10 Things You Should Know Before You Make Your Cat an Instagram Account

If you don't know this already, this reality will punch you in the face faster than the time it takes to search #catsofinstagram. There are tons of cats on the social network and just as many owners trying to make them famous. In some cases, these cats even reside in the same house. 12catslady is just one of the many multipet households out there, albeit one of the more adorable ones.

Grumpy Cat is one of the most famous cats on Instagram. His constant frown has made him an iconic character, and he's not the only cat who has parlayed a ridiculous expression into a career. Having said that, most successful Instagram cats have varied personalities. You'll see them playing, sleeping, cuddling, eating, strutting, and more. Unfortunately for Rigby, all he does is sleep. When he's awake, he has what we've dubbed "The Rigs Face," which consists of an indifferent stare into your soul. It doesn't translate well on Instagram.

If your cat is traditionally beautiful, that's great, but people — myself included — love cats who possess unique qualities. PrincessMonsterTruck has garnered over 210,000 followers with her pronounced underbite. She even has her own line of branded clothing, and yes, I may have bought my boyfriend a t-shirt from said line of clothing.

When you just can't post one more picture of your cat sleeping, it's time to break out the props. Funny glasses, tiny mittens, and seasonal miniature clothing are all fair game.

When all else fails, you better have a friend who knows Photoshop!

You may think you know how to use hashtags, but oh, how wrong you are. Rigby (aka me) ran out of hashtag ideas around eight or so hashtags in, but the professional cats can roll up to 50 hashtags deep. If you want people to find and follow your kitty, it's time to get creative!

Get ready to be bombarded with "subtle" advertisements for cat food, sophisticated litter boxes, and kitty toys! If you're lucky, you might be approached by a company to share a picture that includes their product.

There's nothing cuter than a Christmas kitty, and if you're smart, you'll exploit that. Put your cat next to a Christmas tree, take a picture while she's innocently staring at an ornament, capture the moment he's playing with some spare ribbon! Christmas comes but once a year, and then, well, then you get to dress your cat up like a leprechaun, the Easter Bunny, and Uncle Sam.

Think of this as the golden rule of Instagram Cats: never get in the picture with your cat. I know, you're so cute when you cuddle! But the fact is, no one wants to see your face. Humans are not welcome in this world of cats. Your followers want to see your cat, and you're just getting in the way. (Note: if you have a teeny 3D-printed version of your cat, people would love to see that, preferably alongside your cat.)

This is by far the most important ingredient in this recipe. You have to be committed to posting pictures of your cat, and your cat has to be an active and willing participant.

While I originally wanted to share pictures of my cat with people who would appreciate his ability to pose precariously on the edge of our couch, it became too much pressure to even remember to post one picture a day. I really just wanted to hang out with Rigby, not spend a bunch of time figuring out what his best angles are. Plus, all the pictures you post should be beautiful. The front camera on my phone has been broken for months, and pictures taken in selfie mode are not as high quality and really awkward to take. Eventually, Rigby started attacking my phone every time I put it in his face, and we mutually decided it was time for a break.

Should you decide you and your cat are ready to take the plunge and make an Instagram account, I urge you to take these tips into consideration. Happy 'gramming!