Featured Daily Sketch: Youthful Catnip Victims, 2014

October 15, 2025 Bernadette

catnip cartoon with two cats — “Youthful Catnip Victims”, ink technical pen, 10″ x 7″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2014 when Basil was still called Smokie and Bella was the trusted big sister, two full months older. Who remembers laughing along with Reefer Madness?

It’s true. Bella has discovered catnip in a big way and can’t wait to get her paws on any catnip toy. And when she does, she pays no attention at all to Smokie. She especially likes her Flower Power Mousie and her Psychedelic Sharkie, but really, anything will do. Which will eventually lead to “acts of desperation and violence…hilarity and swooning”, and a cat who is “likely to do anything”. Or maybe she’ll slip into stupefaction “of an imbecile-lethargic kind”. Sad but true.

Yes, they are VERY fun and funny to watch! The other cartoon for tonight was Giuseppe on a box and Jelly Bean on the bed, box seats to watch the GREAT CHASE as the blurs Smokie and Bella ran back and forth and back and forth past the boys in a non-stop game of chase. Or Giuseppe’s expression at watching them wrestle: “Did we do that?” Ah, youth.

In 2025: Bella still takes her catnip the same way—today she walked up to a kick stick, turned around, got herself into position, and fell down on her side clutching and bunny kicking the catnip kick stick. She likes the real stuff too. I pinched a few branches this afternoon and handed them out in the kitchen, but you can’t kick that stuff.

Daily Sketches 2011 to 2015

I think I accomplished what I'd set out to do three years ago today, a challenge to me and entertainment and enjoyment for you: to create a quick sketch of my cats each day as a way to practice and experiment, and present the sketch on that day with no editing, no waiting, no excuses, just to do the sketch and share it.

Read more about the reason for the daily sketches in Daily Sketches: the Idea, Most Popular, Awards.

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