Picture this: on one side, a New York City street where a photographer kneels to capture the soulful eyes of a rescue dog. On the other side, an animated grey-and-white cat swats a bowl off a kitchen counter to millions of viewers worldwide. These are the parallel worlds of The Dogist and Simon’s Cat—two pet influencers who have transformed passion into thriving businesses. Both are adored by U.S. audiences, yet their approaches to making money could not be more different.
Understanding their business models matters because pet influencers are not just entertainment—they’re an engine in the U.S. economy. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans are projected to spend over $150 billion on their pets in 2025, with a growing slice devoted to influencer-driven purchases. By comparing The Dogist business model USA with Simon’s Cat revenue streams, we gain insights into USA pet influencer market trends, brand collaborations, and the future of pet-related entrepreneurship.
Who They Are and Why Their Business Models Matter
The Dogist began in 2013 when Elias Weiss Friedman started photographing dogs on the streets of New York City. His candid, heartfelt portraits of everyday pups—purebreds, rescues, and strays—quickly went viral. The brand now boasts millions of Instagram followers, bestselling coffee-table books, merchandise, and collaborations with top pet brands. It’s a quintessential American story: street art meets entrepreneurship.
Simon’s Cat, created by British animator Simon Tofield in 2008, tells short, dialogue-free stories of a mischievous cat and his long-suffering owner. The humor is universal, and U.S. audiences make up a huge chunk of its fanbase. The franchise has grown far beyond YouTube shorts, branching into books, plush toys, calendars, and even mobile games. Despite its British roots, Simon’s Cat has become a mainstay in American pet-loving households.
The Dogist vs Simon’s Cat 2025 comparison is especially relevant for brands looking to understand how pet influencers make money in America. While The Dogist thrives on authenticity and real-world connections, Simon’s Cat excels in creating evergreen intellectual property that can be licensed and monetized across platforms.
Income Streams: How These Pet Influencers Make Money in America
Both influencers generate revenue through multiple channels, but their approaches differ significantly.
The Dogist business model USA relies heavily on sponsorships, brand collaborations, and community-driven projects. Major U.S. pet brands like Purina and high-profile non-pet brands such as Google have sponsored campaigns featuring The Dogist’s photography. These partnerships are often more than product placements—they include storytelling about rescue dogs or adoption drives that align with American values of compassion and authenticity.
Simon’s Cat revenue streams include YouTube ad revenue, book sales, licensing deals, and games. Its YouTube channel has amassed over 6 million subscribers and billions of views, generating significant ad income. The brand’s licensing agreements bring Simon’s Cat merchandise to U.S. retailers, from plush toys to kitchenware. The franchise’s mobile games, like “Simon’s Cat Crunch Time,” tap into the U.S. gaming market while reinforcing brand loyalty.
Sponsorships and Collaborations
For The Dogist, sponsorships are about storytelling. A single Instagram post of a rescue dog wearing a branded collar can inspire thousands of Americans to donate to shelters or buy the featured product. Campaigns like Feeding Friends—a partnership with Purina to deliver meals to rescue dogs—illustrate how emotionally resonant content drives revenue. This deep engagement allows The Dogist to command premium rates for sponsored content.
Simon’s Cat approaches sponsorship differently. Its collaborations often involve animated shorts featuring a partner’s product in a humorous, organic way. Because the character is beloved worldwide, U.S. brands can leverage Simon’s Cat’s broad audience for cross-generational marketing—grandparents, parents, and kids all recognize the character. This universality gives Simon’s Cat a competitive edge in the USA pet influencer market trends.
Merchandise and Books
Merchandise is a cornerstone of both business models. The Dogist sells apparel for humans and accessories for dogs, including branded leashes, hats, and t-shirts. These products appeal directly to American pet owners who want to wear their love for dogs proudly. The Dogist’s coffee-table books, such as “The Dogist” and “Puppies,” are popular holiday gifts and have sold tens of thousands of copies across U.S. bookstores and online platforms.
Simon’s Cat books—like “Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos” and “Simon’s Cat vs. the World”—are mainstays in U.S. bookstores, often displayed alongside Garfield and Snoopy collections. Licensed merchandise ranges from mugs and calendars to plush toys. These items generate steady income and reinforce the brand’s presence in American homes year-round.
