How I Gained My First 1000 Followers on a Pet Instagram Account

Starting an Instagram account for your pet, or feeling stuck with a follower count that barely moves? Whether you’re starting from zero or trying to reach your first 1,000 followers, this guide shares ideas you can test on your own page.

I started Hershey’s Instagram account on September 20, 2026. About two and a half weeks later, it reached 1,000 followers. One month in, it had 2,106.

This 34-page guide shares the Reel formats, filming choices, and experiments I used, with real examples and screenshots from my Instagram Insights.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• What brought followers: the introduction format and invitation to follow that I repeated with new footage.
• What I filmed: simple moments, close-ups, and short videos you can adapt to your own pet.
• How I used Trial Reels: my testing approach and what to check if the feature is unavailable.
• Why views aren’t everything: a Reel with 170K views brought 42 follows, while another with 7,845 views brought 259.
• How I approached the basics: profile setup, storytelling, captions, trends, Stories, and editing.
• What to watch for as you grow: “ambassador” offers that ask you to pay, plus examples of my past paid and gifted collaborations.

Is this guide for you?

This guide is for pet owners starting a new Instagram account and creators whose follower growth has stalled. If you’re unsure what to post, struggling to turn views into followers, or finding it hard to reach your first 1,000, you’ll find real examples and practical ideas to try.

The examples focus on my kitten Hershey, with ideas you can adapt to your own pet.

Why learn from me?

I’m Marina, the creator behind @hershey.ragdollmix. I’ve been creating content for more than ten years, including Reels that reached millions of views. This guide brings that experience into the early days of a new pet account.

I also explain the launch support from my earlier pet account, so you can understand my starting point.

34-page PDF • In English • Instant download after purchase

This guide documents my personal experience and results. It offers ideas to test, without guaranteeing a particular follower count or timeline.