TikTok is a massively popular short-form video app that has taken the world by storm. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become a hub for viral content and influencer culture. Before TikTok, cat videos had already achieved significant popularity on platforms like YouTube. As early as 2009, lists were being made of The 10 Funniest Cat Videos Of All Time, demonstrating the genre’s hold on internet culture. The simple joy of watching funny feline antics has only grown with the influx of TikTok cat influencers.
TikTok cat influencers are furry phenoms who have amassed huge followings on the platform. With millions of fans, many TikTok cats have become bonafide social media celebrities. These influential kitties enthrall viewers with their cute and quirky content. As TikTok cat influencers continue to rise in popularity, many have started earning serious money through brand deals, merchandise sales, and other monetization methods.
Most Popular TikTok Cats
TikTok is home to dozens of famous felines, but a few stand out for their huge followings and consistent popularity. Let’s look at the top TikTok cats by follower count.
Nala Cat (@nala_cat) reigns as the most popular kitty on TikTok with over 4.2 million followers. This adorable Siamese and tabby mix first went viral for her “pancake” meow and has continued entertaining fans with her expressive personality. Her recent POV videos depicting a day in her life rack up millions of views.
Stryker the Cat (@strykerthecat) has amassed over 2.5 million fans on TikTok. Known for his big green eyes and fluffy gray fur, Stryker’s bemused reactions during magic tricks and other shenanigans consistently delight viewers. His signature move is giving a slow blink whenever his owner asks if he’s sleepy.
Hosico Cat (@hosico_cat), distinguished by his werewolf-like fur and underbite, draws in over 2.4 million followers. Videos of Hosico’s silly antics, like messing with bubble wrap and toilet paper, as well as his permanently grumpy expression make him one of TikTok’s most hilarious felines.
How TikTok Cats Earn Money
TikTok cat influencers earn money in a few key ways, primarily through sponsorships and brand deals, TikTok Creator Fund payments, and merchandise sales.
Sponsorships and brand deals are a major source of revenue for popular TikTok cat accounts. Brands will pay cat influencers to feature their products in TikTok videos and posts. The amount paid can vary greatly based on the account’s reach and engagement, but top pet influencers can earn thousands of dollars per sponsored post or video.
TikTok has a Creator Fund that pays creators based on their video views. While the exact payment rates are not public, influencers typically earn a few cents per thousand video views. For accounts with millions of video views, Creator Fund payments can add up to meaningful earnings each month.
Another income stream for TikTok cat influencers is merchandise sales. Many cat accounts sell custom merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases featuring their pet’s image or popular catchphrases from videos. Fan demand for influencer merchandise can generate substantial profits.
Altogether, these money-making avenues allow popular TikTok cat influencers to earn a lucrative income from their pet’s online fame and cuteness. Careful brand partnerships, Creator Fund monetization, and merchandising are key to maximizing earnings.
Typical Earnings
Most TikTok animal influencers make money through the TikTok Creator Fund, brand sponsorships, and merchandise sales. According to Cats.com, the TikTok Creator Fund pays between 2-4 cents per 1,000 video views. With many popular animal accounts garnering millions of views, this can add up to thousands of dollars per month.
Sponsored content is another significant revenue stream. Brands will typically pay between $100 to $10,000 per sponsored post, depending on the account’s follower count and engagement levels. For example, the famous cat Nala has over 4.2 million followers and can charge up to $3,500 per sponsored post, according to CNA.al.
Merchandising is another income source, with popular accounts earning 20-50% royalties on merchandise sold. This includes items like t-shirts, mugs, and other branded products featuring the pet influencer.
Case Studies
Some of the top earning cats on TikTok include:
ThatLittlePuff
With over 27 million followers, ThatLittlePuff is a grey Persian cat estimated to earn over $26,400 per sponsored post, making him the top earning cat on TikTok. ThatLittlePuff’s account is run by his owner, who films cute and funny videos of the cat’s everyday antics. Brands like Fancy Feast and Temptations cat treats have sponsored posts by ThatLittlePuff.
Venus the Two Face Cat
Venus is a Chimera cat with a distinctly split black and orange face and mismatched eyes. She has over 5 million followers on TikTok. Venus can earn an estimated $9,500 per sponsored video on account of her unique appearance. She has partnered with brands like PetSmart and Red Lobster.
Managing a Pet Influencer
Being the owner of a pet influencer requires a significant time and effort commitment. Pet influencers don’t manage themselves – their owners play an integral role in creating content, engaging with audiences, and promoting their pets across platforms. According to the Pet Influencer blog post from Medium, owners spend an average of 15-20 hours per week managing, producing, and posting content for their pet influencer’s account. This is almost equivalent to a part-time job.
