Meet Atchoum, the latest cat to take the internet by storm with his terrifying, soul-piercing gaze (but his owner insists he's actually a 'loving' pet)

CANADA -- He peers out of a laundry basket, locks eyes with a toy giraffe and looks into the camera lens. And each time, he does so with a terrifying, soul-piercing gaze.

Meet Atchoum the cat, whose unwavering glare has taken the world of social media by storm.

 

 

The nine-month-old animal, who lives with his owner Nathalie in Quebec, Canada, suffers from hypertrichosis, a condition that causes an abnormal amount of hair to grow on his small body.

On a daily basis, Nathalie takes photos of her pet - whose name translates to 'Sneezy' in English - before posting them on to dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages.

And they have been a great success. Atchoum currently has nearly 5,000 followers on Facebook, many of whom describe him as 'cute', 'adorable', 'a star' and 'a fabulous feline'.

And he has amassed a further 1,622 subscribers on Instagram.

But despite his intimidating eyes and disheveled appearance, Atchoum is actually a cuddly, 'loving' animal who enjoys engaging in typical feline hobbies, according to Nathalie.

 

He is said to be interested in watching television, playing Cat Playground on his owner's Ipad, rummaging in the fridge for food, messing around in the bath and taking naps.

Hypertrichosis, which stems from hormonal issues, also strikes humans. It can either affect the entire body or just a specific area. It can also either be present at birth of acquired later in life

(Daily Mail - Feb 2, 2015)