ADVERTISEMENT

Nowadays, many people can’t imagine their home without their beloved dog or cat. Or their bearded dragon. Or their dear tarantula. Or their cherished python. Well, you get the idea – people love their pets and they come in all shapes and sizes.

And that seems to have long been the case. Dogs are believed to have been domesticated roughly 30,000 years ago and while it might have taken a bearded dragon, for instance, a bit more time to become accustomed to a home environment, more exotic animals, too, have long been people’s companions.

Just take a look at today’s list and see for yourself! There are pictures of people walking raccoons alongside dogs on the streets back in the ‘70s, women with their leopards circa 1932, and even an image of a man with his bear cub taken more than a hundred years ago. Scroll down to find all of these and many more vintage pictures, as shared by the ‘OldSchoolCool’ subreddit, on the list below and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!

Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interviews with two animal behavior experts, Zazie Todd and Alice Chau-Ginguene, who were kind enough to answer a few of our questions about people’s relationships with pets.

As of 2023/2024, close to 146 million people in the US alone shared their home with a pet, Statista reports. Out of them, the majority (as many as 65 million) lived with a—you guessed it—dog.

The second most popular pet is probably not that difficult to guess, either, as cats have long been people’s second favored animal to share a home with. Other popular choices, according to Statista, are freshwater fish, birds, reptiles, and horses.

#2

World's Smallest Man Dancing With His Pet Cat. 26th October 1956

A man in a suit joyfully interacts with a cat on its hind legs, highlighting vintage pet family bonds.

outroversion Report

Add photo comments
POST
glowworm2
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favorite photos ever. Just a very sweet little man dancing with his cat.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Mark Twain (1900s) "If Man Could Be Crossed With The Cat, It Would Improve Man, But It Would Deteriorate The Cat"

An elderly man in a white suit sits on a rock, holding a kitten, illustrating how vintage photos show pets as family.

eaglemaxie Report

Talking about life with pets in an interview with Bored Panda, animal behavior expert and author of Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, Zazie Todd noted that even though pets are believed to be a positive influence on people, this coin, too, has two sides. “In general we have a societal belief that having pets is good for our well-being, but actually the evidence on this is mixed,” she said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There are some ways that pets can be good for us. For example, they provide companionship, they keep us entertained, they can help us make friends, and especially in the case of dogs, they can help us get more exercise. But at the same time, sometimes having a pet can be hard. When a pet has a serious health or behaviour issue, pet guardians can experience something we call caregiver burden, because caring for a pet can be quite difficult (and expensive) at times. So our individual relationship with our pet is very important.”

#5

A Policeman In New York City Stops Traffic Just For A Cat To Carry Its Kittens Across The Street, 1925

A vintage photo of a police officer stopping traffic for a cat carrying a kitten, illustrating pets as family.

reddit.com Report

With so many pets living alongside humans, we tend to forget that most were once wild animals. Yes, that lazy funny-cute-orange-cats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">orange blob on your couch was once a fierce wild cat, and that dog that’s been sighing hard sleeping in your bed is a distant relative of a wolf.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Todd, in the process of domestication, many animals have come to rely on humans to fulfill their basic needs, though it depends, to some extent, on the species and the individual animal. “For example, most cats could probably catch their own food if they needed to, as they still have those abilities, but some pedigrees in particular would struggle to find food. Some types of cats (Persian cats, for example) also need us to take care of their coats and wipe their faces to prevent infection.

“Quite a few dogs could probably manage to catch or find food if they had to, but some would really struggle; and again, there are some breeds that are very dependent on us for grooming, such as Poodles or Shih Tzus,” the expert noted, adding that some other domesticated species, like chickens, for example, would probably do okay without us.

#6

Little Boy About To Receive A Dog For His Birthday (1955)

Vintage photo of a man holding a puppy behind his back while a young boy looks up at him, showcasing pets as family.

anewhigh Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Jane Goodall With Her Dog Rusty In Bournemouth, 1954. She Said "I Learned So Much From Rusty. He Proved To Me That Animals Have Minds, Personalities And Feelings. This Gave Me Great Strength In My Convictions And Work With Chimpanzees." Written On The Back: “Jane And Rusty The Inseparables”

Vintage photo of a woman in a suit sitting with a black dog, highlighting the timeless bond between pets and family.

