT, there is another plant that has become just as special to us: silvervine, also known as matatabi.
Silvervine is a natural plant from East Asia that contains compounds that many cats find irresistible. While catnip is loved by many cats, silvervine can attract cats who don't respond to catnip. In fact, research has found that nearly 80% of cats responded to silvervine, compared with about two-thirds for catnip.
But for us, silvervine became important for a different reason.
We Found Silvervine Through Making Toys
When we design a new CATWANT toy, we are always looking for natural materials that can make play more interesting.
We experiment with different shapes, textures, scents, and natural materials and, most importantly, we pay attention to how cats respond.
That's how silvervine became part of our journey.
We discovered that cats were naturally drawn to silvervine, especially the fruit galls of the plant. It gave us a new way to create toys that encourage cats to sniff, explore, rub, chew, and play.
What started as part of our toy-making process gradually became one of the materials that defines CATWANT.
Why We Love Silvervine
We love silvervine because it is simple.
It comes from nature, it has a unique scent that many cats enjoy, and it gives us another natural way to make playtime more engaging.
And every cat is different. Some are catnip cats. Some are silvervine cats. Some love both!
That's part of what makes creating cat toys so much fun for us. We're always discovering what makes cats curious.
More Than an Ingredient
Today, silvervine is used throughout many of our toys and products. But we don't see it simply as an ingredient.
It represents something we believe in at CATWANT:
Start with natural materials.
Watch the cats.
Keep experimenting.
And make something they truly enjoy.
That's how silvervine became part of CATWANT—and why we continue to explore everything this fascinating plant can bring to cat play.
