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

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

Zoë Miller

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

But there was one small issue. Marttila was allergic to most pets — cats included.

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

Although he never outgrew his allergies, he's built up a tolerance to the cats he and his girlfriend have, including three permanent additions to the family and six fosters.

To manage his symptoms, he takes allergy pills and carries around an inhaler.

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

"An incredibly unique quality of animals is that they are without pretension and are unapologetically themselves, always. The moment I was able to capture that essence through a lens was the moment I became hooked," he said.

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

Booty, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

At first, it was just a hobby.

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 knew it would be tough.

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

Grendel. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

He trusted his creative process — and it paid off.

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

Edgar, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

He currently has more than 530,000 followers on Instagram.

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

Folsom, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

He was inspired by a former roommate's cat who would go wild for the green stuff.

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

Banjo, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

"Out of all the photos I used to take, the catnip photos always evoked the most responses out of people in person and on the internet," he said.

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

Coco, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

He initially envisioned the project as a photo gallery rather than a book.

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

"If you've spent even a few minutes with a cat, you'll soon realize they have their own agenda, and getting them to do your bidding is an exercise in futility," he explained.

Cats' unpredictability can be frustrating.

Piper, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

But patient photographers like Marttila are rewarded with great shots.

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

Then he lets them "exhibit their own natural behaviors."

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

Piper, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Talk about a feline frenzy.

"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

Leaving cats to their own devices, he quietly follows them with his camera.

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

Turbo, a domestic shorthair cat. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

The images in "Cats on Catnip" encapsulate motley feline moods ...

From lethargic ...

Shrampton, a Scottish fold. Courtesy of Andrew Marttila

Time for a cat nap.

... to frisky.