AkashicRecorder Report

Add photo comments
POST
Steve Robert
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals are much more civilized than humans. Other than maybe swiping a chicken leg off of the table, they don't shoot each other, or develop nuclear bombs to kill everyone.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Since most animals were domesticated a long time ago, they’ve been by people’s sides for hundreds—in some cases, thousands—of years. But the way we interact with them has changed immensely during that time.

Take the last hundred years, for instance; you can find pictures from the 1920s on this list that show the loving relationship between a pet and its human. But since then, animals have seemingly become even more treasured, and are now usually considered family members rather than just pets.

“Perhaps the biggest change is that these days almost everyone thinks of their pets as family members,” Zazie Todd told Bored Panda. “Along with that, pet dogs and cats are more likely to spend time indoors with us, whereas in the past they would often be allowed to roam. A hundred years ago, cats were prized for their abilities to catch vermin, but these days we don’t have much need for that, so they are more likely to be pets and no longer have a job.”

#9

This Little Girl At A Pet Show At Venice Beach, California, 1937

Child in vintage attire holding a small pet in black and white photo, showcasing a family bond.

PNCL Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Enormously Happy Little Girl With Enormous Dog, 1950s

A little girl joyfully holding a Great Dane's leash, showcasing the timeless bond between pets and family.

ShadowNozeKnows Report

Add photo comments
POST
Doofnuts
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that dog sees a squirrel, anything it's tied to is going for a ride.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Bob Ross With His Pet Squirrels, 1991

A vintage photo of a man with a beard and two squirrels on his shoulder, emphasizing that pets were always family.

eatsleeprepeat101_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
Deborah
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're not pets, he fostered babies who needs it and only kept the ones that needed special care for the rest of their lives.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“In addition to that, we’ve learned a lot more about pets during this time,” the animal behavior expert continued, pointing out what else changed in human-pet relationships over the last century. “We know that they are sentient beings and that they are very intelligent. Instead of expecting pets to do as we tell them, these days good pet guardians know that their pet has needs that we need to meet for good welfare (such as a need for exercise and enrichment).”

#13

Eartha Kitt With Her Cat Jinx In Her Dressing Room, 1953

A woman in a glamorous dress holds a mirror at a vanity, with a cat beside her, showcasing vintage pet family bond.

reddit.com Report

#14

A Dog Holds Onto A Little Boy As He Tries To Retrieve A Ball In A River With His Golf Club. 1920s

Vintage photo of a young boy fishing by a lake with his dog, highlighting pets as family.

paternalpadfoot Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Another expert of animal behavior, Alice Chau-Ginguene, who is currently on tour with SeedTalks presenting The Psychology of Cats, seconded the idea that people-pet relationships have changed quite noticeably over time.

“Over the last hundred years, people’s relationship with pets, particularly cats, has evolved significantly. The Second World War marked a turning point, introducing commercial cat food, advances in veterinary medicine that enabled routine neutering, and the invention of cat litter, allowing cats to live indoors full-time.

“These innovations transformed animals/cats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cats from outdoor hunters and companions into fully integrated indoor pets. However, this rapid shift, occurring in just 80 years, has outpaced their natural evolution, contributing to some behavioral challenges as cats adapt to modern urban lifestyles,” the expert added.

#17

My Hippie Mother Holding Someone’s Pet Raccoon Some Time In The Late 60s

Woman smiling and holding a raccoon, demonstrating the timeless bond between pets and family.

matthewsteez Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Expanding on the pets’ needs that people should be attentive to, Zazie Todd emphasized that pets have important welfare needs that don’t just include food and water and good health, but also opportunities to engage in species-typical behaviors. “For example, they need exercise and enrichment. For dogs, that might include regular walks, whereas for cats, it could be daily play with a wand toy.

“It’s a good idea for pet guardians to learn as much as they can about their pet’s behavior,” the expert added. “The more you understand what your pet needs, the more you can do to make them happy.”

#18

Yuri Knorozov, The Linguist Who Deciphered The Maya Script, 1953. He Listed His Cat Asya As A Co-Author On His Work But The Editors Always Removed Her. He Always Used This Photo With Asya As His Author Photo And Got Pissed Whenever Editors Cropped Her Out

Man holding a Siamese cat, illustrating vintage connection with family pets.

