Catnip Nation Wins Best Documentary!

If you've been following my blog for a while, you've most likely read the posts about the documentary film Catnip Nation. I met Tina Traster, Producer and Director of the film, at Cat Camp NYC in 2017. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Tina which led to her contributing not only updates about the film but educational, thought-provoking articles about feral cat communities as well.

What is Catnip Nation?

Catnip Nation is a full-length documentary that looks deep into the soul of a handful of unsung and unseen heroes who feed and care for feral cats. In her statement about the film on the Catnip Nation site, Tina says "We trained our cameras on four individuals who have put everything on the line to fight for a voiceless population. Our characters show us what it’s like to be punished for acts of kindness. They are willing to risk arrest and imprisonment. They’ve transformed their own lives in the fight to teach others about humanity and the responsibility we as a human race have to care for creatures who live in a netherworld between pets and wildlife."

The clips I've seen can be tough on the soul, particularly for those people who are cat lovers and advocates. I've been brought to tears watching some of them and reading Tina's updates. But this is important information that the public needs to know. Cats' lives matter and community cats have it tough living on the street and in the wild. People need to understand the difficulties they face every day and the struggle that is their survival. 




I applaud each and every individual who works tirelessly and goes above and beyond to protect colonies, ensuring they are taken care of. I wish I had the emotional stamina to do the same, but I don't. So I do the best that I can, which is to spread the word through my blog to encourage people to be advocates, donate when they can, and adopt cats.

Catnip Nation Wins Best Documentary!

I was so happy when Tina contacted me to let me know that Catnip Nation would be premiering at the Hoboken International Film Festival in Greenwood Lake, NY. I was even happier to be invited! Unfortunately, the festival was the same weekend as the Cat Writers' Association Conference and Awards, so I was unable to attend. The Catnip Nation series on my blog won a Certificate of Excellence from CWA, and while I didn't bring home the Muse in that category I did win for best Rescue/Advocacy blog. I'm so grateful that Catnip Nation was a part of Lola The Rescued Cat in 2018 because I know Tina's articles helped us shine in that category.

Tina was also a winner that weekend as Catnip Nation brought home the award for Best Documentary! I'm ecstatic that the Catnip Nation crew's efforts were recognized so highly. This is a win for cats, too, because it will bring more attention to efforts that are needed.

Lennon Nersesian, Editor/Co-Producer (L) and Tina Traster, Director/Co-Producer (R)

Here is the official trailer: 




Tina's support of cats doesn't stop with the film. In the official press release, we're reminded that "TNR is complex because it requires buy-in from government and law enforcement." As part of a group called Community Cats Initiative, Tina and others set about to educate and advocate for cats, and specifically for TNR, in Rockland County, New York. Thanks to the efforts of this group, the small Village of Haverstraw (where I grew up) made history in December of 2017 when it passed  Rockland County’s first feral cat ordinance to support TNR! Hopefully, more municipalities will follow suit and choose to save cats. 

Congratulations! 

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Tina and her team on a very well-deserved win! Thank you for all you do to help save cats and to spread the message that their lives matter. I can't wait to see the full-length version of the film! 

If you missed any of the Catnip Nation reports on my blog, you can catch up on them here. 

Please join me in Congratulating the Catnip Nation team! 

Dawn