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Fire up our latest collection of funny parenting tweets and you'll know that moms and dads never get tired. Or, who knows, maybe you even have a little bundle of joy to remind you of that every single day.

Either way, we humans aren't the only ones who have to nurture our young. Far from it. And there's a fresh Twitter thread that beautifully illustrates this universal experience.

It all started when Shawna B shared a picture of a fluffy little family. "One of my favorite very specific image genres is cats that look completely unprepared for the realities of parenthood," she tweeted.

It quickly went viral, receiving over 350K likes and 50K retweets, and many people started responding to it with equally cute photos of animal parents. Continue scrolling to check them out!

#2

Dad Passed Out After A Long Day With The Kids

Dad Passed Out After A Long Day With The Kids

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The amount of time animals spend with their parents vary tremendously. It's not very common, but there are a few species who stick around mom for a long time—or even their whole lives.

The orangutan, for example, tends to do everything slowly, including leaving home. According to Helen Morrough-Bernard, a primatologist at the U.K.'s University of Exeter, the great apes give birth only once every 7 to 8 years, and the youngster will sometimes nurse until six years old—about the time a new baby comes along.

#3

The Joy Of Motherhood

The Joy Of Motherhood

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#4

Imitation Expert

Imitation Expert

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Most orangutan moms let the older offspring stay together for up to three years after the infant is born, but some chase the juveniles off after six months.

When the new arrival comes, the older sibling will "go off exploring on their own and may stay out overnight," Morrough-Bernard told National Geographic.

"I like to think of this as like a teenager going off to university and coming back in the holidays. They are not truly independent but are trying out their independence."

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#6

Baby Sheep Sleeping On Its Mother

Baby Sheep Sleeping On Its Mother

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#7

Kids

Kids

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Otter
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG, I saw a baby rhino once, in the huge savannah habitat at the San Diego Animal Park! The mother was just standing there like a boulder, like your typical adult rhino, while the baby charged around and around her like an Olympic track team on amphetamines. It was still at it when we left.

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The African elephant world is another interesting case, as it revolves around women. The oldest, largest female is typically the leader, and females stay with their natal herd their whole lives.

Males leave their family group between age 9 and 18, and since a wild elephant's lifespan is about 56, that could mean up to a third of his life is spent at home.

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#9

Mom And Baby. Pure Happiness

Mom And Baby. Pure Happiness

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Like in elephant society, female lions "are the stable social structure of the pride, and it's the males that come and go, taking over prides," Ed Spevak, curator of invertebrates at the St. Louis Zoo who has also studied African animals, explained.

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Male lions always disperse for other groups in this fission-fusion society, and about one-third of females will go off to other prides.

#11

Fatherhood

Fatherhood

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Id row
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their ears have been hacked off. That is not beautiful, it's tragic and should be illegal.

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Joanne Nunziato
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such beautiful creatures. I agree about the ears. I didn't do that to my dog. They are just as beautiful, maybe more. Does anyone know how much pain they suffer, and for how long?

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Herefortheparty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I do. From working at a vet clinic. We won't even do it anymore because it's so horrendous.

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Shelia O'Dwyer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes me sad that some people cannot see past the docked ears and tails. The beautiful dogs did not choose their aesthetics. Look past the ears they didn't choose and see their beauty! Do you look at a dog whose owner was cruel and caused it to lose a leg as ugly? I may not like docking either but it does not stop me from seeing the beauty of the animal. I pray you do not look at people as judgementally as you do animals.

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Lanalou Valente
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just Beautifully proves and shows the deep love from an animals soul cognition to show their motherly techniques to take care of their own. I absolutely love God's animals. They are truly by far have loyalty to their own and humans than humans can even relate to.

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Faith Nicole
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of when I used to get a piggy back ride from my father when I was little & tired of walking 😍 beautiful dogs they are too

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Brian Bennett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks pop! I really am tired - I'll do the same for you someday!

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Zaza
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of Daddy and Junior (cesar milans dogs). I watched that show when Daddy was fairly young. Now Junior passed away too.

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Fiorella Barcelli
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just sad. Don't cut dog ears or tails if it's not for medical reasons

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While the animal kingdom is full of wonderful moms who care for their offspring, often putting their children above themselves, some take a very different approach.

Most lizards, for instance, "deposit their eggs, cover them, immediately forget they did that and move along," Nassima Bouzid, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington, said.

#15

When You Find Out You're Pregnant

When You Find Out You're Pregnant

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#16

Caught This At My Parents' House. Just Cruizin' With Mama

Caught This At My Parents' House. Just Cruizin' With Mama

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#17

Pretending To Be His Mother

Pretending To Be His Mother

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Because they have a cloaca, an opening for their reproductive, digestive, and urinary systems, lizards might even think the eggs are "an uncomfortable and weird poop," and never think about it again.