Digital Content and Ad Revenue
The Dogist’s focus has shifted beyond still photography to short-form video content, especially Instagram Reels and TikTok clips. These platforms are vital in the U.S., where younger audiences consume content primarily through short videos. While Instagram doesn’t offer ad revenue like YouTube, The Dogist leverages high engagement to secure brand deals that pay far more than typical ad shares.
Simon’s Cat, conversely, thrives on YouTube ad revenue. Its simple, dialogue-free animations are inexpensive to translate for global audiences, making the channel’s U.S. ad revenue substantial. Additionally, Simon’s Cat content is evergreen: a video made in 2015 can continue earning income in 2025. This long-tail monetization is a strength The Dogist cannot replicate with time-sensitive street photography.
Diversification Strategies: Photography vs. Animation
The Dogist’s diversification strategy is rooted in expanding beyond photography. By introducing branded merchandise, publishing books, and hosting pop-up events or gallery exhibitions, The Dogist creates multiple revenue streams without straying too far from its core identity. In the USA, live events—like rescue dog meetups—offer opportunities to connect directly with fans and sell products on-site.
Simon’s Cat’s strategy is even broader. Its animated character is intellectual property that can be licensed to virtually any category, from stationery to video games. Games like “Simon’s Cat Story Time” on Apple Arcade expand the franchise into the U.S. mobile gaming market. Licensing deals with U.S. manufacturers ensure that Simon’s Cat products are widely available without the brand needing to manage manufacturing or distribution directly.
The Role of Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms are not interchangeable for these influencers—they each use them strategically.
The Dogist leverages Instagram as its primary platform. High-quality dog portraits perform exceptionally well on Instagram’s visual-first feed, making it the perfect space for sponsorships and merchandise promotion. TikTok is increasingly important for reaching younger audiences in the U.S., with The Dogist sharing behind-the-scenes videos of photo shoots or heartwarming rescue stories that often go viral.
Simon’s Cat depends heavily on YouTube. Its ad revenue model works best on a platform where videos can remain popular for years. Short snippets are repurposed for Instagram and TikTok to drive traffic back to YouTube or the official store. Facebook plays a secondary role, helping to reach older U.S. demographics who may be more inclined to buy physical merchandise or books.
Community Engagement and Brand Loyalty
The Dogist’s community engagement is unmatched in its authenticity. By partnering with shelters and highlighting adoptable dogs, The Dogist fosters goodwill that translates into financial support. American fans feel they’re part of a movement, not just consumers. This sense of shared purpose increases their willingness to purchase books or merchandise.
Simon’s Cat builds community differently. Fans see themselves or their pets in the mischievous animated cat, creating an emotional bond. The brand encourages fan art, contests, and interactions that keep the audience engaged between new video releases. While not tied to rescue work, Simon’s Cat still maintains loyalty through humor and nostalgia, appealing to U.S. audiences who grew up with similar cartoon cats.
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Trade-Offs
The Dogist’s greatest strength is its authenticity—real dogs, real stories, real streets. This appeals strongly to U.S. audiences seeking meaningful connections. However, its model is harder to scale internationally because it depends on physical photography and Friedman’s personal style.
Simon’s Cat, on the other hand, has scalability baked in. Its animated format is easy to translate across cultures and media. Yet, its production requires more time and resources, and maintaining relevance in a crowded animation market can be challenging.
USA Pet Influencer Market Trends and Future Potential
Pet influencer income comparison data shows that U.S. consumers increasingly want products and brands aligned with values—rescue advocacy, sustainability, or ethical sourcing. The Dogist’s rescue-focused collaborations position it perfectly for these trends. Meanwhile, Simon’s Cat can tap into nostalgia marketing and gaming culture, both powerful forces in the U.S.
Looking ahead, hybrid models may emerge. For example, The Dogist could partner with animation studios to create short films featuring real rescue dogs, while Simon’s Cat could team up with U.S. shelters to produce special content highlighting adoptable cats. These cross-pollinations could unlock new revenue streams.
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