If you’ve ever looked at your pet and thought, “You’re adorable, but what if you were just a tiny bit more… nightmare fuel?” then you’re going to love this story. Around the internet, people are sending ordinary photos of their cats, dogs, and other fuzzy roommates to an Instagram artist who transforms them into gloriously weird creatures. The results land somewhere between children’s book illustration, sci-fi movie extra, and “I can’t stop laughing, but I also might never sleep again.”
This viral phenomenon, popularized by Bored Panda, shows how one creator can turn everyday pet pictures into surreal digital makeovers that are oddly charming, strangely unsettling, and totally impossible to ignore. Along the way, it’s changed the way many pet parents think about portraits, social media, and what “cute” even means.
Meet the Instagrammer Behind the Hilarious Pet Makeovers
The mastermind behind these surreal pet edits is Norwegian artist Ida Stoervold, the creator of the Instagram account often known online as Idascreatures. Trained in fine arts and graphic design, she originally sharpened her Photoshop skills by challenging herself with daily edits and personal projects. Over time, her style evolved into something distinctly her own: a mash-up of realistic pet photography and bizarre, almost mythological features that look convincingly real at first glance.
Ida’s makeovers exploded in popularity when sites like Bored Panda and design blogs started sharing her work. Pet owners quickly jumped on board, sending in photos of their beloved animals and requesting the full “monster treatment.” What began as a quirky hobby turned into a full-blown internet sensation, attracting followers from all over the world who wanted to see fluffy companions reimagined as sealed-faced cats, dogs with oddly human noses, or creatures that look like they wandered in from another dimension.
Despite the outlandish results, Ida’s approach is surprisingly thoughtful. Each creation is tailored to the animal’s personality, pose, and expression. She exaggerates what’s already therewide eyes, floppy ears, smug cat smirksand morphs them into something that feels like the pet’s chaotic inner self finally stepping into the spotlight.
How the Pet Makeover Magic Works
From the outside, it looks simple: people send their favorite pet pictures via Instagram, the artist works her digital magic, and a few days (or weeks) later, they get a wild new version of their furry friend. Behind the scenes, though, there’s a careful creative process.
1. It All Starts With the Right Photo
The better the original pet photo, the more convincing (and hilarious) the makeover will be. Clear lighting, a sharp focus on the face, and a simple background give the artist room to experiment. Head-on portraits are especially powerful, because they allow massive changes to the nose, eyes, or mouth while still keeping the pet recognizable.
2. Sculpting a New Creature in Photoshop
Once a photo is chosen, Ida uses Photoshop tools to blend, warp, and reshape the pet. She might borrow features from other animalsa seal’s round face, a proboscis monkey’s comically long nose, or a bird’s beakand merge them seamlessly onto the pet’s body. The texture work is key: fur, whiskers, and lighting are adjusted so the new features look like they naturally belong.
That’s why many people do a double take when they first see these images. Your brain initially reads them as “just another pet photo,” but then you realize the cat has the face of a seal, or the dog’s eyes are oddly human, and suddenly you’re torn between laughing and backing slowly out of the room.
3. Finishing Touches: Personality First, Horror Second
While some edits are intentionally creepy, the goal isn’t pure horror. Most makeovers still carry a sense of humor and warmth. The artist leans into the pet’s expressionsleepy, judgmental, hyper, derpyand designs the new features to amplify that vibe. The result is a strange mix of affection and absurdity: yes, your cat now looks like an alien, but somehow it’s the most “them” they’ve ever looked.
Why People Love Seeing Their Pets Turned into “Monsters”
At first, it might sound wild that pet parents willingly pay or wait in line to see their adorable companions turned into creatures that could haunt the edges of a dream. But once you scroll through a few makeovers, the appeal becomes obvious.
It’s a Fresh Twist on Pet Obsession
We already live in a world of pet calendars, custom portraits, matching pajamas, and Instagram accounts dedicated entirely to cats who sit like potatoes. A surreal makeover is just the next logical step. Instead of yet another cute photo, you’re getting a unique piece of art that no one else hasa one-of-a-kind character design starring your pet.
