A raccoon with a rare birth defect has amassed a legion of fans after a video of it darting across a footpath and running up a set of stairs racked up more than 6.8 million views in just three days.

An unusual Seattle raccoon, dubbed Jimothy, is becoming a viral celebrity due to his shortened spine giving him a unique, spherical appearance.

The Seattle Mariners joined the Jimothy the raccoon's fame by updating their Instagram profile picture with a Jimothy-inspired image.