Homemade Pet Toy

MATERIALS
For filling
1 packet of catnip seeds, or 2 or 3 catnip starts
13-inch plastic pots and enough potting mix to fill (optional)
Rubber bands or raffia

For mouse
Scissors
1 child's sock
Felt scraps
Plastic from milk or detergent jug
Cotton yarn
Darning needle

GROWING THE CATNIP
Sow a dozen or so seeds (or plant your starts) in a sunny spot and keep them well watered. You'll need two to three good-size plants to give you enough dried nip to fill the mouse. (If you're worried about neighborhood cat burglars, you can sow seeds or plant starts in plastic pots and haul them in at night once the plants get going.)

When the first tiny flower buds appear, pull the entire catnip plant out of the soil. Cut off the roots, then tie the stems together with a rubber band or raffia. Hang the bundles upside down to dry in a cool, well-ventilated, cat-free area. The catnip is ready to use when the leaves crunch between your fingers.

MAKING THE MOUSE
1. Using scissors, cut off the toe section of the child's sock at the heel. Also cut two mouse ear shapes from the felt scraps and cut a teardrop shape from the plastic stock.

2. Insert the plastic teardrop into the sock (it serves to hold the mouse's shape) and fill the sock with the dry, crumbled catnip leaf. Turn back the sock's edge and, with the cotton yarn and darning needle, lay a running stitch around the opening. Draw the yarn tight to close the opening.

3. Tie off the cotton yarn, leaving the extra for the tail. Sew on the felt ears and create embroidery floss whiskers.