Cats Go Crazy for Catnip
If you’ve ever given catnip to a feline friend, you know how crazy cats go for the stuff. Andrew Marttila, a self-identified cat photographer, recognized the potential for some amazing photos when he observed how much his former roommate’s cat loved the herb. What resulted was a book called Cats on Catnip, which features photographs of cats “high” on the plant.
“My old roommate’s cat absolutely loved the stuff,” he told POPSUGAR. “We’re talking 12-step program obsession. Whenever I’d give him catnip, I felt like my next move was to call the exorcist. He made the craziest faces and bodily contortions, which fortunately I was able to capture with my camera.” (1)
He continued, “It became one of my favorite things to photograph and most definitely one of the most memorable to my audience. I figured it would be interesting to see how other cats reacted to catnip and to create a series revolving around it.” (1)
Hilarious Photos
Marttila’s Instagram account, iamthecatphotographer, is full of amazing feline photos, from adorable kittens to a Twin Peaks-themed cat photoshoot. But the most entertaining are definitely the ones involving catnip. My favorites had one cat rolling around in the herb and another sticking its tongue out like it was going to lick the catnip. (1, 2)
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I didn’t forget. Happy 4/20. Stay in school, y’all. #catsoncatnip #thisisyourbrainondrugs
“I think, overall, the most enjoyable part about this was the cats’ reactions to seeing a massive pile of catnip,” Marttila said. “A lot of cat owners don’t know how to dish out the stuff. Cats don’t want a pinch! They want to cover their entire bodies in it. I took a number of hilarious photos with cats completely covered in catnip like a suit of euphoric armor.” (1)
Besides Cats on Catnip, Marttila has several other cat photography books and some calendars available. He’s also sharing his feline photograph expertise with a book called How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats, which came out on July 7, 2020. (3)
Catnip 101
If you’re wondering what catnip is and why cats react so strongly to it, you’re not alone. There’s a lot of confusion about why cats love this herb so much.
Catnip plants are actually members of the mint family. It’s native to Africa, Asia, and Europe. Settlers brought it to North America, and it now grows easily in gardens and as a weed. (4)
Cats can’t actually get “high” on the plant. Felines react to nepetalactone, an oil in the plant’s stem, by displaying many of the same behaviors as a female cat in heat. They may jump around, drool, vocalize, or rub their head and body on the herb. (4)
Kittens won’t react to the herb until they are at least six months old and sexually mature. Some cats won’t respond to it at all. These behaviors are hereditary, and 20% to 30% of cats won’t have them. I have two cats, and one adores catnip, while the other totally ignores it. (4)
According to Scientific American, catnip is considered safe for cats, and it’s not addictive. Their response will only last for 10 minutes, and they’ll be unaffected by the herb for about 30 minutes afterward. (4)
It’s totally up to you if you want to give catnip to your feline friend or not. But if you do, make sure to snap a few photos!
