Homemade Catnip Spray : Cat Care Tips

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Free Cat Toys - Grow Catnip for Free Homemade Cat Toys

Grow Catnip for Free Homemade Catnip Toys

About Catnip

Catnip Plants

It's not a myth--cats go wild for catnip! You can grow your own catnip to make homemade catnip cat toys, and your furry felines will beg for more. Catnip (Nepeta cataria), sometimes called catmint, is an aromatic member of the mint family that contains nepetalactone, an organic compound that cats sniff for its semi-narcotic effect. (Humans can also enjoy catnip's soothing quality by drinking tea made from fresh catnip.)

When a cat encounters catnip, it usually sniffs it, rubs against it, licks it & finally eats it. It's actually the sniffing that produces the high, cats can smell 1 part in a billion in the air, so the cats will eat catnip to bruise the catnip and therefore release more of the nepetalactone. The high produced will usually last for between five and ten minutes and is not harmful to your cat. They won't overdose on it as most cats know when they've had enough and will refuse any further offers.

A side benefit of growing Catnip is that it is also an effective repellent of mosquitoes and cockroaches.

Grow Catnip from Seed

Decide on the location for your containers. Catnip, like most mints, appreciates full sun but will tolerate partial shade, so a sunny patio or south facing balcony or windowsill is ideal.

Fill the containers almost to the top with sterile potting soil and add in a few handfuls of compost or other organic fertilizer and course sand and mix with the soil.

Sprinkle catnip seeds onto the soil, spacing them according to the seed packet instructions and cover lightly with a quarter-inch layer of soil.

Water the pot very gently using a watering can with a spray head to avoid dislodging the planted catnip seeds. Thoroughly moisten the soil, but don't saturate it, and continue to monitor the soil's moisture and whenever it feels dry to the touch water it to keep it moist.

Thin the seedlings when they reach two inches in height. Catnip grows rapidly once it sprouts so when you thin out the seedlings you'll see the remaining plants respond with vigorous growth.

Keep your cats away from the plants, if you can, to allow the plant to mature. You could use wire netting to protect the plant which will allow leaves to grow through for your cats while protecting the body of the plant.

Harvest when the plant is 8 to 10 inches tall as by that stage the leaves will be large and mature (harvest regularly for continual growth throughout the season). The harvest process will depend on how you will be drying the catnip, if drying flat then snip or pinch off the top leaves, if hanging the catnip to dry, snip off long stems. Drying can take several weeks but you can speed it up by placing the leaves on a baking sheet in the oven on the lowest setting. This will take about six hours. The leaves are dry when you can easily crumble them with your fingers, discard the woody stems, and can now be stored in airtight plastic or glass jars.

Make Cat Toys

Make simple catnip cat toys by cutting a circle of fabric about 5 inches in diameter. Pile the crumbled catnip in the centre, and then bring up the side to form a pouch. Tie the pouch closed with one end of the 3-foot cord or ribbon. Dangle your catnip cat toys off a doorknob or chair back and watch your kitties go crazy.

Care for Catnip Plants

A convenient way to take care of your catnip plants is to grow them and leave them in large pots, which you can easily carry in and out of your house based on the season. If you decide to transplant catnip into the garden for the summer you should bury the entire earthenware pot in the ground. Mint spreads rapidly and it will take over if not kept in bounds. Catnip grows best in 60- to 70-degree temperatures inside your house and requires ample amount of light to grow so leave these plants by a window that receives a lot of natural sunlight. Also, ensure the soil remains moist as being in the house soil tends to dry out quickly.

If you already have a healthy amount of catnip growing outside in your yard or garde you can if you wish leave it alone during the winter, allowing the plant to die back and reappear the following spring when it will reappear and can spread throughout your yard and garden. It is a vigorous self-seeder so be ready to re-pot any new plants showing their heads in spring or leave in place for a natural garden.

We hope you find this article useful and enable you to provide your feline friend with a continuous supply of catnip fun.

Free Cat Toys - Grow Catnip for Free Homemade Cat Toys

All Natural Ways to Cure Insomnia From Homemade Herbal Remedies

Energy Sleeping Naturally Without Sleeping Pills

If you are waking up several times during the night, only receiving about 2 or 3 hours of sleep and when the alarm clock goes off you feel like you could use more sleep, you may have the sleeping disorder of insomnia that causes you to be sleepy during the day. This loss of energy stemming from not having a good nights rest can result in a lack of attention, bad temper, on edge, irritable, not being able to focus on what you are doing, lethargic and these effects stay with you the rest of the day, robbing you of the very energy and alertness you need to function daily, whether on the job or your daily life routine.

Catnip Plants

Tiredness and lack of concentration during the day can lead to headaches, migraines, dizziness, mental exhaustion, confusion, memory problems, emotional instability and muscle pain. Your immune system has been weakened, allowing your general health to suffer and exposing you to become vulnerable to many common infections, sicknesses, and diseases. Chronic insomnia can interfere and disrupt a normal life, resulting in more serious disorders such as, arthritis, asthma, stress, kidney, heart disease, etc.

