Hailing from Moscow where many generations of his family thrived Aleksandr Orlov is building himself a global empire.
It should be no surprise that he's been so succesful. His great grandfather Mikhail fought in the Meerkat Mongoose wars of 1978 and his grandparents survived the Furry Terror of 1921 and it is in their honour that Aleksandr Orlov set up www.comparethemeerkat.com.
Not since the Andrex puppy has an advertising animal stirred up such raw unbridled love without reason. Maybe its the smoking jacket. Or those little whiskers. Perhaps the Russian lilt on those immortal sayings of his.
Whatever it is we clearly cannot get enough. His career is going from strength to strength with a newly launched podcast featuring celebrity interviews on the website, over half a million fans on Facebook and over 30,000 followers on Twitter (I, ahem, may be one!)
Meerkats have been hitting the headlines with a bunch of the most adorable baby meerkats being comforted by a surrogate meetkat cuddly toy – although I'm doubting how much comfort that really provides them. I'm thinking more cute photo opportunity is what went on there!
And just to show he's really made it, a limited edition Aleksandr Orlov toy will go on sale in Harrods at some point this December. Wearing a robe and scarf, the toy will make its famous squeak when its belly is squeezed.
Apparently Harrods are having to draft in extra security for the unveiling and I am not surprised. What I wouldn't give for one of those meerkats. In fact, sod the teddy. If every pet shop across the globe isn't selling teeny meerkats this Christmas they're seriously missing a trick.
So what's next for Aleksandr? Well a Christmas No 1 could be in the bag if he gets down the recording studio pronto, and from there the usual overexposure in the form of bags, a clothing range, pencil cases, a TV show or two, until we're all so sick of bleedin' meerkats we don't know what to do with ourselves.
Simples!!
Sara Firth is a finalist in stv.tv's The Write Factor competition. The views expressed are not necessarily those of STV plc. If you would like to read more from this writer, use our comment system below.
