DIY Dehydrated Catnip: The Ultimate Guide for Happy Cats

Updated at: 10/05/2025

Is your feline friend obsessed with catnip, but the store-bought supply seems to vanish faster than a laser pointer in a darkened room? Then prepare for a purr-fectly simple solution: making your own dehydrated catnip! Forget expensive bags and questionable additives; growing and dehydrating your own catnip is surprisingly easy, cost-effective, and allows you to control the quality and freshness of your cat's favorite treat. Imagine the savings, the satisfaction, and the sheer joy of witnessing your cat's ecstatic reaction to a batch of homemade catnip – a treat you crafted with love.

This ultimate guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step process for growing, harvesting, and dehydrating your own catnip, ensuring a plentiful supply of happy-cat fuel. From seed to delightful, crunchy nibbles, we'll cover everything you need to know, so let's get started and learn how to create the ultimate DIY dehydrated catnip!

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
  • Cookie sheet
  • Breville Smart Oven
Safety Guidelines
  • Only use organic, pesticide-free catnip. Chemicals can be harmful to your cat if ingested.
  • Thoroughly dry the catnip to prevent mold growth. Moldy catnip is dangerous and can cause illness.
  • Store dehydrated catnip in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place to maintain its potency and prevent spoilage.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Harvest and Prepare Catnip

    • Harvest a big bunch of catnip and place it on a cookie sheet.
    Harvest a big bunch of catnip and place it on a cookie sheet.
    Harvest and Prepare Catnip

  2. Initial Dehydration

    • Place the cookie sheet in your Breville Smart Oven. Set the temperature to 120 degrees and select the dehydrated setting.
    • Dehydrate for three hours initially, utilizing the oven's super convection feature.
    Dehydrate for three hours initially, utilizing the oven's super convection feature.Dehydrate for three hours initially, utilizing the oven's super convection feature.
    Initial Dehydration

  3. Monitor and Adjust Dehydration

    • Check the catnip after three hours. If it's not completely dry, open the oven slightly and continue dehydrating.
    • Monitor the drying process. If needed, adjust the drying time and temperature (lowering it if necessary).
    Monitor the drying process. If needed, adjust the drying time and temperature (lowering it if necessary).Monitor the drying process. If needed, adjust the drying time and temperature (lowering it if necessary).
    Monitor and Adjust Dehydration

  4. Remove and Prepare Dried Catnip

    • Once the catnip is completely dry and crunchy, remove from the oven.
    • Destem the dried catnip to make it easier to store and use. This can be done manually.
    • For finer catnip pieces, use a salad spinner to break down the catnip and remove any remaining larger stems.
    For finer catnip pieces, use a salad spinner to break down the catnip and remove any remaining larger stems.For finer catnip pieces, use a salad spinner to break down the catnip and remove any remaining larger stems.For finer catnip pieces, use a salad spinner to break down the catnip and remove any remaining larger stems.
    Remove and Prepare Dried Catnip

  5. Store Dried Catnip

    • Store the dried catnip in an airtight container.
    Store the dried catnip in an airtight container.
    Store Dried Catnip

Read more: Homemade Chicken Broth for Healthy Cats: Boost Immunity & Recovery

Tips

  • Catnip's effects vary between cats; some experience euphoria, others increased playfulness, and some experience calming effects.
  • Catnip can be grown easily in a garden, much like a weedy mint.
  • Harvesting and dehydrating your own catnip ensures fresher, higher-quality catnip than store-bought options.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-drying the catnip

Reason: Catnip becomes brittle and loses its potency if dried for too long or at too high a temperature.
Solution: Reduce drying time or temperature, aiming for a slightly pliable, not crunchy, texture.

2. Using the wrong type of catnip

Reason: Not all catnip varieties contain the same concentration of nepetalactone, the active ingredient that attracts cats. Using a low-nepetalactone variety will result in less effective catnip.
Solution: Source catnip specifically labeled as high in nepetalactone or from a reputable supplier known for quality catnip.

FAQs

Can I use any type of catnip plant for dehydrating?
While most catnip varieties work, Nepeta cataria is the species with the highest concentration of nepetalactone, the active compound that cats respond to. Other varieties may have less potent effects.
How long does dehydrated catnip last?
Properly stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place, dehydrated catnip can last for several months. However, the potency may decrease over time, so it's best to use it within a few months for optimal effect.