Influencer marketing is huge these days, and it’s no wonder so many people take to Instagram to make an extra buck. You don’t even have to be human to become an influencer. Hundreds of pet owners have used cute photos and videos of their critters to gain a following and fund their pet’s expensive taste in treats in one go.
And you don’t have to be the most popular to earn extra money as an influencer. Micro-influencers, or accounts with under 100,000 followers, tend to work well in smaller niches, while macro-influencers have hundreds of thousands or more.
These pets are among the most successful micro-influencers on Instagram. And they’re all very, very cute.
15. Kedi Cigdem
Instagram handle: @kedicigdem
Number of followers: 4,967
To start off our list of micro-influencers, we have a cat who perpetually looks somewhat wet. And somewhat angry. But she’s neither. That’s just her face.
Her flat little nose makes her look like she’s perpetually scowling when really she’s delighted to see you. She’s almost too fluffy for her own good, but that’s her main selling point.
14. Ollie Fluff Ballie
Instagram handle: @ollifluffballie
Number of followers: 5,904
Ollie Fluff Ballie is our favorite Instagram handle. According to his bio, he’s a rescue with several preferred hobbies, including attacking “all de bugs,” chasin’ the infamous red dot of doom, being a cat, and not givin’ a fluff. Also, treats. Treats are a hobby, no questions asked.
We’d like to say all rescue cats have the potential to become successful Instagram influencers, but few are as adorable as Ollie. He’s a tuxedo cat with a unique, spotted pattern. He’s like a small, fluffy cow that skips the grazing and scratches up the furniture instead.
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Tuxedo Cats
13. Neiko the Frenchy Bulldog
Instagram handle: @neikothefrenchybulldog
Number of followers: 7,604
Neiko the Frenchy is a vibe if ever we’ve seen one. He’s a literal French bulldog, living and working in “La République.” The best part about dog influencers is that they cross cultural boundaries and language barriers with ease.
You don’t need to speak French to want to join Neiko on his day at the beach, and we’d kill to snuggle up with him under a cozy knit blanket with a good book. In our next life, we’d like to come back as a pampered pet influencer.
12. Kela the GSD
Instagram handle: @kelathegsd
Number of followers: 7,660
Kela the GSD is a German shepherd from Monterrey, Mexico. Her photos are more understated and regal than those of most pet influencers, keeping the focus on her big, brown eyes and the funky bandanas she rocks most of the time. She has a bandana for every occasion: Think watermelons and rainbows for summer or colorful plaid for every day.
Her owners started the account when she was just a puppy, so their followers have had a chance to watch Kela grow up. So. Cute.
11. Pino
Instagram handle: @jerky_pino
Number of followers: 8,104
You can already tell this pet influencer account is run by a cat from its handle: Jerky_Pino. Even the best of cats can be jerks sometimes, including the lovable, sometimes bitey Pino. Sneaky Pino lives in Germany with a cat sibling and a human sibling, but he’s the real star.
Like a true cat, Pino’s favorite place to nap is on a laptop, specifically while his owners are trying to work. Pino promotes Purina’s products for cats but only the ones he actually likes. But he likes them a lot.
10. Pickles and Jalapeno
Instagram handle: @picklessayscheese
Number of followers: 10,800
We’re surprised there aren’t more poodle-mix influencers out there because poodles have the best hair by far. This pair, named after bar snacks, are from Ireland. They’re amazingly good sports about scrunchies and silly costumes — probably because they’re also spoiled rotten.
Pickles and Jalapeno are taken on long walks in the Irish countryside all the time, and their humans seem to love them a lot.
9. Lou Beagle
Instagram handle: @lou_beagle
Number of followers: 11,800
Snoopy can’t hold a candle to a real, live beagle like Lou. Born in 2015 in France, Lou is a dog model and influencer, selling products for My Riga, a European pet company that offers pet products of all kinds.
She’s the brand’s dog mascot, and she happily shows off their merch on her adventures to cafes, wildflower fields and her favorite spot on the couch.
