Cats on Catnip

INTRODUCTION

Most of us would agree that cats are agile, regal creatures, but if you believe that cats are nothing but grace and sophistication, then you’ve probably never seen a cat on catnip.

I’ve been a professional animal photographer for the past five years and have dedicated most of that time to photographing cats exclusively. When photographing cats, the attitude is as important as the gear—patience, good lighting, and a fast shutter speed go a long way. With my setup I’m able to capture pictures at split seconds, catching a cat’s wildest faces and expressions that would otherwise just be a hilarious moving show. I graduated with a degree in neuroscience, but I never imagined it would evolve into exploring the neuro-effects of catnip. Yet, these photos are enough to make any cat lover wonder what is causing this hysterical response.

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, grows rather unfettered in the wild in many parts of the world and is extremely easy to grow at home in most climates. It’s part of the mint family and contained within the bulbs, stems, and leaves is an oil called nepetalactone. Once eaten, rolled on, or crushed, the oil binds to the cat’s nasal receptors and stimulates a response that affects a number of areas in the brain, including the hypothalamus and amygdala, two regions that are key in regulating emotional and behavioral responses to stimuli. This often causes cats to rub their face and body all over the green stuff, which produces a mild euphoric effect and typically lasts about ten to twenty minutes.

Catnip releases something primordial within cats. Carefree and unconstrained, they are free to be silly, exceptionally playful, and downright gnarly. Delightful, elegant Fluffy transforms into a hell-bent renegade. Shy, reserved Mittens becomes a free-loving acrobat. In the blink of an eye, a cat’s expression transforms from bored to inquisitive to playful to curious to bizarre… to utterly unhinged.

In my experience meeting hundreds of cats and kittens through my camera lens, only about four in five adult cats react to catnip, and most are immune to its effects until they’re about four to six months old. I’ve tested catnip on dozens of kittens and only a handful have reacted.

I’ve actually known many of the cats and kittens who are featured in this book their entire lives. I rescue and raise orphan kittens with my partner Hannah Shaw (Kitten Lady), and many of the models were hand-raised by us since they were newborns. Tidbit, for instance, was brought to us when he was found outside without a mother at just one day old. In creating this book, I was able to visit many of our rescues in their adoptive homes and was incredibly happy to see them living the high (ahem) life.

While creating this book, I was astounded to discover how few people have witnessed their cats on catnip, or when they did, what paltry amounts they offered. Since starting this project, I have gone through roughly three pounds of catnip. If I have one lesson to impart, it is this: Don’t be stingy. Catnip is non-addictive and harmless and provides a temporary respite from your cat’s grueling workload of napping all day.

Give your cat a pile of catnip and let the party begin.