Rutgers alumnus finds success with cat's Instagram

Many Rutgers students question their day-to-day activities in the coming months after graduation. Scary ideas are always getting thrown at us, such as getting a job, paying back loans and plenty of other unappealing adult-like activities.

Regardless of your major, we can all agree that we would rather sit around and watch Netflix, scroll through Instagram and obsess over our pets, even though it doesn’t seem too practical. Rutgers alumnus Mitchell Lacsamana, a School of Engineering Class of 2015 graduate, has managed to get his start in the real world doing a variety of those activities.

“Around this time last year, I saw Storm at an animal shelter I went to to pet animals with my girlfriend,” Lacsamana said. “I’ve never really been an animal person, but when I saw Storm I thought to myself, 'This cat is too fluffy and too cute. I don’t care, I need it in my life.'"

Ever since Lacsamana adopted Storm last winter, he has been taking impeccable care of his cat. Just less than six months ago, Lacsamana took it upon himself to start Storm’s very own cuteness-appreciation Instagram account called @stormwatchin. It did not take long for the account to take off. Within six months, the account now has more than 29,000 followers on Instagram.

“My girlfriend and I would always joke that Storm is so cute, that he should be famous and I’ve always thought about starting an internet marketing company,” Lacsamana said. “I thought this might give me the right exposure.”

Once the account soared to success, Lacsamana took Storm’s fame a step further. He now has a clothing line called Spunk Cat, using Storm as the model.

“I’m really into street fashion, and I really see graphic tee’s as the modern day staple of street fashion,” Lacsamana said. “I had this vision of using his pictures on tee’s, keeping it simple by sticking to gray scales and stuff. But I also don’t want a brand that would sell out my cat.”

In the near future, Lacsamana plans on collaborating with other famous Instagram cats for his clothing line, such as @princessmonstertruck.

His entrepreneurial spirit has spread to a current Rutgers student, such as his brother Michael Lacsamna, a School of Engineering sophomore. He also has started an Instagram account called @cliffdivingadventures, which has already surpassed the follower count of his brother.

Mitch Lacsamana is the creative director of that account, with apparel of it’s own coming in the near future.

“I think it’s really cool that my brother started his own account, but the kid really has all the drive in the world to make it succeed,” Lacsamana said.

Lacsamana desires to maintain a Rutgers focus for his brand as well. Some of his Spunk Cat styles are only available exclusively for Rutgers students, which are sold at local New Brunswick retailers.

Lacsamna is in high hopes that Storm’s fame is only going to grow. He encourages students to take the success of his account and to look for their passions and strengths, and to use it as some inspiration.