Bouzid said the lack of parental care in most lizards may simply be part of a strategy to have as many offspring as possible in hopes that at least some will survive.

#19

A Stray Cat Decided To Bring Its Kitten Into My House Today. The Kitten Was Extremely Aggressive But The Mom Was Surprisingly Chill

A Stray Cat Decided To Bring Its Kitten Into My House Today. The Kitten Was Extremely Aggressive But The Mom Was Surprisingly Chill

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Dinosaur
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

mother kitty: i didnt raise you like this ferocious kitty : i got my dads attitude

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#21

Being A Mother, No Matter How Tired You Are, Kids Are Always Important To You

Being A Mother, No Matter How Tired You Are, Kids Are Always Important To You

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But one lizard species goes even further—not only do their young never see the parents, they never see any adults of their species at all.

At least one population of The Labord's chameleon of southwest Madagascar's dry forests "will lay all of their eggs before winter. The eggs will then hatch just before the summer rains," Bouzid said.

The eggs spend eight to nine months developing and in the meantime, the adults will have aged and died.

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#23

Back To Front - Dad, Mom, Brother, Brother, And Sister. A Family Snuggle

Back To Front - Dad, Mom, Brother, Brother, And Sister. A Family Snuggle

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#25

The Apple Doesn't Fall Too Far From The Tree

The Apple Doesn't Fall Too Far From The Tree

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Interestingly, many insects actually receive parental care. But not moths and butterflies. They lay their eggs on host plants and leave their offspring to whatever the world throws at them.

"Some lay their eggs near ant nests and the ants take care of the caterpillars. It's like Moses in miniature," Katy Prudic, an entomologist at the University of Arizona, said.

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#28

"Of All The Places He Could Sleep On, It Just Had To Be My Head"

"Of All The Places He Could Sleep On, It Just Had To Be My Head"

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They can be really cunning. Let's also look at the caterpillar of the large blue butterfly.

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It secretes a sweet substance attractive to a particular species of red ant and makes itself smell like an ant larvae so the ant takes it back to its nest with its own brood, which the caterpillar then eats.

#30

Six-Week-Old Leopard Cub Jumping On Its Mother In The Okavango Delta In Botswana

Six-Week-Old Leopard Cub Jumping On Its Mother In The Okavango Delta In Botswana

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#33

“I’ve Had Puppies And This Is My Life Now?”

“I’ve Had Puppies And This Is My Life Now?”

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Some young have a natural defense to protect themselves from predators via toxic chemicals from their host plant—and others have pitch-perfect camouflage.

The common lytrosis of eastern North America, for example, can perfectly disguise itself as a twig. And if it happens to fall off its background branch, it can use its silk to attach a "zip line" and pull back up.

They might not have someone to give them a hug like the boys and girls in these pictures, but at least they got an evolutionary "inheritance" from their parents to survive!

#36

Mama Maybel With Her 3-Week-Old Kid, Scout, At Goats Of Anarchy Sanctuary. Maybel Had 4 Kids At The Same Time So She's A Busy Mama

Mama Maybel With Her 3-Week-Old Kid, Scout, At Goats Of Anarchy Sanctuary. Maybel Had 4 Kids At The Same Time So She's A Busy Mama

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#39

I Love You Mommy

I Love You Mommy

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#40

Baby Iguana Hanging Out With Its Mom

Baby Iguana Hanging Out With Its Mom

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glowworm2
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s not actually a baby. I think it’s actually another smaller species of lizard if I remember correctly.

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#42

Proud Momma

Proud Momma

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Dinosaur
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1... 2.... 3.... 4... 12 puppies also idk if thats a smile of scaring of people

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#43

The Face Of Parenthood

The Face Of Parenthood

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Dinosaur
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

bigger cat: mum why did you give me a punishment when that baby hit me first. kitty: *time for precious eyes how fully she will show her favoritism to me again*

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#44

A Definition Of Parenthood In A Picture

A Definition Of Parenthood In A Picture

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#45

Mama Brown Bear Snuggling With Her Cubs

Mama Brown Bear Snuggling With Her Cubs

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#46

The Joys Of Motherhood

The Joys Of Motherhood

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#47

Big “I Haven’t Slept In Days” Energy

Big “I Haven’t Slept In Days” Energy

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Dinosaur
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

uve drained me of milk so can you please leave me alone so i can eat food

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#50

Nine Of Them

Nine Of Them

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Note: this post originally had 121 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.