Catnip mosquito repellent

[valmom]

We are between housecats right now, but I can just picture this solution with some of my cats I used to have. Sort of like OFG's.

I also seem to be the only person in the world who can't grow mint of any kind. I even tried it in a pot so it wouldn't get mowed over and it didn't winter over, even under a snow bank for insulation.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Serious question here. A combo of the original recipe with calendula oil. Would this be safe for a baby/toddler?
I refuse to use the nasty stuff on an infant, and will be making use a a bug suit when we are berry picking, but a natural spray would be really nice.

 

[pinkfox]

should be bubbling, if in doubt use water instead of vinegar and boil it up like tea first.

personally ive used catnip oil with great sucess on me and the dogs (i usuall do a combination of catnip, penny royal and lemonbalm oils in water) but ive found it much more effective to make it like a tea then cool rather than just sit the leaves in water/vinegar and shake.
its even better if you just use pure essential oil. only a couple drops of catnip oil though, its quite strong.

my recipie though ive never measured anythign out.
about 2 cup of water, boil...
add a healping handfull of catnip leaves (or about 5 drops of pure catnip oil) a heaping handfull of lemon balm leaves, and about 1/2 a handfull of penny royal leaves and flowers, crush all well and put in boiling water, keep it at a gentle boil for a good 5 mins or so then allow to cool, strain into a squirt bottle with a mister setting and tada.
sometimes ill add some fresh leaves of all 3 to the bottle and give it a shake once in a while, and i store it in the fridge, lasts about 6 months if i dont go out in the evenings much.

it seems to work as well as deet but i reapply once an hour, just a very light mist.

for the baby id probably skip the penny royal and do catnip and lemon balm (grass ect) or catnip and calendula (add 1 drop of each if using oils at a time untill you can just smell it)


bonus, cockrocahes dont like catnip water either

 

[Henrietta23]

I have a friend that swears by pennyroyal. I used to work at a veterinary clinic. Every Christmas we'd get calls from people wanting to know how to keep their cats out of their tree. The vets recommended citrus peels draped in the branches because cats hate citrus. Much more refreshing than dog poo!!!

 

[freemotion]

Much more refreshing than dog poo!!!

Well, yeah, I suppose, but not as funny!

 

[pinkfox]

lol, so bydoing catnip and lemon balm i was actually making a skeeter and kitty repelant lol