Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    
    	Have you tried growing it??? You can pick up packs to grow it
    in pet stores, and in florist that sell Package seeds. 
    good luck..
    curt
    

    I get my catnip at Ericson's.  It's not fresh, but when I originally
    asked for fresh, the guy told me that the stuff was pretty darn
    close to fresh.
    
    All my cats like this stuff a whole lot more than the grocery store
    stuff.

    It's real easy to grow some in a pot in a sunny window.  I always
    keep a pot growing in the kitchen,  I mean there is NOTHING like
    a fresh catnip leaf!
                                   Denise

    Tracy,
    
    I've got plenty of seeds at home you're welcome to.
    
    You're in Marlboro, yes? I'm in MRO2.
    
    Edd

      If you decide to grow some (so far, the D.E.A. hasn't declared
    catnip a "controlled substance", so it's legal....)I'd suggest you
    buy plants from a nursery in the spring. Most nurseries that specialize
    in perenniels will have plants. 
      We bought a couple plants two years ago. When Julie brought them
    home, I didn't think they would do much...they were verrry tiny!!
    Little did I know that these babies would grow from their 1/2 inch
    size to two HUGE plants approximately 8 to 10 feet in diameter and
    about 5 feet tall. We used the stuff fresh all summer, and in October
    just before it froze, I cut the balance off at the base, tied string
    around large bundles of it, and hung it in the garage to dry. My
    trio likes it as much as the fresh stuff, and we've still got enough
    to last until the new plants get going in the spring.
    
      Oh yes....the stuff will self-propagate, so if you plant it yourself
    you may have to do something to control it's spreading. Catnip's
    a member of the mint family, and it's habits are similar. Spearmint
    will literally take over your yard if given the opportunity...
    JM

    Most of the gardening places here have catnip in the herbs section,
    in tiny pots.  It seems to like a lot of light.  S&H don't molest
    it as long as the leaves aren't bruised.  When I pick some, I have
    to rub the leaves a bit before S&H are interested.  They like the
    dry kind more.
    

    I've found some reasonably good catnip at Boston Pet for a good
    price (well, good compared to Dr. Pet center which isn't saying
    much).  They sell it in plastic tubs and my guys love it.  
      Also, I've grown it in the past and another way to dry it is to
    lay the leaves between paper towels and put it in your microwave
    at 50% for a few minutes.  I don't remember exactly how long it
    needs to go but you can check it after a minute or two.  The
    paper towel is important as it absorbs the moisture.
      Nancy DC
    

    Thanks for all the advice.  I guess I will try to grow some myself.
    I just hope that my kitties can control themselves and let the plant
    mature!
    
    Merry Christmas from my little angels to yours!
    
           Tracey

    As long as the leaves aren't bruised, there is no scent and the
    cats will leave it alone. (Well, should leave it alone..you know
    cats)
    

    Catnip is frequently used in gardens as an ornamental plant; it
    can grow to near-heroic proportions if encouraged.  Although in
    theory catnip is proof against kitty predation unless bruised, one
    couple who grew the stuff for their cats found that a lit of the
    neighborhood felines liked to lay amongst the plants.
    
    The worst catnip is found at dime stores -- it may have been there
    for months.  The next worse is from grocery stores.
    
    Some drugstores carry catnip to be used as a tea, BTW.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    I just wanted to let everyone know that I did find some catnip 
    which is very close to fresh.  It's as good as if you dried your
    own and it's grown locally.  
    
    I found it at Ericson's Feed Store in Acton as suggested.  It costs
    $2.98 a bag and my cats and I had great fun over the holiday week-end!
                                                                       
    Tracey
    
           &
    
             Friends
    

    What did you put the catnip in when you gave it to your cats?
    
    The Doctah

    I have always just put the catnip on the floor.  I scrunch it up
    first to release the aroma.  They have always immediately started 
    eating it and in the process they scatter the pile.  They then proceed
    to roll in it and act thoroughly undignified.
    
    The effects don't seem to last long (15-20 min), and a nap is usually
    next on the agenda!  As for the amounts, I give each cat about 1/2
    a tablespoon.  Most of it gets swept away after a few snorts!
    
    Every cat is unique and some cats don't seem to be really attracted
    to catnip.  The most fun is watching a cat get catnip for the first
    time (provided it's not a kitten as they usually ignore it).
    
         Tracey  
                  

    I usally put the catnip in an old sock that is headed for the rubbish.
    I put the catnip in the toe, and then roll the sock up so that the
    toe only has 1 other layer of material over it.  I've found that
    the cats love to chew on it that way, and then I don't have to worry
    about them digesting the leaves.
    
    	-Nancy

    I always let my cats eat the catnip.  There's nothing wrong with
    that is there?  It never seemed to do them any harm and I know they
    need vegetable matter in their diets.
     Nancy DC
    

      Re .15
     We let ours have 'er straight-up also... I don't think they actually 
    eat that much, but they chew it and roll around in it like they're
    nut-cases...  My pure white lady looks like a real bum after she rolls
    around in it for a few minutes......little flecks of catnip leaves all
    over her body!!!....oh well, guess that's why we bought the brush...
    JM