I hate copycats, especially those on YouTube. When there's a successful animal video, you can bet there will soon be knock-offs.

Often it's the person who made the original who gets carried away trying to stay in the spotlight. But what made the original so compelling was the freshness and unexpectedness of the animal antics.

So here are a few of my favorite original animal videos.

• My favorite rap is "The Mean Kitty Song."

The original "cat playing piano" is still the best.

• "NORA: Practice Makes Purr-fect"

These two are worthy simply because they were "firsts."

• "Squirrel Waterskiing"

• "Einstein the Parrot"

I don't generally like cutesy talk and subtitles, but I can't help but like these two.

• "When Cats Pray"

• "I Are Cute Kitten"

• And my all-time favorite YouTube video is the love story, "Rooster and Cat."