Very interesting. Though I have a cat, never though to use some of it for myself to relax. I was told that I have fresh catnip arriving soon. Will check it out.
Thanks.

excellent info!

I must try this. I am interested to see the cats reaction

Is there a trick to successfully growing it from seed? I've never had any luck.
LOL @ Maridell!

Renee - Later on, if you want some, I'll be happy to send you a small plant. It grows like a weed for me.

Ivy - You still don't have the catnip yet? It was shipped out on Tuesday!!!

I think protecting the seedlings from the cats is key.
Grow it in a cage or under some sort of screen until Fall.
Then plant it with something heavy (like bricks or rocks) all around it, close enough to keep the rootball buried when the cats roll in it.
NEXT season, it'll have rooted well enough to stay put.

I tried starting seeds a couple of times in a sunny enclosed front porch (kitties don't go there) but they died. I'm thinking they probably got cooked, so maybe I should try again in a different place?

A neighbor has some growing wild near his irrigation pond. I think it's a partly sunny location. Mint would like a bit more moisture than the average plant. He brought a piece to me after giving some to his cats to check their reaction. His and mine all rolled on it, ate leaves, then took a nap. I'll ask for more and try the tea.

Thanks for the tip, critter--they'd probably do better planted directly in the ground.

Yeah, I was thinking of starting the seeds in my cat proof veggie enclosure, then transplanting with the bricks when it's going dormant.

Great info!

My kitty loves the stuff but it makes him crazy! I lost my plant this year already! It doesn't come back for me either... I think it's the heat. I plan to try putting it in a shadier location next year?!

I'm LOL too, Maridell!

I'm amazed at everyone's difficulties on growing this stuff. It's a damned weed that I can't get rid of. I don't protect it, I don't water it, I don't feed it and I had to chop it down just recently.. it was almost 4' tall! I get seedlings EVERYWHERE in my yard.

I know! It seems like everytime I read that a plant is easy to grow ~ I can't grow it! Unless it is actual mint which, until I cut it, looked like you described your catnip, Toni!

It loves full sun here.
I think the people who lose new plants (without their grips in the soil yet) lose them because cats destroy them by enjoying them.
I did the thing with the bricks in a friend's yard a couple of years ago and hers always comes back.

It's a ^*&% weed here. When I find it in the garden, I rip it out and toss it to one of the cats who chew it up and eat it, but my cats and I can't keep up with it.

I have been reading some interesting things about catnip being a mosquito repellent. Suppose to be more effective than Deet

worth a try ? for those with the ''weed ''problem

Anything's worth a TRY!

I can assure you that catnip does NOT work for me as a skeeter repellent. I've tried it (both with rubbing it on my skin & just sitting with it around me). I was still a skeeter's delight. Skeeters love me.. they must love rotted meat.

Maybe it just works on kitties--never seen a mosquito bite on mine.

I had to cage mine to prevent the cats from destroying it. Right now I haven't had any for a while...it died the winter before last. I noticed catnip is on the list for DD's landscape in the back yard...she's having landscape redone in stages. I asked if any cats were likely to get into her back yard, but she didn't think so.