It Captures Their Quirky “Inner Goblin”
Every pet has a side their owner knows too well: the gremlin who knocks over glasses at 3 a.m., the dog who stares with unsettling intensity whenever you open the fridge, the rabbit plotting to chew through your phone charger. These makeovers take that energy and dial it up to 100. The monster version often feels like the “true form” of that chaos, made visible.
It’s Shareable, Memorable Content for Social Media
In a crowded social feed, a standard pet picture can disappear in seconds. A professionally edited, bizarre pet portrait? That stops thumbs mid-scroll. People love sharing the before-and-after, asking friends which they prefer, and turning the final image into a meme, phone wallpaper, or profile picture. It’s the kind of content that naturally gets re-posted and saves a permanent spot in your camera roll.
The Rise of Custom Pet Portraits and Online Pet Art
Ida’s creatures are part of a much bigger trend. Over the last few years, custom pet art has exploded across Instagram, Etsy, and TikTok. Some artists turn pets into Disney-style characters with big expressive eyes and cinematic shading. Others create painterly portraits, comic-book heroes, or retro-style posters featuring your dog as an astronaut or your cat as a historical monarch.
There are digital illustrators who specialize in cartoon-style pet avatars, traditional painters offering one-of-a-kind canvases, and services that convert pet photos into posters, blankets, or metal wall art. Many artists open commissions via social media stories, then feature finished work in reels or carousel posts. That social loopfans see the art, submit their own pets, then share the final resulthelps artists grow while giving pet parents something special to display.
Compared with more conventional portraits, the surreal style of Idascreatures stands out because it leans into experimentation and absurdity. Rather than idealizing pets, it exaggerates their weirdness in ways that feel playful and contemporaryperfectly aligned with the meme-heavy culture of Bored Panda readers and Instagram users.
How to Take the Best Pet Photos for a Viral Makeover
If all this is making you quietly open your camera app, you’re not alone. Whether you’re planning to submit a photo to an artist or just want better pet content for your own feed, a few simple photography tips can make a huge difference:
1. Use Soft, Natural Light
Harsh overhead or direct midday sunlight can create strong shadows and washed-out fur. Instead, aim for soft light: near a window, in the shade outdoors, or during golden hour. Soft light makes eyes sparkle, fur look plush, and it gives artists more flexibility when editing.
2. Get Down to Your Pet’s Level
Instead of shooting from above, crouch or lie down so the camera is at eye level with your pet. This perspective immediately feels more intimate and dynamic. It also provides a clear view of their face, which is crucial if someone is going to turn that face into a strange new creature.
3. Keep the Background Simple
A busy background competes with your pet for attention and makes detailed edits harder. Try a blank wall, a tidy corner of your living room, a bedspread, or a patch of grass with minimal clutter. The simpler the scene, the easier it is to transform the subject convincingly.
4. Use Treats, Toys, and Sounds
Getting the perfect expression is 90% of the battle. Many pet photographers swear by tiny treats, squeaky toys, or unusual sounds (like soft whistles or gentle tongue clicks) to get that split-second look of curiosity, joy, or indignation. Take lots of shots; the funniest face might only last half a second.
5. Shoot in Bursts
Most smartphone cameras have a burst mode. Use it. Pets move unpredictably, and the best expressions often show up between posesright after a yawn, mid-lick, or during the exact moment they give you their “What are you doing, human?” stare. A burst sequence lets you scan through several frames and pick the perfect one to send.
Sharing Your Pet’s Surreal Glow-Up Online
Once you’ve got your makeover, the real fun begins: showing it to the world. Here are some ways people are turning their pets’ bizarre transformations into social media gold:
- Before-and-after carousels: Slide one is the regular pet photo; slide two is the full monster reveal. It’s a simple format that instantly showcases the artist’s skill.
- Reaction videos: Record yourself, family members, or even the pet “reacting” to the makeover. Dramatic gasps and fake horror are fully encouraged.
- Meme captions: Many edits lend themselves perfectly to meme textjokes about working from home, Monday mornings, or how you look when the delivery driver finally arrives.
