nepeta cataria

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How To Grow Catnip

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Catnip is your feline’s drug of choice. From rolling in it to eating it, chances are that your cat is addict to this kitty drug. Unlike most human drugs, catnip is safe for your kitty. So, go ahead and let your cat enjoy itself and get lost in a euphoric state of kitty bliss. However, if you are purchasing your catnip, it can get expensive especially if you have a out of control kitty addict on your hands. While we here at Crack For Kitty, offer the most potent catnip known to this universe, you might want to try something new this year and attempt to grow your own. How to grow catnip.

Scientifically known as Nepeta Cataria, the catnip plant is a perennial herb that originates from the mint family. Catnip can be grown from a seed, plant cuttings, or from a pre-started plant. If you are sowing your catnip plant from a seed then now, early spring, is the time to start them. You can also start your catnip plant indoors. Catnip seeds take about 5 to 10 days to germinate. After the last frost date, you can transplant your new catnip plants outside.

What You Need To Know About Growing Catnip

  • USDA hardiness for perennial catnip is zones 3a through 9b.
  • Catnip plants like a well drained average soil.
  • You can also use soilless mixes such as: vermiculite, coco peat, perlite and rockwool.
  • Catnip can be seeded right in the ground or raised in a pot.
  • While some plants need acidic soil and others alkaline, catnip plants do not seem to mind the pH of the soil. Any pH range from 6.1 (acidic) to 7.8 (alkaline) will do.
  • If you are planting your own catnip (and they didn’t seed themselves) be sure that you give each plant 15 to 18 inches of space.
  • Catnip prefers to be planted in full sunshine however, catnip plants will grow in shady areas as well.
  • Catnip can grow to a height of 3 to 4 feet.
  • Water is essential for life, but do not over water your catnip plants. Allow the soil to go dry between soakings.
  • The catnip plant is sturdy against most diseases however, can be susceptible to spider and whitefly mites.
  • Most insects are repelled by the catnip plant with the exception of the good ones such as bees and butterflies.

Catnip grows like a weed (weed for cats) so be mindful where you plant it. Catnip self seeds itself which means when the little white flowers appear it is beginning the self seeding process. If you do not want it to spread, quickly get those white flowers off. However, no matter how vigilant you may be in your attempt to prevent spreading, the catnip will always find a way to spread.

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Scubanite Catnip

Green Glow from Planet Meow
Green Glow from Planet Meow

Scubanite blend of catnip is from another world. One look at where this Nepeta Cataria

plant chooses to grow and you too will believe that Scubanite is not of this planet. Scubanite Catnip will make your cat see spaceships and flying mice when they taste Scubanite, our premium and most potent blend of catnip.

Nepeta Cataria, this catnip is organically grown and pesticide free. This exclusive blend is handpicked for perfection then air dried sealing in the nepetalactone oil, the natural catnip oil that drives cats wild. The leaves and flowers are then gently taken off the Scubanite05branches carefully so that the leaves stay whole and do not break. As fresh as if it was just taken off of the plant from planet meow. It does not get any fresher then this!

We’ve said it before but it’s worth mentioning again and again most (if not all) store brand catnips are milled. This means that the catnip is put through a machine, stems and all, and are crunched up. This catnip comes out looking like sawdust. Once the leaves and flowers are crushed they begin to lose their potency due to the nepetalactone oil being released upon the breaking and crushing. You can still use milled catnip and it can still be “fresh” however, most store bought catnip has been sitting around for awhile therefore, it is not fresh.Scubanite02

Whole leaf and flower catnip will stay fresher much longer then store bought catnip. Our catnip will last up to three years if stored in a cool, dry and sealed environment. When kitty is ready for it just crush a little to release the latent catnip oils and there you go, potent and fresh as if I had just been dried it.

Currently, our catnip comes in a resealable bag containing 4 grams of catnip. Yes, it is light on weight but don’t let that fool you. This stuff might be light on weight but it’s extremely potent. You only need to give your cat about two leaves or a leaf and a flower to get the same results as you would from regular catnip. Each bag has roughly 20 servings.

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Wild N’ Free Catnip Blend

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What is our Wild N’ Free catnip blend? It is 100 % USDA certified organic catnip which means it is free of all pesticides. It is also non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism). Our Crack for Kitty Catnip is grown in the USA under strict standards and harvested for maximum purity and potency.

