Catnip is a fragrant mint used in tea for holistic effects such as soothing stomach upset, treating colds or as an aphrodisiac for cats. Catnip used for teas or cat toys utilizes the leaves and flowers in a dried condition. Please note that some cats will nibble on the actual live plant.   Some cats especially like the flowers as they are the most fragrant part of the catnip plant due to the nepatalactoneoil that is excreted from them. Catnip is a prolific and hearty plant that will produce a healthy abundance of leaves and flowers to replace any stems, leaves or flowers that you will use to dry for teas or cat toys.  You will always have a hearty stash around whenever needed. 
 
How to dry catnip is simple and easy; you will keep everyone and every cat you know very happy, just follow the steps below:
 
1.      Wait until your plants leaves are large and the flowers have bloomed. Once your plant reaches about 5-8 inches tall you are ready to start trimming your pieces. Cut the stems at the base of the plant if you choose to hang dry your plant; snip off the flowers or top leaves if you prefer to dry your catnip flat.
 
2.      To hang dry your plant, tie a long ribbon, string or cord around the bottom of a bunch of stems (not the flowers) and hang them upside down. If you are flat-drying your herb, place them in a basket or on a screen or paper towels 1-2 inches deep. Store either method in a dry, cool, well ventilate area.
 
3.      To keep the plants from becoming moldy, fluff the hanging clusters or mix-up the flat portions daily. Depending on the storage area’s temperature, humidity and ventilation proper drying can take up to three weeks. To speed up the process, plants can be dried in the oven at a temperature less than 125 degrees; this will only take anywhere from four to six hours. When the plants crumble easily and make flake-like pieces in your hands, they are ready for storage.
 
4.      To store your dried catnip crush the plants into small pieces and put them into an air-tight bag. Make sure that all of the air is out of the bag and store them in a cool dry place such as the in the refrigerator or the freezer. Dried catnip will last for several months but please note that the integrity will deteriorate over time with exposure to air and light. 
 
If you find that your kitty isn’t as interested in its catnip toys anymore you can restore the exhilarating scent by placing the toy into a new batch of catnip, spray essential oil onto the toy or use a catnip-infused spray like Catnip Mist by Smarty Kat. This infusion can go anywhere as long as you test the fabric first and if your kitty has claws be mindful that they could destroy the sprayed spot and your furniture.