“Grumpy [Cat] only went first-class, stayed in four-star hotels, and rode in limos or black cars.”

Biting the Hand That Feeds You

With huge social-media followings, pet influencers—yes, that’s a thing—are landing big brand deals. The issue for agents: the animals’ catty owners

By Susan Campos

Photograph by Jeff Minton

On a recent Monday morning, Los Angeles talent agent Colleen Wilson was rolling calls with social-media influencers. “Yes, he should be wearing the vest during the hike,” Wilson confirmed before asking, “Are you O.K. with drone video?” Watson, the client in question, isn’t your typical influencer. He’s a golden retriever who went viral for doing trust falls—falling backwards into his owner’s arms. On Instagram and TikTok, he’s amassed over three million followers.

In 2015, Wilson, a 35-year-old former banker, started Pets on Q, a talent agency that represents cats and dogs around the world. Wilson’s core clients include 20 carefully picked animals, from a cat named Parker to a two-legged, wheelchair-bound Chihuahua.