Scaulbylausis Report

According to Alice Chau-Ginguene, cats experience the world very differently than we do, so it’s important to cater to their natural behavioral needs. Some of the ways to do that are “a) providing safe hiding spots, vertical spaces, and areas where they can observe comfortably, b) keeping resources like food and litter trays separate to reduce stress, especially in multi-cat households, c) engaging their hunting instincts with interactive play, puzzle feeders, and activities like nose work, d) avoiding strong scents or air fresheners that might overwhelm their sensitive noses, e) training them, including clicker or cooperative care, which can build trust, ease vet visits, and enrich their lives.

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent studies show that cats prefer human interactions over food and toys. This must mean something,” the expert added. “This must mean they enjoy this friendship as much as we do.”

#21

A Former Teacher Of Mine Drinking A Pint With His Pet Fox, Gemima. Circa 1980

Man with curly hair holds a dog and a pint, showing pets as family in a vintage setting.

FrivolousJoe Report

#22

My Great Great Grandfather And Dog Both With Hats Early 1930s, Maine

Vintage photo of a man and his dog, both wearing hats, standing in front of a tree, highlighting pets as family.

xavyre Report

#25

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Vintage photo of a man with a dog on a table, showcasing the timeless bond between pets and family.

bellerose93 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#28

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Vintage photo of a man with a mustache seated next to his dog on a table, showcasing pets as family.

bellerose93 Report

#29

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Vintage photo of a man in a suit and hat sitting with a dog on a small table, capturing family and pet bond.

bellerose93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Doofnuts
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey J.K., I suspect this is the title for the whole set of photos, could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

My Abuelo (Grandpa) And His Pet Oncilla - Cochabamba, Bolivia 1970-1980 (Photo Not Dated)

Man nose-to-nose with a spotted cat on a typewriter, vintage photo showing pets as family.

EarlyIndependent8085 Report

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#34

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

#35

People Have Been Taking Silly Pictures Of Their Pets Since At Least 1875

People Have Been Taking Silly Pictures Of Their Pets Since At Least 1875

Topjaws Report

Add photo comments
POST
J K
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am pretty sure people have been posing with their pets for thousands of years.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#36

Michael Jackson With His Pet Rat In The Early 1970's. Regardless What You Think About Him, At This Moment In Time He Was Just A Kid

Michael Jackson With His Pet Rat In The Early 1970's. Regardless What You Think About Him, At This Moment In Time He Was Just A Kid

Just_Entertainment47 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bambi
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why add the regardless what you think of him? The man has been gone 14 years he was innocent let it go already.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

Vintage Photo Of A Family With Their Dog, 1910

Vintage Photo Of A Family With Their Dog, 1910

WorldHub995 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Doofnuts
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I imagine being black in 1910 would leave a little girl somewhat shell shocked.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#44

Famous Irish Explorer Tom Crean And Sled Dog Pups (Circa 1890)

Famous Irish Explorer Tom Crean And Sled Dog Pups (Circa 1890)

fionnishuman Report

Add photo comments
POST
#45

My Grandpa Would Have Been 99 This Month- Here Is A Picture Of Him With Corky, The First Dog Him And My Grandma Got After They Were Married- 1945

My Grandpa Would Have Been 99 This Month- Here Is A Picture Of Him With Corky, The First Dog Him And My Grandma Got After They Were Married- 1945

charlotteamom Report

#46

Mademoiselle Fifi On Arrival To London. Fifi Was The First Ever Cat To Fly In A Plane. She Accompanied Her Owner, American Aviator John Moisant (Pictured On Second Picture With Fifi), On The First Crossing Of The English Channel By Passenger Plane. London, England, 1910

Mademoiselle Fifi On Arrival To London. Fifi Was The First Ever Cat To Fly In A Plane. She Accompanied Her Owner, American Aviator John Moisant (Pictured On Second Picture With Fifi), On The First Crossing Of The English Channel By Passenger Plane. London, England, 1910

reddit.com Report

#47

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#49

Teenage Cat Stevens And The Dog That Inspired His First Hit - Circa 1966 - 1967

Teenage Cat Stevens And The Dog That Inspired His First Hit - Circa 1966 - 1967

WurlizterEPiano Report

#50

My Grandfather And His Pet Crow, Late 50s/Early 60s

My Grandfather And His Pet Crow, Late 50s/Early 60s

reddit.com Report

#51

Clint Eastwood And His Cat In 1960

Clint Eastwood And His Cat In 1960

mechrec Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#52

My Great Great Granpa With His Dog In 1896

My Great Great Granpa With His Dog In 1896

pete716 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#53

Grandfather And His Dog After Serving In Ww2 (1945)

