We have a ton of cat pics that we've taken recently, and I need to start sharing them! Seeing as I have today off, I thought this would be an ideal time to start.

Seeing the kittie's great interest in the tiny felt cherries (they were fascinated/obsessed), I decided to make them one of their own (as a test - more to follow if successful) out of more durable material*.

I used a scraps from a felted wool sweater (already made 2 Christmas stockings from it), stuffed it with scraps from the same sweater, and dumped in a liberal amount of "Grandpa Jack's" catnip (more on that further down), then sewed it up.

I followed the same pattern as the tute, just with larger circles and a thicker leather cord for the stem. Findings: It's actually too big. They play with it, but it's too big to bat around. I will definitely make more, but smaller.

About the 'nip: Not a great pic (right), but I like the action. Cats generally like wool, and many of them (all of ours, but not all cats) like catnip. This one is stuffed with my FIL's super-potent 'nip. The way we talk about this stuff, you'd think we were talking about another herb.

FIL doesn't have cats, but he found this huge, wild patch of 'nip some years ago, and started harvesting and distributing to friends and family. It's very popular: we are lucky to get one or two small bags (his own son!).

He cuts the entire stalk while the 'nip is in full bloom and hangs it to dry, then a small handful of stems is tied into a plastic grocery bag. I'm not sure what else he did to it - I think it involved mulching one full crop into the soil - but this is the most potent catnip I have EVER encountered. The stuff in the cherry is at least a year old - last year, we didn't get much (any?) from him, but Grandma-in-law had gotten a ton, stripped it into jars, one of which she gave us - and it's still WAY strong. I used the last of that jar for this toy.

We got 2 little bags this year. We keep it in the freezer, and pull it out for special occasions. This stuff is so strong that the cats are perfectly content to snuffle and lick the stems, so it all gets used.

Want some? First tiny bag is free. Second is $100. ;-)

*I bought a craft felt toy ONCE for Sheldon (when he was the only kitty). He ate it. All. Luckily, he just pooped it all out (blue felt poop). No more felt toys for the kitties.