Illustrator: Scott Zaragoza at scottzaragoza.tumblr.com and instagram.com/artisttocs.
Illustrator: Scott Zaragoza at scottzaragoza.tumblr.com and instagram.com/artisttocs.
Illustrator: Scott Zaragoza at scottzaragoza.tumblr.com and instagram.com/artisttocs.
Illustrator: Scott Zaragoza at scottzaragoza.tumblr.com and instagram.com/artisttocs.
Illustrator: Scott Zaragoza at scottzaragoza.tumblr.com and instagram.com/artisttocs.
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Instacats
More Followers than Jesus: The Feline Royalty of Instagram
[](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1487291562549-5CTRUE4OIAS23GGRW6UK/CAT001.jpg) "Lil Bub," (2014). Acrylic on paper. 11 x 12 inches. Courtesy the artist.
**LIL BUB** instagram.com/iamlilbub
Interview with Mike Bridavsky
_What is the story of your cat’s origin?_ BUB is a magical space cat who as been alive longer than some of the stars in our galaxy. She crash-landed her space pod onto our planet in the sixth month of the two-thousand-eleventh year after the death of a guy named Jesus.
_Any nicknames for your cat?_ Yes, many: Riru Baboo, Raboo Baboo, Robbie Bobbie, Baboo, Bubbo, Grubbo, Sluggo, Bog, Slog, Bob, Bozz, Bubbles, Baburan, Manuman, Banyu, Manyu.
_Would you say your cat’s ego has grown since gaining popularity?_ No, I would not say that.
_What is your cat’s favorite human food snack?_ BUB loves yogurt with a passion, but not just any yogurt. She only likes one brand of yogurt, and that's Brown Cow. This is not a promotional plug (although it is exceptional yogurt). She shows no interest for any other yogurt, even other fancy stuff.
_Which figure do you think your cat best relates to and why?_ **A) Astronaut** B) Cowboy C) President D) Airline Attendant I mean, she's a space traveler.
_What is your cat’s favorite pizza topping?_ A moving spot of light.
_What is your cat’s favorite Beatles album?_ _Ride the Lightning_
_What is your cat’s favorite ’80s cartoon?_ _Snorks._
_What is the strangest facial expression your cat can make? Do you have a name for the expression?_ There is no limit to the number or quality of strange facial expressions she can make. They are all called BUB FACES.
_If your cat were to be best friends with another animal, what would it be?_ A) Dog **B) Monkey** C) Pig D) Another Cat E) Your cat in a mirror F) Stuffed Animal I think she would be best friends with a giant ant, but that's not listed here. If I had to pick one from the list, I would have to say monkey. It's a wild guess.
_Your cat’s favorite resting place:_ **A) Your Lap** B) Couch C) Window Sill D) Cat Bed My Lap.
_If your cat could talk, what would it whisper into your ear before you fall asleep at night?_ She _can_ talk, albeit telepathically. Every night she whispers into my brain the meaning of life and the ultimate answer to the universe, but I'm always too deep asleep to retain the information.
[](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1487291564361-1VS4MKG430V8EFSYIU56/CAT004.jpg) "Princess Monster Truck," (2014). Acrylic and oil pastel on paper. 11 x 12 inches. Courtesy the artist.
**PRINCESS MONSTER TRUCK** instagram.com/princessmonstertruck
Interview with Tracy and Bryce
_What is the story of your cat’s origin?_ We discovered Princess Monster Truck late one night walking home in Brooklyn, N.Y. She popped out of the bushes and let out a ferocious (and very hungry) howl. She looked up at us with her huge golden eyes and we wondered what kind of mystical beast had crossed our path. “It's a Monster Cat!” I exclaimed. It was cold and beginning to snow we couldn't leave her out there, she followed us to our home where we fed, washed her, and took her to the vet to find out about her health.
_Any nicknames for your cat?_ The full name “Princess Monster Truck” was a collaborative effort between us and two other friends. Our friend Jeremy kept calling her “Monster Truck,” while our other friend Hilary proclaimed, “She's not a ‘Monster’— she's a ‘Princess!’” We decided she was indeed all three of these things. We usually call her “Monster” or “Monst” and sometimes “PMT.”
_Would you say your cat’s ego has grown since gaining popularity?_ Well, she does seem to prefer that all humans around her wear a T-shirt with her face printed on it. Princess Monster Truck has never been a modest cat; she's pretty entitled and does whatever she wants.
_What is your cat’s favorite human food snack?_ She's not really into eating human food, but she likes to smell everything and haphazardly rub her two big teeth on food we might be interested in.
_Which figure do you think your cat best relates to and why?_ A) Astronaut **B) Cowboy** C) President D) Airline Attendant Out of those options, we would relate her most to a cowboy-lady. Although I'm not sure how she feels about horses, she does live on her own terms. She's calm, dark, and mysterious, but she's from the streets and has a little rage in her—she's not afraid of a showdown.
_What is your cat’s favorite pizza topping?_ Free-range grain-free canned meat.
