Most of the pictures on my phone are of my cat. Let me be clear, I've had my phone for two years, my cat for eight months, and over half of the pictures in my phone are of my cat. I joke with my boyfriend that if we weren't in a serious relationship, I would be considered a full-on cat lady. At a certain point, it occurred to me that many of my friends and family weren't as enthusiastic about pictures of my cat as I was. While they at first immediately exclaimed at his beauty, now it would often take hours for a response. Was his magnificence waning? No, that couldn't be it. I just had to find a group of people who would appreciate Rigby's naturally long whiskers, people who would delight in him posing like The Most Interesting Man in the World. I made an Instagram account [1] for him.
The second I created it, I was ashamed of myself. I don't even have an Instagram account! I don't take a lot of pictures, and I fear getting addicted to looking at the vacations of my co-workers. I had to make some rules. Rule 1: Rigby would only follow fellow felines. Rule 2: Rigby would post once a day, and he would commit to liking some other cats' pictures. After all, we would be putting these pictures up for other people to see, we should try to do some outreach, right? In any case, here's what I learned.
There Are a LOT of Cats Out There
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 [2] is just one of the many multipet households out there, albeit one of the more adorable ones.
Your Cat Needs to Have More Than One Expression — Unless That's His Brand
Grumpy Cat [3] 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.
People Will Love Your Cat For His or Her Strangest Qualities
If your cat is traditionally beautiful, that's great, but people — myself included — love cats who possess unique qualities. PrincessMonsterTruck [4] 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.
Props Are Your Cat's Best Friend
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.
So Is Photoshop
When all else fails, you better have a friend who knows Photoshop!
You've Gotta Get Down With Hashtags
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!
You'll Have to Get Used to the Product Placements
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.
You're Going to Need to Get Festive
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.
Whatever You Do, Do Not Get in the Picture With Your Cat
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.)
Finally, You — and Your Cat — Have to Really Want It
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!