How To Make Catnip Bubbles

Want to amp up playtime with your kitty? Curious about making catnip bubbles, but not sure how? You're in the right spot! This article will guide you through an easy, fun process to create your very own catnip bubbles at home.

You'll also discover why cats love these whimsical playthings and how to ensure they're safe for your pet. Ready to get your cat leaping and pouncing in joy? Let's get started!

Making Your Own Catnip Bubbles

Creating homemade catnip bubbles is simple and gives you total control over the ingredients, ensuring they're safe and suitable for your pet.

Here's what you need: water, castile soap, catnip (fresh or dried—it's up to you), and corn syrup (this is optional, but it can help create longer-lasting bubbles).

Ready to start the bubble party? Here are the steps:

  1. Boil 2 cups of water.
  2. Stir in 1 tablespoon of catnip.
  3. Let the catnip brew for 15 minutes—think of it like making a strong tea.
  4. Strain out the catnip leaves.
  5. Mix in 1 cup of castile soap.
  6. If you're using corn syrup, add 1/4 cup now.
  7. Pour your bubble mixture into a jar or plastic bottle.

There you have it! Your very own homemade catnip bubbles, ready to bring joy and exercise to your feline friend. But the fun doesn't stop there.

Let's get a little more specific, shall we? A recipe is great, but a "how to" alongside a recipe is even better!

How To Make Catnip Bubbles With Dried or Fresh Catnip

Once you're ready with the ingredients (water, castile soap, catnip, and corn syrup), you can now proceed with these detailed steps:

1. Boil 2 Cups Of Water 

This first step is just like making tea. Use a saucepan or teapot for boiling. Put 2 cups of water into your pot and place it on high heat. Once the water boils, remove the pot from the heat.

While most recipes you will find online use pre-boiled water, the Edible Catnip Bubbles recipe in the cute video below adds the dried catnip right away once the water starts boiling.

2. Add 1 Tablespoon Of Catnip Into The Pot

It's either you use 1 tbsp of dried catnip or at least 8 catnip leaves with stems (depending on your preference or what your cat likes). 

Add the catnip to the pot of water. Stir gently.

Go for the cooler pre-boiled water instead of the boiling water if you want that stronger and sweet aroma of catnip tea in your catnip bubbles.

3. Let The Catnip Steep For 15 Minutes

As you steep the catnip leaves, the water will change in smell and color. Make sure to remove the leaves after 15 minutes. Letting the catnip sit for more than 15 minutes can make it too potent.

Steeping for up to 15 minutes should be sufficient. It will smell a bit like lemon candy.

4. Remove The Catnip Pieces

After 15 minutes, get your plastic or stainless bowl and a strainer. Carefully strain the catnip tea into the bowl.

5. Add 1 Cup Of Castile Soap

Add 1 cup of castile soap and stir thoroughly until well mixed. Make sure that the soap you will use is safe for pets. Traditional soaps contain toxic chemicals that are unsafe for felines.

For a pet-safe product, fur parents recommend Dr. Bronners Pure Castile Liquid Soap.

Click Here To See This Product On Amazon

6. Add 1/4 Cup Of Corn Syrup

Pour in 1/4 cup of corn syrup and mix until fully incorporated. This ingredient is optional, but if you want bubbles that do not pop immediately, you shouldn't miss this step.

7. Transfer The Solution Into A Jar Or Plastic Bottle

After you achieve a perfectly mixed bubble solution, pour it into a jar or two or plastic bottles of your choice. Now, you might want to buy a bubble wand or improvise one using a soft wire. And presto! You can start blowing bubbles for your furry pets to catch!

Click here to see this bubble wand set on Amazon.

Do Cats Love Bubbles?

Most cats love bubbles. Their initial reaction is to ponder and explore what these strange floating objects are. Since cats are naturally curious creatures, you'll see how they play out of curiosity and excitement, trying to catch the bubbles before they pop.

While most felines are fascinated by these orbs that float in the air, some may be completely unbothered. Watch these responses in the video below:

Aside from cats enjoying and ignoring the presence of bubbles, some could also be curious and cautious at the same time. Watch this next video that highlights these scaredy-cats!

Aren't they cute and adorable? Being precious in their own ways, the video goes to show that there is no specific list of “normal” feline behavior. Each fur baby is different and may respond differently no matter what similarities they have with other cats.

Are Normal Bubbles Safe For Cats?

Normal bubbles may contain non-ionic or cationic detergents. Cats might bite the bubbles and get the residue in their mouths or end up swallowing it. Pets that ingest bubble solution could experience upset stomachs or vomiting.

Even kid-friendly bubbles may not be 100 percent safe for cats. There may be something in the soap or in the fragrance that can be an irritant. Homemade bubbles should be safer when you use natural and pet-safe ingredients, but they can also cause an upset stomach if ingested in large amounts. 

Kitten playing with soap bubbles

How To Make Non-Toxic Bubbles

For your homemade non-toxic bubbles, prep the ingredients and follow the directions below.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/4 cup natural dish soap (Seventh Generation Brand)
  • 1 tsp glycerin (Organic Vegetable Glycerin)
  • 5–10 drops of natural food coloring and 5 drops of lavender or lemon essential oil (optional)

Directions:

  1. Combine the soap and glycerin in a glass jar or plastic container. Add essential oil and food coloring if you want fragrant and colored bubbles.
  2. Stir the mixture to blend the ingredients.
  3. Add water and gently stir until well mixed. Make sure, though, to avoid sudsing too much, or the bubbles won't be as strong.
  4. Get your bubble wand and have some bubbly fun!

For non-toxic bubbles, the dish soap's content will spell out the difference. Natural and non-toxic dish soap should be biodegradable and hypo-allergenic, without a trace of dyes, fragrances, petroleum-based cleaners, and phosphates.

Click here to see this product on Amazon.

Why use glycerin? It actually adds moisture, thus creating stronger, longer-lasting bubbles. It's best to use pure and natural vegetable glycerin derived from organic coconut oil.

Click here to see this product on Amazon.

How Do I Use Catnip Essential Oil On My Cat?

Catnip essential oil can be diluted to make catnip spray that works great for spraying on toys, scratching posts, and cat towers. It's also safe to spray on cat beds for your fur babies to enjoy their resting spot.

How about turning catnip spray into catnip bubbles? Find out in another post how to make your own catnip spray, catnip bubbles, and more about catnip essential oil and your cats.

In Closing

If you have yet to see how your feline pets will react to playtime with bubbles, you might as well try making homemade ones with catnip. In 20 minutes, you can make catnip bubbles in seven easy steps using water, castile soap, fresh or dried catnip, and corn syrup (optional).

Not all cats love catnip in its dried or fresh form, but catnip bubbles may better stimulate them.

Before you go, discover more about catnip and its effects on your fur babies by checking out these posts:

How Long Should You Let Your Cat Play With Catnip?

Catnip Not Working – What’s Wrong?

Funny lovely little girl and a cat, blowing soap bubbles. How To Make Catnip Bubbles

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