_What is your cat’s favorite Beatles album?_ She's never told us.
_What is the strangest facial expression your cat can make? Do you have a name for the expression?_ /\\m/\\ The expression speaks for itself!
_If your cat were to be best friends with another animal, what would it be?_ A) Dog B) Monkey C) Pig **D) Another Cat** E) Your cat in a mirror F) Stuffed Animal The longest amount of time PMT has spent with another animal was with our friend LiL BUB. BUB is from space and full of magic and science, Monster seems to like that. She was recently gifted a LiL BUB plushy, which is really adorable!
_Your cat’s favorite resting place:_ **A) Your Lap** **B) Couch** **C) Window Sill** **D) Cat Bed** All of the above are important components of the Princess Monster Kingdom and daily regimen.
_If your cat could talk, what would it whisper into your ear before you fall asleep at night?_ We don't think Princess Monster Truck cares much about words, but she does love guitar! I think if she could, she would hum metal guitar riffs in our ears all night long, maybe she does already...
[](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1487291563160-UGDVKP0XOA6GEOV6WUN4/CAT002.jpg)"Nala," (2014). Acrylic on paper. 11 x 12 inches. Courtesy the artist.
**NALA** instagram.com/nala\_cat
Interview with Pookie Methachittiphan
_What is the story of your cat’s origin?_ The story of one kitten, Nala, starts off at a home where the owners could no longer take care of the cats and kittens because there were too many. Nala was then taken away to the shelter where she was separated from her original family. Sadly we don’t know what happened to the rest of the cats or kittens, but when adopted, Nala was the only one left. Of course Nala wasn’t Nala then, but an unknown kitten in the shelter, at only five to six months old. On a random day, my friend and I were planning on adopting a cat, but weren’t going to right away because we weren’t prepared. After looking around for a while, my friend found another cat that she wanted to adopt, and I had just picked Nala up for the first time. She licked my face and knew she was the one that we were going to take home.
_Any nicknames for your cat?_ Cutie Pie.
_Would you say your cat’s ego has grown since gaining popularity?_ No, she is just one normal cat.
_What is your cat’s favorite human food snack?_ She doesn't eat human food at all.
_Which figure do you think your cat best relates to and why?_ A) Astronaut B) Cowboy **C) President** D) Airline Attendant Because, she is the boss of our house.
_What is your cat’s favorite pizza topping?_ Pepperoni.
_What is your cat’s favorite Beatles album?_ _Let it Be._
_What is your cat’s favorite ’80s cartoon?_ Dumbo's Circus.
_What is the strangest facial expression your cat can make? Do you have a name for the expression?_ Shocking face. We called it "Nala signature shocking face."
_If your cat were to be best friends with another animal, what would it be?_ A) Dog B) Monkey C) Pig D) Another Cat **E) Your cat in a mirror** F) Stuffed Animal
_Your cat’s favorite resting place:_ A) Your Lap **B) Couch** C) Window Sill D) Cat Bed
_If your cat could talk, what would it whisper into your ear before you fall asleep at night?_ Yes she would, she gives me good night kisses every night.
[](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1487291563753-J4DIS8RGH02942CAW1O1/CAT003.jpg)"Shrampton," (2014). Acrylic and oil pastel on paper. 11 x 12 inches. Courtesy the artist.
**SHRAMPTON** instagram.com/shrampton
Interview with Leilani Shimoda
_What is the story of your cat’s origin?_ Shrampton's storied journey began when he was born in Los Angeles on February 7th, 2011. Only months after, he was the first Scottish Fold to graduate from Oxford with a triple major (electrical engineering, Japanese, interpretative dance). By his first birthday he was bidding his twin sister Bunni adieu as he started his circumnavigation of the world by bicycle. His trip was cut short in Montserrat when a British Blue Hair named Alice stole his wallet (and heart). While she fell in love with the butterscotch stallion, she ultimately left him for an older, richer fat cat. Heartbroken, Shrampton flopped down back in Los Angeles where he has been collaborating with Tom Ford on a line for cats and refining his palate for scotch ever since. His signature flop was born from heartache but inspires happiness in all who see it. He is content, but will he ever find love again?
_Any nicknames for your cat?_ Shramps, Shrampo, Shrampy, Shramp, Captain, Flop, Flopper.
_Would you say your cat’s ego has grown since gaining popularity?_ It's not quite Kanye-level. Yet.
_What is your cat’s favorite human food snack?_ Bonito flakes, Greek yogurt, single malt scotch.
_Which figure do you think your cat best relates to and why:_ A) Astronaut B) Cowboy C) President D) Airline Attendant **E) Other** Shrampton is a nautical expert, serving as Captain of a number of ships through the years. His white mustache is reminiscent of Cap'n Crunch’s.
_What is your cat’s favorite pizza topping?_ White truffles, prosciutto and egg, macaroni and cheese—not all together.
_What is your cat’s favorite Beatles album?_ While he's a fan of their early cover of “Three Cool Cats,” he probably would go with _Revolver_.
