MONTREAL – One thing everyone knows is that the internet loves cats. That’s something — a black-and-white feline from Boucherville, Que. — knows a little something about.
Oreo first danced into our hearts in a YouTube video posted in June 2015.
With 120,000 followers on Vine, 52,000 on Tumblr, 26,000 on Facebook and 14,000 on Instagram, Oreo’s social media following is enough to make some A-list celebrities turn green with envy.
But all that fame also comes with a lot of negativity.
“Regardless of his cat status, Oreo has often received hateful messages on Facebook and other social accounts,” Tina Modugno, “Oreo’s mom”, said.
That’s one of the reasons Modugno decided to put Oreo’s celebrity status to good use.
In a new book, Oreo has teamed up with another internet sensation, Atchoum, to tackle the difficult issue of bullying in school.
“‘Atchoum and Oreo, First Day of School’, is a heart-warming story about friendship, kindness and what makes each of us special and unique,” Modugno said.
Being different is something Atchoum is familiar with.
READ MORE: Meet Atchoum, the latest Internet cat craze
Atchoum has a condition called hypertrichosis, sometimes called the “werewolf syndrome” in humans.
The disorder leads to an abnormal amount of hair growth all over the body, in particular on the face and around the paws.
But judging from his online following —47,045 fans of Facebook 107k followers on Instagram— people really seem to enjoy his unique look.
Modugno added that another motivation for the book came from fans reaching out to Oreo for tips on how to deal with bullying.
“We receive messages almost daily from children and fans of all ages concerning this subject and asking for our help,” Modugno said. “We are always there to listen and offer our support.”
To learn more about Oreo and Atchoum’s book, you can visit Oreo’s website.