Bring out the wild in your little one with our premium and very potent Wild N’ Free blend of catnip. Nepeta Cataria, this exclusive blend is handpicked for perfection then air dried sealing in the nepetalactone oil, the natural catnip oil that drives cats wild. The leaves and flowers are then gently taken off the branches carefully so that the leaves stay whole and do not break. As fresh as if it was just taken off of the plant. It does not get any fresher then this!

Wild N Free02The problem with most catnip is the milling process. Once the leaves are crushed they begin to lose their potency due to the nepetalactone oil being released upon the breaking and crushing of the leaves and flowers. Milled catnip is still usable as long as it is fresh however, most store bought catnip has been sitting around for awhile.

In this whole leaf and flower state, your catnip will last much longer. I’ve stored catnip in this state for up to three years and when I crushed a little for my kitties it was still potent and fresh as if I had just dried it. As long as it is kept cool, dry, sealed and away from kitties you can store it for some time. This way, you will always have a stock pile of your cats favorite ‘fix’ on hand.

Currently, we are selling it in resealable bags containing 4 grams of catnip. Don’t let the weight fool you! This stuff is light on weight but it’s extremely potent. You only need to Wild N Free04give your cat about two leaves or a leaf and a flower to get the same results as you would from regular catnip. Be sure to crush or rub between you fingers to awaken the nepetalactone oils. Each bag has roughly 20 servings.

It was a good season this past summer so we have plenty on hand. But don’t wait too long; when we’re out you will have to wait until next summer to get some of this exclusive blend.

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Christmas Package CATNIP Sack

XmasCatnip01Don’t forget about your cat this Christmas. Cat’s love Christmas too! Now you can get Crack For Kitty CATNIP prearranged in a Christmas package. This holiday sack is ready to give to your kitty or to the cat lover in your life. Each sack is hand sewn from 100% natural burlap then topped off with a festive bow. Inside the burlap sack you will find a resealable bag containing 0.5 oz of catnip. Each bag has roughly 10 tablespoons or one months worth of catnip. Of course, you may not get a months worth out of this bag if you have more than one cat or if your cat(s) are catnip addicts.

Our catnip is 100 % USDA certified organic catnip which means it is free of all pesticides and is non-GMO. Grown in the USA under strict standards and harvested for maximum purity and potency. Each bag of Crack For Kitty Catnip contains only catnip leaves and flowers (no fillers, just pure catnip bliss). Scientifically known as Nepeta Cataria but to cats, it is simply kitty crack!
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Make your cat feel blissful and groovy by sprinkling out about a tablespoon 2 to 3 times a week. The euphoric state typically lasts 2 to 5 minutes. Sometimes, you can get up to 15 minutes of kitty high depending on your cat. Be sure to rub some catnip between your fingers to release the chemical known as nepetalactone; the natural catnip oil that drives cats wild.

NOTE: Occasionally, small amounts of stems from leaves and flowers might be found in the mixture. This catnip is safe for human use and consumption. Kittens will not respond to catnip until they are about six months old. Sadly, 10 to 30 percent of cats will not respond at all to catnip.

EXTRA NOTE: Each order is for ONE sack however, you can order as many sacks as you want. Since the each sack is hand made there will be slight variations between each one such as size. Also, the topper (bow) may not necessary match the product picture.

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NOW SELLING Crack for Kitty CATNIP

Crack For Kitty CATNIP04Crack For Kitty is blissfully happy to announce that we are now selling Crack for Kitty Catnip. Our catnip is 100 % USDA certified organic catnip which means it is free of all pesticides and is non-GMO (free from genetically modified organisms). This catnip is grown in the United States under strict standards and harvested for maximum purity and potency. Each bag of Crack For Kitty Catnip contains only catnip leaves and flowers. There are no fillers in our catnip just pure bliss! However, sometimes tiny pieces of flower and/or leaf stems find their way in the mix. Scientifically known as Nepeta Cataria but to cats, it is simply kitty crack!

Currently, we are selling resealable bags containing 0.5 ounces of catnip. This is roughly tenCrack For Kitty CATNIP01 tablespoons or one months worth of catnip. Of course, you may not get a months worth out of this bag if you have more than one cat or if your cat(s) are catnip addicts.

How to administer this catnip: Make your cat feel blissful and groovy by sprinkling out about a tablespoon 2 to 3 times a week. This is how we determined that you should be able to get about a month out of one bag. The euphoric state typically lasts 2 to 5 minutes. Sometimes, you can get up to 15 minutes of kitty high depending on your cat. Be sure to rub some catnip between your fingers to release the chemical known as nepetalactone; the natural catnip oil that drives cats wild.

