Tails of Fame

The stories behind Instagram's cutest pets.

- By Sakshi Deshmukh

In the hierarchy of internet fame, few can compete with a pair of soulful eyes, a wagging tail, or the unbothered stoicness of a cat who has no idea they're a celebrity. I wonder if Olivia Benson, pop queen Taylor Swift’s Scottish Fold, has any inkling that The Ultimate Pet Rich List' estimates her net worth to be $97 million. Or if Gunther VI, the German Shepherd owned by Italian entrepreneur Maurizio Mian, realises his Instagram bio anoints him as the richest dog in the world, with an estimated net worth of $400 million.

Even beyond these names lies an ecosystem of pets with full-fledged profiles, drawing in thousands—sometimes millions—of followers who religiously watch, comment, and coo over their smallest, silliest gestures.

And, it really doesn’t matter whether or not you classify yourself as a dog or a cat person, for even a video of a turtle nibbling on leaves will leave you with enough serotonin to power through deadlines. Ever wondered what must it be like to stand behind the lens—part documentarian, part strategist—and manage these animal stars whose daily antics can lift the moods of thousands? Cosmopolitan India spoke to some of them to find out everything that goes into making it happen.

DIVA IN A SARI: PLOWY