It's no big secret that pets are the secret stars of the Internet. It was once said that about 15 percent of all web traffic is cat-related (sorry, dogs). Instagram, with its rich, image-based platform, has allowed pet owners to narrate the lives of their furry friends one photo at a time.
That said, who rules the roost on Instagram? I looked into the top animals many agree are the ones to watch. What have I learned? A pretty pet doesn't do it. It's the animals with spunk (or, okay, weird features like eyebrows and mustaches) that seem to capture our hearts.
Dogs
Sir Charles Barkley
Get it? Barkley? A French bulldog with a wide smile, Sir Charles is a Seattle-native who boasts almost half a million Instagram followers.
I love the taste of that salty sea air!
A photo posted by Sir Charles Barkley (@barkleysircharles) on Aug 15, 2015 at 3:07pm PDT
Tuna
Tuna, a chihuahua-weiner dog, has a cartoonish overbite and recessed jawline reminiscent of the old Nickoledeon show Rocko's Modern Life. With over 1.5 million followers, Tuna and his owner have earned a book deal.
I just found this in the archives. You're welcome. #everythingabouthismugisamazing
A photo posted by Tuna {breed:chiweenie} (@tunameltsmyheart) on Apr 18, 2015 at 10:21am PDT
The Pointer Brothers
These German short-haired pointers live in Vancouver. They're so stylish! They look better in hats than most humans do, and have more Instagram followers (101k) to boot.
A photo posted by Steph & The Pointer Brothers (@ifitwags) on Jun 5, 2015 at 9:22am PDT
Cats
Sam (Has Eyebrows)
This NYC cat's expressive face has captured the hearts of about 175 followers on Instagram. You can order a t-shirt featuring Sam's signature eyebrows.
Ummm...did Kanye just say he's running for president? #vmas #NoWeCant
A photo posted by Sam (@samhaseyebrows) on Aug 31, 2015 at 1:57pm PDT
Princess Monster Truck
Quite the smile you've got there, Princess Monster Truck. This kitty's underbite might come from excessive inbreeding among Persian cats, but we forgive.
/\m/\IND CNTRL!!! #PrincessMonsterTruck ------------------------ www.PrincessMonsterTruck.com
A photo posted by PrincessMonsterTruck © (@princessmonstertruck) on Jul 20, 2015 at 4:22pm PDT
Other
Mr. Bagel the Chinchilla
A cute chinchilla who moonlights as an animal rights advocate, he has nearly 100k followers.
A photo posted by Mr. Bagel the Chinchilla (@chinnybuddy) on Aug 30, 2015 at 12:08pm PDT
Jamon the Micropig
Micropigs are a small, docile breed of pig that can be kept as pets. Jamon, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is known for his great outfits and adventures.
A photo posted by Jamon (@jamonthepig) on Aug 11, 2015 at 10:59am PDT