NOTE: Occasionally, small amounts of stems from leaves and flowers might be found in the mixture. Our catnip is safe for human use and consumption as well. Remember now, that kittens will not respond to catnip until they are about six months old. Finally, very sad, but studies have shown that about 10 to 30 percent of cats will not respond at all to catnip.

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Winterizing Catnip Plants

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It has been a fruitful year for catnip but as you know, all good things must soon start to come to an end. It is November which means the temperatures are starting to fall as are the snow flakes. Nepeta Cataria are tough plants and can keep growing through the winter. There are many herbs such as mint and parsley that keep growing even under a blanket of snow. However, snow slows the growing process which means less pickings. Winterizing catnip plants.

My catnip is resilient and is still holding its own. Nepeta Cataria is a hardy perennial cold weather herb. Sadly, the top of the plant will eventually wilt and die from the cold and snow however, the main plant will not die. Here is how you should winterize your catnip plants:

  • As soon as the temps start heading into the 40’s you should cut your catnip back a few inches from the ground.

  • Be sure the weeds are gone so they don’t suck up all of the nutrients in the soil.

  • Cover the catnip with loose dried leaves to provide a blanket of protection for the roots.

Come the first sign of spring catnip will begin to emerge once again. Catnip plants self-seed themselves during the fall. When you see flowers on the plant this means that it is ending its life-cycle and seeding itself for next year. It has the same characteristics of a weed. In fact, many people see catnip as a weed because it will spread like one. If you do not control it it will control you. However, it is a very attractive plant and cats love it.

Catnip also does well in pots. I have some in pots that sit out in the summer then come indoors in the winter months. As long as they are kept warm (they like 60 to 70 degrees), given light, misted with water, and stay away from kitty cats they will be fine. Another catnip season is coming to an end.

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Catnip: The Cat’s Drug of Choice

The desire for happiness is ingrained in all creatures whether is be human or animal. Sometimes this “fix” comes in the form of a indulgence while other times it comes in the form of taking a drug. Cats are no stranger when it comes to their “happiness drug”. Catnip is the drug of choice for most kitty cats. Why are cats so addicted to the green herb scientifically known as Nepeta Cataria?

Cats love to sniff fresh catnip
Cats love to sniff fresh catnip

It is believed that the name “Nepeta” came from a town in Italy called Nepete. The second part of the name “Cataria” may be derived from the Latin word for cat. The Nepeta Cataria plant secretes an oil contained within its leaves and stems called Nepetalactone. This oil is highly affective with most cats in causing them to “get a high”. Nevertheless, there could be a percentage as high as 50% of cats out there that are not affected at all by the Nepeta Cataria plant. Big cats in the wild such as lions and tigers can also fall under the influence of the Nepeta Cataria plant. It is amazing that such a small plant can even affect a large creature such as a lion with the hallucinogenic symptoms from the Nepetalactone oil. However, kittens are immune to the affects of catnip and do not exhibit the same symptoms as adult cats.

Kitty on a catnip trip
Kitty on a catnip trip

It is thought that Nepetalactone may cause hallucinogenic effects in cats. Some cats moan and make other sounds while under the “influence” of catnip. One thought is that they may be hallucinating and that is why they are making those odd sounds. Catnip may influence cats the same way LSD or marijuana does in people. Perhaps catnip is releasing a “feel good pheromone” resulting in cats acting happy. However, bouts of aggression and playfulness can also occur. Other observations that can be observed in cats under the influence of catnip include: chewing, head shaking, sniffing, licking, body rubbing, drooling, stretching, hyperactivity and jumping. Their high could last anywhere from five to ten minutes. Afterwards, they become temporary immune to the affects of the oil and can not be affected again by it for at least an hour.  Catnip: the cat’s drug of choice.

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Nepeta Cataria Plant aka Catnip

Your cat is peacefully sitting on the couch when he catches a scent from the addictive plant that you are rubbing between your fingers. Suddenly, he is alerted to the aroma of a kitty drug scientifically called Nepetalactone.  Nepeta Cataria Plant aka Catnip.  Why does kitty go crazy for catnip?  To put it simply,  there is a alluring chemical composition in the Nepeta Cataria plant.  This plant, which has over 200 species, is where catnip originates.  What is it that takes your kitty from its restful state to “kitty happiness”?  It’s the substances known as nepetalactone, which is the active ingredient secreted from the leaves and stems of the catnip plant. 

Nepeta Cataria plant
Nepeta Cataria plant