_What is your cat’s favorite ’80s cartoon?_ _Garfield_, obviously.
_What is the strangest facial expression your cat can make? Do you have a name for the expression?_ The big-eyed, no-necked, shocked and awed look.
_If your cat were to be best friends with another animal, what would it be?_ A) Dog B) Monkey C) Pig **D) Another Cat** E) Your cat in a mirror F) Stuffed Animal His best friend is his sister Bun. She’s his first lieutenant, his personal stylist, and often tends bar when Shrampton throws one of his renowned dinner parties.
_Your cat’s favorite resting place:_ A) Your Lap B) Couch C) Window Sill D) Cat Bed **E) Other** He has a custom-built cat tree that his grandfather fashioned out of Santa Barbara driftwood.
_If your cat could talk, what would it whisper into your ear before you fall asleep at night?_ Shrampton does talk. He's pretty into Proust right now so perhaps: "The charms of the passing woman are generally in direct proportion to the swiftness of her passing."
[](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1487291607039-978ZBZ9K9TWWZSSI7T2O/CAT005.jpg)"Richard," (2014). Acrylic and gold leaf on paper. 11 x 12 inches. Courtesy the artist.
**RICHARD** instagram.com/richard\_kitty
Interview with Maya Tuttle
_What is the story of your cat’s origin?_ I was at a coffee shop waiting for my drink when a flier for a pet adoption fair caught my eye. I decided to check it out, thinking that hanging with some sweet, orphaned animals was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I got to the Downy Shelter's booth and locked eyes with an adorable, very scared odd-eyed white and orange cat: Richard. He and another cat buddy had been abandoned at the shelter, but the buddy was adopted earlier in the day, leaving Richard all alone. The volunteer allowed me to hold him for a bit (a genius move) and after he snuggled into my arms, I couldn't let him go.
_Any nicknames for your cat?_ King Richard, Richie Rich, Ricker. Some very imaginative, very young Instagrammers have graced him with a moniker that includes a byname for "Richard" plus slang for "kitty" that becomes a vulgar sexual innuendo when the two are placed side-by-side: "Dick Pussy."
_Would you say your cat’s ego has grown since gaining popularity?_ Sometimes. When he sleeps on my record collection or wakes me up an hour before my alarm, I think, "He knows he's got leverage now." But in truth, he's always had this natural confidence and coolness. I believe those characteristics made him a star, not the other way around.
_What is your cat’s favorite human food snack?_ Richard is not allowed to eat human food, which he knows, but he has a thing for Cheetos and will sneakily try and paw one for himself when I'm not looking. He's somehow figured out how to open drawers. He also likes knocking drinks over—not so that he can drink them, but just to watch the mess spread and then watch the show continue as I clean it up.
_Which figure do you think your cat best relates to and why?_ A) Astronaut B) Cowboy **C) President** D) Airline Attendant Richard has lived with other animals and it's mind-blowing to watch the cat and dog social structure basically revolve around him. Richard is a magnetic leader. If he had a show, it'd be _Everybody Loves Richard_.
_What is your cat’s favorite pizza topping?_ I refuse to go in on pizza with him anymore because he does that annoying thing where he just picks off the toppings. He's a "meat-lovers pizza while watching _Orange is the New Black_" type of guy.
_What is your cat’s favorite Beatles album?_ _St. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band_. We argue about whether Lennon or McCartney's sections were better on "A Day in the Life" every time. Then he starts bagging on Yoko, which upsets me because I love her and think she's misunderstood. Then we agree that John and Paul created magic together. We pet it out and move on.
_What is your cat’s favorite ’80s cartoon?_ Richard's got his orange bits and wants to think he's tough, so he can't get enough of Heathcliff. He likes to watch _The Golden Girls_ with me, too, though.
_What is the strangest facial expression your cat can make? Do you have a name for the expression?_ This is more a behavior that accompanies an expression: Richard loves to stare while humans shower. Sometimes he'll sit right on the tub ledge to ogle with a close, unobstructed view. I'm totally serious. He gets a concerned, focused expression that I call: "Peeping Tom Cat." I was disconcerted for a minute but then found out that watching people shower is, apparently, a common cat quirk.
_If your cat were to be best friends with another animal, what would it be?_ A) Dog B) Monkey C) Pig **D) Another Cat** E) Your cat in a mirror F) Stuffed Animal His best friend is our other cat, Toshi. Toshi was a street kitten when they met, so he's always looked up to Richard. Richard soaks up the intense affection. They cuddle and groom each other like soul mates.
_Your cat’s favorite resting place:_ A) Your Lap B) Couch C) Window Sill **D) Cat Bed** I'd modify this to "human bed" (although in his mind that's the same as "cat bed"). He's a guilty bed hog.
_If your cat could talk, what would it whisper into your ear before you fall asleep at night?_ "No, I will be the pattern of all patience; I will say nothing." —King Lear
Illustrator: Scott Zaragoza at scottzaragoza.tumblr.com and instagram.com/artisttocs.
