LOS ANGELES – Animals can melt the human heart, tickle the funny bone or bring us to tears. And thanks to Instagram, YouTube and other online options, you can enjoy their antics simply by following, liking or pinning them.
Dr. Bonnie Beaver, executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and a professor at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says two things make animal photos and videos so popular.
Many animals have physical traits that subconsciously cause humans to nurture, like large, round heads and large eyes. Think E.T.
Many images show animals doing something unexpectedly clever, human-like or just plain cute – kittens trying to run up a slide, for example, she said.
Grumpy Cat
Nobody’s busier than Grumpy Cat. She had 8.3 million Facebook followers as of Christmas Eve. Her YouTube videos have drawn viewers by the tens of millions.
On Dec. 8, the feline with the comical frown became the first cat immortalized in wax at the Madame Tussauds museum in San Francisco.
The 3-year-old, 4-pounder with feline dwarfism is making her second movie as well as a cartoon series, and is featured in a series of books. She’s also continuing as spokescat for Friskies cat food. Her stuffed animal line will grow in 2016, and there are calendars, socks, T-shirts, sweatshirts, key chains and other souvenirs, said owner Tabitha “Tabby” Bundesen.
Nala Cat
Nala is a 5-year-old shelter cat, a Siamese and tabby mix that stands out as the most popular cat on Instagram with 2.6 million followers. She also has 1.8 million Facebook followers.
Varisiri Methachittiphan found her in 2010 as an orphaned kitten in an animal shelter in Castaic, California and knew she was the one. Methachittiphan started posting photos of the feline with striped fur and big blue eyes and Nala’s popularity exploded. She looks particularly fetching in hats.
Marutaro
This bundle of fun and fur, a 7-year-old Shiba Inu, has been top dog on Instagram for several years. He lives in Tokyo with owner Shinjiro Ono, who says he was more surprised than anyone that Maru’s popularity took off.
“His round face, I think, that’s the charm point,” said Ono. “The round face makes people smile.”
Shiba Inus, with their pointy ears and noses, are a popular breed in Japan. But Maru’s popularity is worldwide, with 2.2 million followers on Instagram.
Toast
Toast is a King Charles spaniel and puppy-mill rescue with a floppy pink tongue that hangs out of her mouth. She’s also a celebrity, appearing in fashion shows and shoots, photographed wearing sunglasses and other accessories, and retweeted by the likes of Reese Witherspoon. She’s probably best-known for her Instagram feed, toastmeetsworld.
On Jan. 13, Toast will marry a dog named Finn at a hotel in Manhattan. Donations to their wedding registry at www.zola.com/registry/toastandfinn will raise money to fight puppy mills and pay for care for needy animals.
