Interview with Poppy Hollywood: Our Feline-Friendly Collaboration with the Catnip Queen

As pet parents navigating the wide world of pet products, we sometimes find certain individuals whose passion and dedication to the well-being of our four-legged friends stand out. Their commitment leaves a long trail of happy purrs and delighted whisker twitches behind.

Today, we are honored to interview the Catnip Queen herself, Poppy Hollywood. She is the boss and mastermind of the popular Poppy Hollywood Catnip Joints ™️. Char & Whiskers is proud to work in unique collaboration with the purveyor of one of the feline world's most enchanting herbs, the catnip.

What is Poppy Hollywood About?

Poppy Hollywood is a cat who sells catnip joints on Etsy and Instagram. We'll be discussing with her her hooman, her business, and her life. Poppy's catnips are made with organic catnip from a USA herb farm and handmade in the Catskills.

With over 400 admirers on Etsy and almost a thousand followers on Instagram, Poppy and her catnip joints are famous all over the United States. She also sells catnip toys and accessories such as ceramic ashtrays or catchalls and catnip shakes.

What is a Poppy Hollywood Catnip Joint?

A Poppy Hollywood High Kitty Catip Joint is a 7-inch long joint filled with a unique blend of homegrown and organic catnip. The joint holder is made with 99% biodegradable materials, which include silk taffeta and natural hemp fiber stuffing. It is designed to provide hours of fun and entertainment for cat connoisseurs of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

The Interview:

What is your background?

I am an artist and big-time animal lover. When I was little, I was obsessed with cats, especially Sassy from Homeward Bound, and would gaze longingly at the Himalayan and Siamese cats in the Encyclopedia and would draw and make cross-stitch embroideries of them. When I spotted 1-year-old little Poppy on Petfinder in 2013, I immediately knew she was "the one." 

My work background has been mostly in events and home textile design and production. It's fun for me to go through all the steps of making the joints, and my background really gave me the skills to do it efficiently.

How did you get into making catnip joint cat toys?

I made the first catnip joint for my roommate's cat way back in 2012… and then in 2019, I grew a bunch of catnip in my garden in Queens that I dried and made a batch of catnip joints for friends as Christmas gifts. Then the pandemic happened, and Poppy got reeeeally sick, so I put them on Etsy as a way to make money for her $7k vet bills! It was such a hard time, but so many people I met through Instagram were so supportive. Poppy had a miraculous recovery, and people kept wanting the joints, and now it's been almost four years! 

Does Poppy get to test the catnip?

She has an all-access pass! I have to be very careful with protecting the joints I make because otherwise they disappear 😂 

How has your cat toy business grown over the years?

I am just amazed each and every time I get an order! Especially wholesale, we have sold them in 15+ brick-and-mortar stores. Poppy has also been featured in 2 magazines, which just blows my mind—a true rags-to-riches story. 

What was the biggest challenge in having a cat toy business?

It's tricky for me to grow the business because I do every step of the process myself (OK, my boyfriend helps a little). I am at an in-between place where I'm not able to hire anyone because I'm so busy with everything else going on in my life, we just moved, and Poppy has a human baby brother on the way in November! When I decide to grow Poppy Hollywood, I know it really just depends on me to commit and make it happen.

Do you plan on expanding your cat toy line?

I have made silk mushrooms and a "catnip joint on a stick" wand toy, but they're really time-consuming to make and package, so I mostly stick to the joints since it's just me! I still occasionally make them on special order, but the dream is to partner with an investor who can oversee production so I could make all my wild cat toy dreams come true. 

Who/what is your biggest inspiration in building a pet brand?

Poppy obviously! I consider her my boss, lol. There aren't many options out there for spoiling cats, and she just exudes elegance, which is why the toys are made of 100% silk and stuffed with organic catnip and hemp fiber. I also wanted to make something totally biodegradable because there are sooo many toys made of plastic and polyester that will just sit around until the end of time! 

What is your proudest achievement?

I just fulfilled our first order for 100 joints and 50 catnip shake packets. I have made thousands of catnip joints, but selling so many at once is really mind-blowing, so many happy cats!

Wrapping Up

Learning about our collaborators and fellow cat lovers is always a fun and exciting endeavor. This interview with Poppy Hollywood and her hooman has been one delightful experience. Being able to sell her products through our website is both a privilege and a pleasure.