Grandfather And His Dog After Serving In Ww2 (1945)

PaperHandz Report

Add photo comments
POST
#55

Harold Tesch & His Alaskan Malamute War Dog “Tippy” During The Battle Of Guam - 1944

Harold Tesch & His Alaskan Malamute War Dog “Tippy” During The Battle Of Guam - 1944

Pasargad Report

Add photo comments
POST
#56

Young Kenyan Woman Holds Her Pet Deer In Mombassa, March 1909

Young Kenyan Woman Holds Her Pet Deer In Mombassa, March 1909

TheMagicDrake Report

#57

While Stationed In England During Wwii, My Grandpa Had A Pet Crow

While Stationed In England During Wwii, My Grandpa Had A Pet Crow

treeselfdeerself Report

#58

Edwardian Dog (And His Human). Ca. 1900-1905

Edwardian Dog (And His Human). Ca. 1900-1905

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#59

1951: My Grandmother With Her First Of Many Great Danes. Suzie Was A Wedding Gift From My Grandfather’s Aunt

1951: My Grandmother With Her First Of Many Great Danes. Suzie Was A Wedding Gift From My Grandfather’s Aunt

southsidious Report

#60

A 14 Year Old Bryan Cranston With His Dog, 1970

A 14 Year Old Bryan Cranston With His Dog, 1970

reddit.com Report

#62

My Father And His Dog, Rex. About 1948

My Father And His Dog, Rex. About 1948

TeeHack Report

#63

Julie Andrews And Her Pet Dachshund Melody, Circa 1954

Julie Andrews And Her Pet Dachshund Melody, Circa 1954

MorriePoppins Report

Add photo comments
POST
#65

My Uncle With His Pet Deer And Cat In The Early 80's

My Uncle With His Pet Deer And Cat In The Early 80's

coldsun22 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#66

Vintage Cat Lady 1910s

Vintage Cat Lady 1910s

WhisperLatina Report

Add photo comments
POST
#68

A Young Boy And His Dog From 1889

A Young Boy And His Dog From 1889

WorldHub995 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#69

Brigitte Bardot At Home With Her Dog Guapa, 1950s

Brigitte Bardot At Home With Her Dog Guapa, 1950s

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
#71

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#72

My Great-Grandpa Doing Mountain Man Stuff With His Pet Bear Cub. (1910)

My Great-Grandpa Doing Mountain Man Stuff With His Pet Bear Cub. (1910)

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#73

My Grandfather Felix, Age 16 With His Pet Crow In Charlottesville, Virginia 1937. That Year He Would Lie About His Age To Join The Service And Later Be Part Of The Allied Invasion At Normandy, France On June 6th, 1944

My Grandfather Felix, Age 16 With His Pet Crow In Charlottesville, Virginia 1937. That Year He Would Lie About His Age To Join The Service And Later Be Part Of The Allied Invasion At Normandy, France On June 6th, 1944

Akadragonfly Report

#75

A Girl And Her Curious Dog, Soviet Riga, 1974

A Girl And Her Curious Dog, Soviet Riga, 1974

friskyfrog Report

Add photo comments
POST
#76

Young Man And His Dog (Early 1900s)

Young Man And His Dog (Early 1900s)

BufordTeeJustice Report

Add photo comments
POST
#77

The Coolest Dog In Town! Photo By Lee Friedlander, Hollywood, 1970

The Coolest Dog In Town! Photo By Lee Friedlander, Hollywood, 1970

greg_neh Report

#79

Frida Kahlo And Pet Deer, Granizo - 1940s

Frida Kahlo And Pet Deer, Granizo - 1940s

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#80

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

#81

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#82

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#83

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900

bellerose93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#84

My Granddad (Right) And His Identical Twin Brother, Dressed Up And Showing Off Their Pet Monkeys, Circa 1932. The Monkeys Were Ordered From A Comic Book Ad And Arrived Via Mail In A Cardboard Box

My Granddad (Right) And His Identical Twin Brother, Dressed Up And Showing Off Their Pet Monkeys, Circa 1932. The Monkeys Were Ordered From A Comic Book Ad And Arrived Via Mail In A Cardboard Box

wowbobwow Report

#85

My Grandpa And His Pet Chimp, World War II 1943, North Africa