Insomnia is not a disease that is cured by pills. Stress, depression and insomnia work together. Over the counter drugs and/or prescription sleeping pills can actually cause harmful side effects such as forgetfulness, confusion, depression, and breathing problems. The long term studies on the effects of sleeping pills are not very encouraging and conclude those with insomnia are better off without the use of sleeping pills than they are with the use of them. There is no need to put your body through the harmful side effects cause by the use drugs when there is a better answer in the form of all natural homemade medicines and herbs.

Some homemade remedies and herbs for eliminating insomnia:

1) Mix together:

1 tsp. chamomile flowers

1 tsp. hops.

1 tsp. valerian root.

1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 45 minutes, strain and drink 1 hour before bedtime.

2) Take 30 to 40 drops of a liquid extract of dried hops 2 to 6 times a day. To enhance digestion, take before meals. Hops calm the nerves, and relieve the tension caused by stress.

3) Make a sleep tonic from liquid extracts using:

20% fresh valerian root 20% fresh passionflower flower tips 20% fresh chamomile flowers 20% fresh catnip flowering tips and leaf 20% dried hops. Take 15 to 30 drops in a little water before bed.

Valerian relaxes the nerves and muscles, improves your quality of sleep, even making falling asleep easier. Great for insomnia that is caused by mind activity, fear, fatigue, or excitement.

4) A few hours before bedtime take 30 to 40 drops of a liquid extract of Kava. Kava has been used as a mild tranquilizer in the South Pacific for over 3,000 years and its properties allow for a very peaceful sedative feeling which helps to achieve a deep state of relaxation, improving sleep. It reduces stress, tension, anxiety and relaxes the muscles. It can be used as a sedative without the side effects or addiction. The herb Kava is a very powerful herb. Take for only 3 days in a row and do not take more than the recommended dosage.

Vitamin B deficiency insomnia is becoming very common and this nutrient deficit destroys your body and energy, so take these vitamins to regenerate your body while inducing a peaceful and deep sleep.

These are only a few of the more popular all natural ways to treat insomnia that achieves healthier results allowing you to sleep deeply and comfortably refreshing your body with energy. Taking the proper steps to remedy your insomnia allows you to regain your life.

All Natural Ways to Cure Insomnia From Homemade Herbal Remedies

How to Easily Make Chemical Free Homemade Repellents

You do not have to worry about effectiveness of homemade repellents. These repellents are very effective and cause no side effects. You can use such repellents on your plants or in the garden and protect them from harmful effects of chemicals present in commercial repellents.

Simple Homemade Repellents

Catnip Plants

If ants are causing a nuisance in your kitchen shelves, place a cucumber peel to ward them off. The bitter the cucumber peel, the more effective it is as an ant repellent. Make a mixture of soapy water and fill it in any old spray bottle. Spraying it directly on the ants can dispel ants from your home. Sprinkle cinnamon around the areas ants normally come through. You would be soon free of ants. Planting peppermint around your house is a natural way of keeping away ants. Try any of these homemade repellents to get rid of ants in your house.

Pests normally invade your potted plants and your garden. Simple homemade repellents can get rid of all pests and keep your plants healthy and beautiful. Mix one-tablespoon liquid dishwashing soap with a cup of mineral or cooking oil. Mix three tablespoons of this mixture into a quart of clean water. Spray this to get rid of pests. Alternatively, marinate orange, lemon, or grapefruit rinds in water for few days and sprinkle this water on plants as effective pest repellents.

A natural way of getting rid of fleas is to place a wide and shallow pan of soapy water in the area infested with fleas. You should shine a lamp over the water and fleas would jump towards heat of the lamp and fall into the water. Fleas cannot jump out due to presence of soapy detergent. Other homemade repellents for fleas include applying cedar oil, lavender oil, and other herbal oils around ears and neck of your pets.

Mosquitoes are a common menace across any part of the world. Make use of simple homemade repellents to keep away mosquitoes. Catnip oil is very effective against mosquitoes. Apply the oil liberally on your hands and legs. Apply crushed basil leaves on your exposed areas and mosquitoes will stay away from you. Use Feverfew herb on your exposed skin and allow it to dry naturally. This protects you against mosquito bites. Crushed garlic is a very effective insecticide. Soak finely chopped garlic in an ounce of mineral oil for two days. Strain and add few drops of dishwashing liquid. Dilute this with water and spray on plants to keep away mosquitoes, as garlic is a natural pesticide against mosquito larvae.

All homemade repellents are free of chemicals and therefore do not cause any health problems. Mix one tablespoon of Dettol (also called parachlorometaxylenol, or PCMX) and four tablespoons of baby oil and apply on skin to keep off mosquitoes or other small flying insects. Mix a tablespoon of vanilla extract in a cup of water and apply to your skin as a mosquito repellent.

You can also keep a small quantity of this mixture in an open container. The smell of this liquid would keep away all flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. Rubbing little bit of plain alcohol on your hands and legs can keep you free of any insect bites.

How to Easily Make Chemical Free Homemade Repellents