matatabi

The subject of today's post is not a who but a what: meet matatabi.

Matatabi (またたび), silvervine in English, is a plant native to east Asia. In Japan, it's popular for its entertaining, catnip-like effect on cats.

I'd heard about it but never seen it until my friends Vincent and Ayako brought a package of silvervine twigs back from a recent trip to Japan.

My cats liked it well enough, but the response was hardly electric. I was curious to see if I'd have any better luck with the cats at the sanctuary, so last night I came armed with one of these supposedly magic twigs. When I showed it to Karen, Doug and Ann, they looked unconvinced. It didn't help that the first few cats I tried presenting it to just gave me a look as if to say "Uh, yeah... it's a stick."

And then I had a taker...

Fred

And another...

Shylo

... and another. I soon ceased to doubt the power of the twig.
Interesting, though, how some cats found the scent incredibly appealing while others stuck to their original just-a-stick position.

Here are a few more cats who fell into the pro- camp:

Snowball

Angel

Diablo

Josie

Harry

Worried Harry looks a little too excited? Fear not. He went right back to his nap as soon as I took the matatabi away.

Instructions on usage from back of matatabi package

Lincoln

As for Lincoln, he dropped it of his own accord after suddenly discovering a case of the munchies.

PeeWee

Harry

This is Harry:

photo provided by Karen

photo provided by Karen

He can often be found sitting somewhere high up where he can safely nap or peer down at the goings on below. Get too close and he starts looking uncomfortable; keep approaching and he's likely to scoot away to where he can stare from out of reach. A person could be forgiven for thinking he's not tame and not trying to push the whole cuddling issue.

photo provided by Karen

In fact, it turns out to be an issue well worth pursuing as our Harry loves to be stroked and will happily reciprocate the affection by ramming his head against whatever part of you is closest.

Harry has been a RAPS cat for a long time. Leslie tells me he was originally named Churchie after Church Street where he was trapped as a feral. A long time favorite of RAPS president Carol, he became tame after being caged for a time due to dental problems. This gave RAPS staff the opportunity to spend time handling him and getting him used to human contact. Now, says Leslie, "he willingly headbutts some of his human friends from atop the cages."

He does indeed enjoy the attention. Ann demonstrates:

He still likes to peer at me from the top of the cages and he still scoots away if I move too fast, but now I know I'm in for lots of love if I'm just a little bit patient. It really doesn't take him very long to relax. Last week he even came down to the table where I dish out the food and sat there enjoying the sun - and a pat or three - while I filled the plates.

Updated December 12, 2012: I'm sad to report that our sweet old man Harry finally left us for the Rainbow Bridge this week. He was a one-of-a-kind guy and will be sorely missed.