What are Matatabi Chew Sticks?
Matatabi Chew Sticks are one of the most unique all natural cat toys you can get for your own cat or as a gift for another kitty. They are a wonderful alternative to catnip that combines both play and dental health.
Matatabi Sticks are cut from all natural sections of vine of the silvervine plant and contain natural oils that cats are attracted to just like catnip.
You gently rub off some bark of the stick to release the scents then give to your cat to enjoy. Many cats will gnaw and chew on the Matatabi stick either by themselves or with you holding it. It acts just like a natural toothbrush and is a safe alternative for your cat to chew on instead of wires, plastic, or anything else they find laying around.
Where is Matatabi From?
Matatabi, more commonly known as silvervine, is a plant which produces an oil that cats are naturally attracted to. The plant is native to the mountains Japan and China and grows like an ivy on trees and rocks. It is officially named Actinidia Polygama but gets the name silvervine for the distinctive color of its leaves.
How does Matabi Compare to Catnip?
While Matatabi and Silvervine is slowly becoming more well known here in the United States, it is already more popular in East Asia than catnip!
Studies show that 8 in 10 cats have a positive reaction to the scent of silvervine. Furthermore, 75% of the cats that did NOT respond to catnip still had a positive reaction to silvervine! So regardless of whether or not your cat enjoys catnip, silvervine is the perfect alternative to catnip to try.
You can read more about the other forms of Silvervine that cats can enjoy here: Meowyjanes.com/silvervine-and-cats-the-purrfect-match/
How do Cats React to Matatabi?
Every cat reacts to Matatabi sticks in their own unique way. You have to try to find our hows yours will! Some will bat the stick all around the floor and chase it like a mouse toy. Many will roll around and try to rub their faces or back on them and others will rub their gums along the stick. They love to gnaw on it either while holding it in their own paws or with some help from you! However they play, it is always adorable!
