January 12, 2025, 8:56 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Catfluencer Lukas Hintersteiner inspires people on social networks with funny cat videos that show everyday life with his two cats in a humorous way. More than 183,000 people now follow the Austrian on Instagram alone. He has now been voted Newcomer of the Year at this year’s Petfluencer Awards.
Lukas Hintersteiner’s humorous cat videos garnered him the title of “Newcomer of the Year” at this year’s Petfluencer Awards. His account, lilly_lotti_cats, came into existence somewhat serendipitously, the result of a bet with a student. In an extensive PETBOOK interview, he shared how he became a catfluencer, the reasons behind addressing the death of his cat in his content, and the way he manages life with two cats and a toddler.
“The Cat That Died Was a Present for My Girlfriend”
PETBOOK: How did you get your cats?
Lukas Hintersteiner: “The first cat that died was a present for my girlfriend. She always wanted to have cats because she had some as a child. I also had cats and got her Lilly from the veterinary clinic for Christmas. So, she is a laboratory cat whom we rescued. Lotti joined us so that Lilly wouldn’t be alone. She is a typical farm cat from a friend. Lori came along later.”
Did Lilly have any particular health problems due to her past as a laboratory cat?
“Lilly was basically fit, but she had minor illnesses from time to time. It was evident that her immune system had been compromised due to her prior living conditions. After about six years, she developed a tumor, and we finally had to put her down.”
Lukas Hintersteiner Became a Petfluencer by Chance
How did your Instagram name come about?
“I was in a supervision lesson, and the students all had their cell phones in their hands. I then said, ‘Put your cell phones down. There’s nothing worthwhile on social media anyway!’ A student from the back row then shouted that I was just jealous because I had fewer followers than him. I asked how many he had, and he said 372. Then I said: ‘Right! Give me two weeks, and I’ll have more! When I left the room, I seriously asked myself what I had let myself in for here and how I was supposed to manage it.”
And what happened next?
“Then I thought about the fact that everyone loves cats and just started making videos, which were terrible at first. However, one video eventually went viral, and I suddenly found myself with several thousand followers.”
“I Don’t Think Women Like Cats More Than Men”
You won the newcomer prize at the Petfluencer Award a few weeks ago. What does this award mean to you?
“Of course, it’s a great thing and a great honor, especially as an Austrian. I didn’t think we would become so big so quickly. We were really happy when we flew there. My girlfriend and I do everything together. I was already happy about the nomination, but when we were announced as winners, it was really overwhelming. It serves as recognition for the effort we’ve put into our work. A lot of work has gone into the videos, and we now have a nice place where everyone can see it.”
How do people react when you tell them what you do?
“The students respond with enthusiasm, as they are deeply engaged with cell phones and social media. They know us and think it’s great. My circle of friends laughed at it at first, but now most of them like what we’re doing.”
I noticed that there were mostly women at the award ceremony. What could be the reason for there being hardly any male catfluencers?
“That’s a good question. I don’t think women like cats more than men. However, many men feel uneasy about appearing on camera or hearing their own voice in a video. That was the same for me at the beginning.”
“Then Suddenly a Woman from a Romanian Animal Hhelter Wrote to Us …
Where do you get your inspiration for your videos?
“Inspiration often comes spontaneously, sometimes even just before I fall asleep. I have a lot of ideas written down on my cell phone, and I often watch the cats and find stories about their behavior, which I then implement.”
I saw on Instagram that the mother of one of your cats has moved. What’s that all about?
“That was a funny coincidence. After we got Lori, we showed her in a few videos on our social networks. Then, a young woman from a Romanian animal shelter wrote to us and asked whether it was possible that Lori came from this very shelter in Romania. She was looking after a cat that looked and behaved in exactly the same way. It quickly became clear that this was our Lori. We wrote back and forth a bit, and then it turned out that all the kittens from the litter were gone, and only the mother was still at the shelter. We issued a call for help to find someone who could adopt the mother, and to our delight, we found a willing person. Now the mother has found a loving home in Germany.”
“It Was Immediately Clear: She Belongs with Us!”
Has Lori always been so affectionate?
“Yes, when we got Lori, she jumped right up to us and didn’t want to go back down. We were actually going to get another kitten that we had driven there to get, and then Lori marched straight up to us, climbed up on us, hugged us like a person, and wouldn’t let go. It was immediately clear: ‘She belongs with us!’ From the outset, she was extremely affectionate and people-oriented.”
You have now made an interactive mourning post about “cat heaven.” How did that come about?
“Our account has two pillars: humorous and emotional content. Every four to six weeks, I make a video in which Lily reports from cat heaven. It’s humorous but also very emotional at the same time. At some point, I thought it would be nice if I also included stories and photos from our followers. Then, we can tell even more stories from cat heaven and include even more cats looking down on us from there. We launched an appeal and 350 photos came in just 24 hours.”
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Lukas Hintersteiner Processes the Death of His Cat Lilly with His Videos
Do you also make these grief videos to help yourself cope with your grief?
“Yes, definitely at the beginning. When I shoot a video, it feels really hard at first. But as soon as it’s finished, I feel better. Writing or filming helps enormously. I really believe in what I’m doing, and that makes me feel good. Apparently, it helps other people, too. The concept of a blissful existence in cat heaven brings comfort and satisfaction. The feedback shows that it is a comfort to many.”
I’ve heard that your cats find it difficult to stay alone. How do you deal with that?
“Yes, that’s true. Our cats are not fond of solitude. When we leave the house, they often cry at the door for a few minutes. But the good thing is that this rarely happens. We even plan our vacations around the cats. We have three cat sitters who come over when we’re away. Also, my girlfriend is currently on parental leave, which means that someone is almost always at home. Our cats are used to that, and we look after them very closely.”
How do you manage bringing a child and cats together? Have there been any incidents?
“There are often stories where people say you have to give up your cats when you have a child, but I don’t see it that way. Our cats and the baby have lived well together right from the start. Of course, you have to be careful that the cat doesn’t hurt the baby. But we always made sure that the cats felt comfortable and had their own space.”
Our child has become accustomed to the cats, and they have adapted to him as well. Our cat, Lotti, in particular, loves to be near our child. She often lies down right next to him when he’s asleep and enjoys it. When he runs around, she keeps some distance, but there are no problems.
I think it works if you spend enough time with the cats. They mustn’t feel neglected. Otherwise, it becomes difficult. With us, everything harmonizes wonderfully, and it’s really nice to see.”