I grow my own catnip in the back garden. It spreads FAST and uncontrollably. The cats love it fresh. When we take them out in the back while we are gardening, Chestnut just goes and sits in the middle of the catnip, nibbles a bit from the right, a bit from the left, and doesn't move until he lies down to sleep it off. The others nibble that along with grass. Often we look out the window and see the neighborhood cats taking a nibble. I think every cat in a one mile radius has my back yard on its route!

Last Autumn I picked a lot and dried it in the microwave. I pulled the leaves off the branches and stems, set them on a paper towel, put another paper towel on top, and put it in. It only takes about 1.5 minutes. I had a great crop last year, and I was drying for almost an hour. The house smelled wonderful! During the drying, first the cats all came to gather in the kitchen; then they started dashing about; then they all disappearred to sleep it off.

It was much more potent than the Cosmic Catnip I normally buy, but I think that is just because it was fresher. Over time, I needed to put out more to get the kitties to respond to it. Ruffles just rolls and rolls and rolls, rocking the cat perch she is in!

There is also something called catmint. Cats do NOT respond to that It is sold here in the Spring as a flower, for people who don't want all the neighborhood cats visitng.

I have other herbs growing including mint, the cats ignore everything else.

We have been traveling so much this year the garden didn't get any attention and didn't do well. We are away just now and won't be home until after Nov 1. I think that may be too late for drying any catnip this year.