8. Bentley the Fluffy Pomeranian
Instagram: @bentley.the.fluffy.pomeranian
Number of followers: 12,800
Pomeranian fur requires tons of maintenance, and Bentley shows off just how beautiful these pint-sized dogs can become with the proper care.
Bentley is treated like a member of the family. He takes daily walks with friends, lounges in his own stroller when his little legs get tired and even joins his mom on horseback rides.
7. Layka Triciclo
Instagram handle: @laykatriciclo
Number of followers: 15,000
Layka is a benevolent golden retriever whose giant heart is only dwarfed by her giant smile and even bigger social media following. She volunteers as a therapy dog with Instituto Cão Terapeuta, an organization in Portugal that provides therapy dog visits to hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities that benefit from a therapeutic visit with a well-trained dog. Over 20,000 people have used their services.
In addition to spending hours of her free time keeping people company, Layka likes to ride motorcycles. She even has her own helmet.
6. Mr. Gizmo the Pug
Instagram handle: @mrgizmothepug
Number of followers: 17,400
Mr. Gizmo reminds us of a jolly old man who likes to read the paper and wears Hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts all year round. If he were a person, he’d wear socks and sandals and be able to pull off the look.
Gizmo loves to play dress-up and party. Mostly the second one, and mostly because parties come with snacks.
5. Penny G. the Dog
Instagram handle: @pennyg_thedog
Number of followers: 18,500
A pet influencer from Italy, Penny G is, according to her owners, the greatest dog in the world. There are far too many good dogs to choose a “best” dog, but Penny comes close. She’s a chocolate lab who loves food, playing and more food.
Nature is a big part of her life, and her family takes her on many long hikes to her favorite swimming holes. The chocolate lab sometimes offers giveaways from Barkyn, a wellness startup for pets in Europe.
4. Batino and Voltaire
Instagram handle: @batino_and_voltaire
Number of followers: 30,500
The Batino and Voltaire Instagram name is slightly confusing. The French account only features one dog who appears to be named Batino … or is it Voltaire? Whatever his name is, he’s a black and white French bulldog, and we want him.
Unlike a lot of dog micro-influencers, this patchwork pup doesn’t need tutus and other gimmicks to make it as an Insta star. He just shows up as his pudgy, roly-poly self — cow spots and all.
3. Snow the Dog
Instagram handle: @snow.thedog
Number of followers: 33,600
When you think of a dog named Snow, you probably picture a giant Samoyed or Great Pyrenees. This time, you’re wrong. Snow is a tiny, pure-white Pomeranian with a massive following on Instagram.
Snow is quite photogenic, and the pup’s account includes cute travel pics, photos of Snow with other doggy friends and plenty of pictures of Snow just being Snow. It looks like Snow is a chef, too.
2. Ronnie Wood Pug
Instagram handle: @ronniewoodpug
Number of followers: 43,500
Pugs are bizarrely popular on social media. People either love them or hate them, and if any pug is going to win you over, it’s Ronnie. He’s like a potato with legs that cheerfully dresses up for every holiday. Everything about him is round, including his big, puppy-dog eyes that stare into the depths of your soul, asking plaintively, “Can I have a bite?”
It doesn’t matter what you’re eating. Ronnie Wood wants it. Lucky for him, he gets to sample plenty of treats from Postman Pooch, the subscription company he recommends.
1. Alfredo and Snoopy
Instagram handle: @alfredoauau
Number of followers: 79,700
Meet Alfredo and Snoopy, a pair of Shih Tzus who go with their owner pretty much everywhere. One of them lost an eye prior to being rescued, but after lots of TLC and time to heal, the sweet pupper lives a full life, able to do everything any other dog can do.
Alfredo and Snoopy frequently recommend pet products, like treats, harnesses, beds and interactive toys. They have a partnership with pet brand Petiko, which offers subscription boxes in Alfredo and Snoopy’s home country of Brazil.