Cat's Preferences for Cinnamon

Summary: Across multiple independent studies in domestic cats, lynxes, oncillas, cheetahs, and tigers, cinnamon is consistently attractive or calming.

Preference testing performed by the makers of Litter Glitter with domestic cats showed that, when given a choice, cats prefer a litter box containing Litter Glitter, made with pure cinnamon bark, over an otherwise identical box without it (US Patent 19/017,341). Studies in larger wild cat species echo this pattern: cinnamon increases exploratory interest, promotes object play, and reduces stress-related behaviors such as repetitive pacing.

Taken together, the evidence suggests that cinnamon bark has distinctive behavioral effects in cats, supporting its use as the active ingredient in Litter Glitter to relieve litter box-related stress.

Published Studies in Felids

Cinnamon Attracts Lynxes: This study involved two male and one female adult lynx in a half-acre open enclosure [4]. The cats’ movements were recorded with RFID chips. Either catnip, valerian, cinnamon, or nothing as a control was applied to a branch. The branch was then tied to the base of a tree. Each day, the scent was rotated by replacing the branch. The study lasted 45 days. Over this period, the three cats visited the tree a total of 45 times. The cats spent about six times as much time at the tree when cinnamon or catnip was used compared with valerian or no scent at all (Figure 1). The cats also spent more time rubbing on the tree when cinnamon was used, relative to nothing or valerian. 

Figure 1. Average amount of time the lynxes spent visiting a tree covered with either catnip, valerian, cinnamon, or nothing as a control.

Cinnamon Reduces Repetitive Pacing in Northern Tiger Cats: This study investigated how exposure to cinnamon or catnip influenced repetitive pacing in 12 oncilla cats (Leopardus tigrinus)[3]. Baseline pacing was monitored for three days. Then 1 g of cinnamon was sprinkled on wood chips daily for three days, and pacing was recorded again. After cinnamon was removed, catnip was added for an additional three days. Cinnamon reduced pacing by approximately 38% relative to baseline or catnip (Figure 2). In contrast, catnip did not meaningfully reduce pacing.

Figure 2. Average number of times each cat was seen pacing when either catnip or cinnamon was added to their dens.

Cinnamon Attracts Cheetahs, and Tigers: Eight cats (six cheetahs and two Sumatran tigers) were observed to see whether cinnamon or catnip changed how much they interacted with a toy hay ball about the size of a basketball [2]. Each day for seven consecutive days, each animal was given either a hay ball with no scent, a hay ball with catnip, or a hay ball with cinnamon. After the hay ball was introduced, the animals were observed for one hour, and the amount of time each animal spent interacting with the hay ball was recorded. A seven-day interval was given between each hay ball condition (Figure 3). Cinnamon increased the amount of time the cats spent with the hay ball by up to 43%, compared with the unscented and catnip hay balls. The cinnamon hay balls also reduced pacing by 37%, compared with unscented hay balls.

Figure 3. Average amount of time each cat played with a toy hay ball during the one-hour observation period.

Conclusion

Across studies in multiple felid species, cinnamon has been repeatedly associated with greater engagement with enrichment objects and reduction in stress-associated pacing behaviors. These findings are consistent with preference testing conducted by the makers of Litter Glitter in domestic cats, in which cats preferred the litter box containing Litter Glitter over an otherwise identical box without it.