Nala

The Story of Nala

Nala is a Siamese-tabby mix with grey and white fur and slightly crossed blue eyes. She was born on July 28, 2010 and adopted from an animal shelter at five months old by Varisiri “Pookie” Methachittiphan, then a graduate student in Los Angeles.

In 2012, Pookie’s sister suggested she create an Instagram account for Nala. The account @nala_cat grew steadily over the next several years, fueled by Nala’s expressive cross-eyed face and photogenic personality. By 2020, she had become the most-followed cat on Instagram, earning an official Guinness World Record for the achievement.

As of 2026, Nala has over 4.4 million Instagram followers. She has also won TikToker of the Year and been nominated for a People’s Choice Award. Her owners, Pookie and Shannon Ellis, manage social media accounts for all seven of their pets combined. They launched Love, Nala, a premium cat food brand sold in major retailers.

Nala’s estimated net worth exceeds $100 million, making her one of the wealthiest pet influencers in the world. She still enjoys cardboard boxes, plastic wrap, and toilet paper rolls above all else. Her story, from shelter kitten to global celebrity, has been used to promote animal adoption and support rescue organisations.