> Study find cats rub and roll against these plants transferring compounds known as iridoids to their fur that repels mosquitoes<p>Interesting, but why only cats? Why don't other mammals have a similar reaction to these plants?
I think this explanation is likely correct, but some of the reasoning seems irrelevant (or only somewhat relevant?). If cats were attracted to some other component of the smell of (specifically) these plants, and engaged in the same behaviors, it would produce the same benefit. The fact that the chemical they are detecting actually <i>is</i> the active ingredient seems... almost coincidental?<p>Unless cats, over their evolution, encountered a larger range of iridiod producing plants?
Natural mosquito repellant and it helps with digestive problems. Our cat meows for it when his tummy hurts.<p>They are also attracted to the smell (outside cats always find it) and it clearly gives them a buzz of sorts.<p>The effect it gives seems to vary between cats, our cat gets calmer / drowzy / sleeps right after, but others seem to get more energetic.<p>The cat may not realize "hey I need this for mosquitos" just that it "feels good" and it relieves later problems, so the brain subconsciously seeks it out in the future.<p>For the plant, it benefits from the cross-pollination fuzzy faces provide.<p>It really is like weed for cats, it helps with many ailments and once you start using it the smell attracts you to it.
Discussion from last week: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31748884" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31748884</a>
I have actually noticed a similar thing going on with olives. Our cat would go crazy over them, and I don't think it had anything to do with mosquitos.
I would think that cats' fur would already protect them from mosquitos pretty well. They should also test on fleas - maybe repelling fleas is a bigger reason why cats do this?