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

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-08 19:07 UTC · Category: Health

## Executive Summary
A new study indicates that catnip-based lotion matches the effectiveness of DEET in repelling mosquitoes.

## Intelligence Brief
Researchers have developed a mosquito repellent utilizing catnip that functions at a level of efficacy comparable to DEET. The findings suggest potential applications for this herbal alternative in various environments, including a specific focus on rural Uganda.


Coverage from The Guardian, USA Today, The World from PRX, News-Medical, and other outlets highlights the development of this low-cost solution. Reports emphasize that the substance offers a natural alternative to traditional synthetic repellents.


Future developments remain dependent on further research and production scale. Coverage does not yet specify the timeline for mass-market availability or regulatory approval processes.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| The World from PRX | The chemical that cats love and mosquitoes hate | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxPMmR3RzVnQjJVQkJXNVlMNUVZOGV6YmswQjlWTlVnU0g4dmpsSmxIck1mVVc0NmctTVR2bjl1U2J5dGMxYWFqWkN4ckZUckdDY2hJNkw1OHFFTXJCOHZOVEZENTNMT0RFQ3Mzcnpfek55SFVyY0I0QVBmdzdPMjQzcTRwU29OcWNCS2tkQ2oyUTBCQQ?oc=5) |
| GearJunkie | Your Cat’s Favorite Treat Can Repel the World’s Most Dangerous Animal | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTE1yc2NTbnZfR1ZNT3hxbGN1eVQ2T2o1cVh5RlNmVEtMdUg3S3hvcmlaWVpxTHFOV05UcldSYUcxOTF4RFZqc0toMWZvejVOUlBjWERCMmhuTjRvYk5lQ29ObWh3UzAzWUdmU2c?oc=5) |
| House Digest | Ditch DEET: Study Finds An Herbal Lotion Just As Effective For Mosquitos | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxQZUtETVlXQnJrUks4a25Xc1MtQU02YmdxUlVTSjQwWDdBRzJnYjEtZGsxTTkyQnFmWlRWTGRKNUdNeXh2NkhLenFfU0ZDSFVVU0EtU0JIbmxTeHVjMy1yMGZfYmZIQl9zS3BURWNqRGhQa1lEcXE0eXpNMWVpMHA1RHpxREhfZw?oc=5) |
| News-Medical | Researchers develop low-cost catnip mosquito repellent for rural Uganda | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxPcTdSQUdCbFoxWjdhMWRxNk9kNWVvUXF4eXdEMWY5VlI0NGVfSnJHR0FNWUxFb1V3UE1CN256aHBUWE93M1B3d0gyLUFGTlpyUGtCakZycWYzVUFzRWFiVElaOFNiOXUxajdhLWcyQ3p0bGpuaktUcncxRmE4Sms2NlZoMHJtYWVaOGV3elo0TUdEdzlURF9VTndKLXFvQ2gyUUFRQlRkR2lfQU4xYWMzMGlEbFZINnFOSkFN?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Catnip lotion works as well as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, study finds | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxOQUlzeUl6emRnUHpFMXJrVHBMMzlwWU5CdXhRcFRRMzh4NGtfaFdBMDYtRUhvVG9FWVdWNC1kX0xCZ3I0MmZEekxYZEpsXzBWd3NRbmJ1VFZKUThGaG9pUUZlZ2t0Qk1qTDlOY3I3ZGpfUm5YVVEwMGFha0pqVU5fWEtPdFg3ZmdoTko3bjV0Rm12Mm9fdFh5elptTzQ0aXIzdmhRWENHOHAyWTNEQnkxWGtHYVZNZktXZGw0Yy1aT3VpQlRlU1drMlA3ZFdoYUZaYUdMYg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Health | Move Over, DEET: Catnip Lotion Is Just As Effective At Repelling Mosquitoes, Study Finds | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxPMC0xeC0xSjZXdmxHd3JGb214VWhYRjdQb01ud0E3bDZiNW5FSFl4bVhVZVM1VDFVYVVmVjltbTNsc0tUTnNVS2JtZnpoWjBUaDFCMGplX1pjbGcxX0RuSS1FUXY0U28xTEpLOUtMaFhQRHU0N1JWd2Rrdi10ZTI4bjhDRQ?oc=5) |
| El Cronista | Scientists Discover a Natural Mosquito Repellent That Works as Well as DEET | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxNRlduMG5wVVlJQWsxTklub1BRQnZtVWRDcG1zY2pGQWVQa29FM0ZINDRRZk50SV9LYXJaRzBGZU5oMVJtQURsV0prUXNjMV9WWnlYSE95ZDMtZWxLa2xpOWFPRWpPNS1yYjBKQTJPd1JqSE00Q1JiY0VtUi1zNU1leDZYVVJ1QzhrcHlTR2tyLU9tS0tyNVE4T3Y2Q2c3X3p1RVdOd2R3amlCNnVtMHJjaFBlb2dFZE0tQ0xz?oc=5) |
| The Eastleigh Voice | Uganda-developed catnip lotion shows promise as affordable mosquito repellent | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxOMW1oNDRITnB4Y0lEYllKdVBobW9yRVh2LW55Nzl0ZDdSVFBSQmJBTU1EbmQ1N0tBNzdsbHhlamQ4LWVyVERpeEtVckZOUlJGYW42cVRrWmRVeEpXb3p4WWpoQ2dDQkhaNjFMbWlzWEI5QUpKbzNua05PWUsyR1czUzhsRlpBb0RZSHltUUI3VFQzcVc0ZnNTajNSUW5oMWtXUEFyS0J0MEZ2MThMMng0VENfU0tRa0NSUFlTRFpCbw?oc=5) |
| PhillyVoice | Catnip lotion is as effective as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, study says | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTE01bjVvSEVWeGxjSE1hRU44TlFBcDNLTHJzZzlBclFXMUtQdzlaQ3NWdlhiNHpfZGkxaDM5RUdQVzNfWHVDTDhQUTdVMGlvUXpqMTN4RF9QSUZLNDNpVERMb09KNGhpUWN0NHdDVHNKQ1FCTTE0S2Qw?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Catnip lotion as effective as Deet at repelling mosquitoes, study finds | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxPeE5QR0NPSjRXQVFWTDB3bVpiY1FLOTNfV1dMeGQxZllGeTJHRllOYXgtam1RSjBBdHJtV3dLYjFsaXJBNG9VSkQ1ZkIyQmttcXNxQWE1VkZ1dEZUY29wM3ZMRDRLejVaQ19qaDRNR0pKdWVLbjBET3loT01jWHdZRVVwcnBzc29NNlM3bXRnWHF0VGVGenFnMng1QmdKRW1nb3c1QTFXdmRfMEptRDJxd1VxSnZIWW5faEFtbHBVZjNlV2c1b1JkMA?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-08/catnip-lotion-as-effective-as-deet-at-repelling-mosquitoes-study-finds*