There are also notable costs associated with managing a popular pet influencer. Owners must budget for high-quality photography equipment and props to create appealing content. Travel costs add up quickly when owners bring their pets to exotic locations purely for capturing content. According to the Affable blog post about pet influencers, owning a pet influencer can cost owners upwards of $10,000 per year in equipment, props, and travel costs. The substantial time and monetary commitments required to manage a successful pet influencer account should not be underestimated.
Risks and Challenges
While pet influencers can be lucrative and bring joy to audiences, there are some risks and challenges to be aware of in managing a pet influencer career. Primary concerns revolve around maintaining proper animal welfare standards.
Animal rights groups such as PETA have raised concerns about pet influencers potentially being overworked or stressed in pursuit of viral fame and earnings. As with human influencers, the demands of producing a continuous stream of social media content could take a toll on pets’ wellbeing if not managed carefully. Owners must be mindful of signs of exhaustion or anxiety in their pets.
There are also concerns that the short lifespan of internet fame could lead owners to push their pets into overly-risky viral stunts while their popularity lasts. Owners should be careful not to endanger their pets simply for the sake of views and likes.
Maintaining proper healthcare and limiting working hours can help mitigate animal welfare risks. Consulting with veterinarians and animal behavior experts is also recommended to ensure pets are not being unduly stressed. With conscientious ownership, pet influencers can have safe and enriching careers in the limelight.
Tips for Building a Pet Influencer
If you want your pet to become a successful influencer on TikTok, here are some tips to help build their profile:
First, it’s important to choose an engaging, energetic pet that enjoys being in front of the camera. Pets with big personalities that capture viewers’ attention are ideal for influencing. Consider your pet’s comfort level – if they dislike filming or handling, influencing may not be the best fit.
Next, get creative with your content strategies. Funny pet bloopers, cute reactions, and viral challenges can all help a pet’s content stand out. Show off their skills and quirks through a variety of videos. Custom captions also help the content pop.
Consistency is key when posting videos as a pet influencer. Aim to post new content at least a few times a week to stay top of mind. Use analytics to see what content resonates best with your audience. Pay attention to when your followers are most active online.
With the right pet personality, creative content approaches, and a steady posting schedule, your furry friend can gain a loyal following on TikTok.
Future Outlook
The pet influencer market is projected to continue growing rapidly in the coming years. According to Unleashing Koriyama’s Top 3 Instagram Pet Influencers of 2023, the industry could be worth over $10 billion by 2025. As social media usage increases globally, more pet owners will look to build followings for their pets online.
New platforms like Creator Hub may compete with TikTok for pet influencer content and audiences. Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook also remain strong contenders. However, TikTok’s growth has outpaced other platforms recently. The app’s short video format seems ideally suited for cute and funny pet content.
Some concerns exist around oversaturation of the pet influencer space. As more pet accounts go viral, it could become increasingly difficult for new pet influencers to stand out. Maintaining originality and quality while posting frequently can prove challenging long-term. There are also concerns around potential pet exploitation and wellbeing when influencer fame and earnings are prioritized over an animal’s health.
Conclusion
Looking at the totality of this trend around TikTok cats and the lucrative opportunities it presents, there are a few key points we can take away:
Of the most popular TikTok cats like Nala, Loki, and BenBen, we typically see earnings between $10,000 to $30,000 per sponsored post when the cat has over 1 million followers. These top earners can make anywhere from a few hundred thousand to millions per year from TikTok brand sponsorships and merchandise sales.
For the average TikTok cat with a modest but engaged following in the tens or hundreds of thousands, typical earnings look more like $100 to $2,000 per sponsored post. Much depends on follower count, engagement levels, and the brands/rates they are able to negotiate.
While the potential rewards can be high, having a successful pet influencer involves major commitments of time, resources, and creative content production. There are also risks around overexposure and burnout. Maintaining an authentic feel as fame and commercial pressures rise is key to longevity.
For those looking to grow a pet influencer, focusing on the animal’s genuine personality, creating viral moments, and leveraging trending audios/effects can help gain that initial traction. But retaining a loyal audience and transitioning to paid work requires regular high-quality content that connects with viewers.
As the TikTok cat phenomenon demonstrates, pet influencers represent a lucrative and expanding niche within the broader influencer marketing economy. With the right mix of charisma and consistent creative content, TikTok does offer a path for some cats and their owners to make a profitable full-time career out of viral pet videos.