A photographer captures cats enjoying catnip, and the pictures will make you laugh out loud

Zoë MillerJun 13, 2020, 21:36 IST

Grendel, a Bengal cat, enjoys catnip.Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Andrew Marttila is a popular photographer most known for his iconic photos capturing cats in all of their cuteness.
His series "Cats on Catnip" captures different cats having the best time with their catnip.

Photographer Andrew Marttila has a job that would make any animal lover swoon: He specializes in capturing the cuteness and quirks of our feline friends.

Insider spoke to Marttila in 2018 about one of his projects, "Cats on Catnip," which offers a humorous, uninhibited look at cats enjoying the green stuff.

Keep reading to see images from the book and learn more about his background in animal photography.

"I have always loved animals. From a very young age I was exposed to nature programs on television and became entranced by the wonder and diversity of the animal kingdom," Marttila said.

Shoyu, a Siamese cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

"I have always loved animals. From a very young age I was exposed to nature programs on television and became entranced by the wonder and diversity of the animal kingdom," Marttila said.

Thanks to allergies, he grew up with some unorthodox pets such as lizards, turtles, hedgehogs, and even a chicken.

Bambam, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Marttila says he became interested in animal photography the first time he took pictures of his cat with a digital camera.

Haroun, Marttila's Bengal cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

While pursuing a degree in neuroscience, he began honing his camera skills for fun.

Booty, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

After graduating from college, Marttila took a year to see if he could make it as a photographer.

Grendel, a Bengal cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

He quickly amassed a following through social media, and through books like "Shop Cats of New York."

Grendel. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Transforming his hobby into a career "was a genuinely strange experience," he said.

Edgar, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Marttila came up with the "Cats on Catnip" concept about four years ago.

Folsom, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Friends and strangers online got a kick out of the early catnip photos he took.

Banjo, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

So he decided to photograph dozens of cats and their hilarious reactions to catnip.

Coco, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

In order to capture the essence of his feline subjects, Marttila takes what he calls a "laissez-faire" approach.

Sasha, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Cats' unpredictability can be frustrating.

Piper, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Marttila takes time to ensure that the cats are comfortable sharing their space with him.

Face, a domestic shorthair cat, and Foxy, a domestic longhair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

If catnip is present, the results are bound to be amusing.

Piper, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

"If a cat is unsettled, they’re never going to show you who they really are," Marttila said.

Chelsea, a Sphynx cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

By letting the cats relax, he's able to capture their personalities.

Turbo, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

From lethargic ...

Shrampton, a Scottish fold. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

... to frisky.

Coco, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

And everything in between.

Coco. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

With a "revolving door" of foster kittens, Marttila has no shortage of adorable subjects for his photographs.

Yam and Gnocchi, domestic medium hair cats. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

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A photographer captures cats enjoying catnip, and the pictures will make you laugh out loud

"I have always loved animals. From a very young age I was exposed to nature programs on television and became entranced by the wonder and diversity of the animal kingdom," Marttila said.

Thanks to allergies, he grew up with some unorthodox pets such as lizards, turtles, hedgehogs, and even a chicken.

Marttila says he became interested in animal photography the first time he took pictures of his cat with a digital camera.

While pursuing a degree in neuroscience, he began honing his camera skills for fun.

After graduating from college, Marttila took a year to see if he could make it as a photographer.

He quickly amassed a following through social media, and through books like "Shop Cats of New York."

Transforming his hobby into a career "was a genuinely strange experience," he said.

Marttila came up with the "Cats on Catnip" concept about four years ago.

Friends and strangers online got a kick out of the early catnip photos he took.

So he decided to photograph dozens of cats and their hilarious reactions to catnip.

In order to capture the essence of his feline subjects, Marttila takes what he calls a "laissez-faire" approach.

Cats' unpredictability can be frustrating.

Marttila takes time to ensure that the cats are comfortable sharing their space with him.

If catnip is present, the results are bound to be amusing.

"If a cat is unsettled, they’re never going to show you who they really are," Marttila said.

By letting the cats relax, he's able to capture their personalities.

From lethargic ...

... to frisky.

And everything in between.

With a "revolving door" of foster kittens, Marttila has no shortage of adorable subjects for his photographs.