- Prints and decor: Some owners print their favorite edits on canvas, mugs, or phone cases. Imagine sipping coffee from a mug featuring your cat with a seal’s faceit’s a daily reminder that life shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
If you’re posting on Instagram or TikTok, using a mix of niche and broad hashtagslike #petart, #weirdpets, #boredpanda, or tags referencing the specific artistcan help your post reach the right community of fellow pet-obsessed humans.
Experiences and Lessons from the World of Hilarious Pet Makeovers
Beyond the viral images and funny comments, the trend of sending pet photos to this Instagram artist has sparked some surprisingly heartfelt experiences. Many pet parents describe the process as a mix of anticipation, comedy, and oddly deep appreciation for their animals’ personalities.
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Submitting Your Pet
First comes the selection phase. Owners scroll through hundreds of photossleepy selfies, action shots at the park, that one picture where the cat’s pupils are fully dilated and it looks like it just discovered quantum physics. Picking a single image can feel impossible. Some people choose a “classic” portrait that shows their pet at their cutest, while others deliberately pick the goofiest or most unflattering angle, knowing the edit will only amplify the chaos.
Then there’s the waiting. While the artist works, owners start imagining what their pet might become. Will the cat get a seal face? Will the dog’s mouth stretch into an exaggerated cartoon O? Will their fluffy rabbit be turned into a vaguely eldritch cloud? Friends and family make guesses, sometimes forming unofficial “betting pools” in group chats about the final result.
The Big Reveal: Laughter, Screenshots, and New Lock Screens
When the makeover finally arrives, the reaction is almost always the same: a loud, involuntary laugh followed by several seconds of zooming in on different details. Maybe the eyes are too intense. Maybe the nose looks suspiciously like a different species. Maybe the body is still your familiar pet, but the face now belongs in a fantasy novel.
Many owners immediately screenshot the image, send it to friends, and change their profile pictures or lock screens. Some family members fall in love with the new creature version; others declare they “miss the old face” but still want a copy of the file. The pet, of course, has no idea why everyone keeps looking at them and cacklingbut they usually enjoy the extra attention (and bribes of snacks during the photo session).
How These Makeovers Change the Way We See Our Pets
On a deeper level, these surreal portraits remind people that their pets are more than just cute accessories. By exaggerating a single expression or posture, the artwork captures something essential: the way your dog tilts its head when it hears your keys, the smugness of your cat after knocking a glass off the table, or the permanently startled look of a wide-eyed hamster.
Instead of flattening pets into “perfect” beauty shots, the makeovers celebrate their quirksawkward proportions, strange habits, and all. Owners often say that once they’ve seen the monster version of their pet, they can’t unsee it. The next time their dog sits in exactly the same pose, they’ll burst out laughing, remembering the edit that turned that posture into something mythic and ridiculous.
Inspiring Creativity in the Pet Community
The ripple effect doesn’t stop with one artist. Fans who fall in love with these makeovers sometimes try their own hand at editing, illustration, or photography. They experiment with face-swapping apps, digital drawing tablets, or collage techniques. Some start dedicated accounts for their pets, posting themed edits, costumes, and stories narrated from the animal’s point of view.
In that sense, the “hilarious pet makeover” trend is less about shock value and more about participation. It invites people into a playful, creative relationship with their pets, where everyday photos become raw material for art, jokes, and shared memories. Even if you never submit a photo to this Instagrammer, just seeing the results can spark ideas for how you might celebrate your own furry, scaly, or feathery roommate in a new way.
Wrapping It Up: When Cute Meets Completely Bonkers
The ongoing popularity of these pet makeovers says a lot about the modern internet. We still adore traditional cute animal photosbut we also crave fresh, surprising twists that make us see familiar things differently. Ida’s surreal, monster-like edits hit that sweet spot: they’re expertly crafted, instantly shareable, and just absurd enough to make you laugh out loud.
For pet parents, sending in a photo has become more than a novelty. It’s a way to immortalize their animal’s weirdest energy in a single unforgettable image. Whether your pet ends up looking like a seal, a mythological beast, or an alien roommate who pays no rent, one thing is certain: you’ll never look at their regular face quite the same way again.
