Catnip lotion as effective as Deet at repelling mosquitoes, study finds | TheBriefWire
Catnip lotion as effective as Deet at repelling mosquitoes, study finds
Published 7 July 2026 ยท science
Researchers testing a cheap, homegrown oil in Uganda found what cats knew all along โ it worked as well as the artificial chemical used globally
Researchers testing a cheap, homegrown oil in Uganda found what cats knew all along โ it worked as well as the artificial chemical used globally A homegrown catnip lotion has proven โjust as effective as Deetโ as a mosquito repellant in trials carried out in Uganda.
Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb from the mint family. The chemical in the plant that causes feline euphoria โ nepetalactone โ also
has insect-repelling properties but this has not previously been commercialised. Continue reading...
Published: July 7, 2026 โข 8:47 PM IST ยท Updated: July 7, 2026 โข 9:10 PM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
Researchers testing a cheap, homegrown oil in Uganda found what cats knew all along โ it worked as well as the artificial chemical used globally A homegrown catnip lotion has proven โjust as effective as Deetโ as a mosquito repellant in trials carried out in Uganda.
Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb from the mint family.
The chemical in the plant that causes feline euphoria โ nepetalactone โ also has insect-repelling properties but this has not previously been commercialised.