Catnip lotion as effective as Deet at repelling mosquitoes, study finds

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/07/catnip-lotion-as-effective-as-deet-at-repelling-mosquitoes-study-finds

42 points · 6 comments · view on lemmy.world

6 Comments

RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 35d (2 replies)

With one drawback.

BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 35d (1 reply)

Not a drawback but a happy accident.

idiomaddict@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 35d

It’s likely not exactly an accident, but rather the reason cats like it.

58008@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 35d
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 35d

In a study presented at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Florence on Tuesday, a team working between Uganda and Wales found mosquitoes seeking a blood meal were less likely to land on people wearing lotions made from catnip.

Dr Simon Scofield, a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, said: “We found that a 6% catnip oil was just as effective as Deet, and the 2% catnip oil was only marginally less effective than that.

BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 35d

Do you get to keep all the cats that follow you home?