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50 Animals Who Decided To Destroy Something Just Because They Can And Got Caught Red-Handed
Pets are surely adorable, but sometimes they just have no gods or masters. They are kings and queens of the house and that means they can do whatever they want, including practicing their natural instincts such as scratching, digging, tearing, chewing, or marking their territory on your most cherished possessions. No matter how mad you might initially be at your little monster, no object can replace your loyal friend, so you just have to accept that this is what pets do, forgive, and train them so it doesn't happen again.
Have you ever caught your beloved furball chewing up your favorite couch, hanging on a curtain, eating all the plants on the way, destroying pillows, or cleaning up the fridge? Our readers sure did! Wonder Homie created a challenge and asked people to share pictures of their pets destroying something, and Bored Pandas delivered! They have submitted both hilarious and heartbreaking photos of their naughty pets caught red-handed and we've compiled an even bigger list of the best (or the worst?) destructive pets.
Make sure to upvote the photos you like the most and tell us in the comments what your furry friends have destroyed in your house!
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No Regrets. A Three Part Story
Assuming that all pet owners at some point have experienced or are still experiencing destructive pet behavior, Bored Panda reached out to animal behavior specialists to help you understand your animal's behavior and move towards a life where your pets are happy and your house and possessions are undamaged.
Before you take any measures to train your pet to get rid of unwanted behavior, it's important to understand why they act like that.
Certified animal behaviorist Yody Blass, the owner and director of Companion Animal Behavior in Northern Virginia, who is a pioneer in the field since 1990, told Bored Panda that there are three main reasons why pets are destructive: "Young pets who are either teething or are in need of training regarding appropriate chew items; pets who are bored; pets with anxiety issues, including separation anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD."
My Dog Chewed A Hole Through His Towel And Stuck His Head Through It. Now He Wears It Around The House Like A Poncho
She Looked Guilty For A Split Second, Then Continued With Her Rampage
We also talked to Wendy Kruger, dog behavior and training specialist and Samantha Prior, cat advisor at Wood Green, The Animals Charity in Godmanchester, that had its humble beginnings in 1924. It now has become one of the largest pet rehoming centers in Europe for the care of dogs, cats, and small pets, as well as offering dedicated support services to pet owners. They explained the roots of pets' behavior in more detail, highlighting that being "destructive" is completely natural.
"There are many different reasons why animals are destructive, rooted in their basic needs and their emotional state.
Often, it’s a totally natural behavior and is only considered ‘destructive’ because of what’s being ruined—for example, a puppy chewing a chair leg is just teething and doesn’t understand what they should or shouldn’t use their teeth on! Similarly, a cat scratching the sofa may simply be maintaining their claws or leaving an important territorial marker to give them reassurance, a scent that our noses cannot detect."
This Cat Is Destroying A House. A Doll House
A Position Of No Regret
"It’s also very common for pets to be destructive when they’re bored. An under-exercised young dog can find immense entertainment shredding a sofa cushion, and a kitten who isn’t given appropriate toys for practicing its hunting skills may explore and damage the curtains. Cats who are kept as indoor-only pets will often show these behaviors more due to frustration.
The most challenging cause of destructiveness is when dogs are distressed due to being left at home alone. Luckily, separation anxiety isn’t as common as pet owners think. Emotions that drive dogs to chew things when left alone range from boredom, frustration, and a lack of guidance from the owner about what’s appropriate to chew and what’s not, to separation anxiety and even external triggers that stimulate the behavior like passers-by or the postman."
Apparently We've Adopted The Koolaid Man
My Dog Made Himself A Perfect Costume By Destroying His Stuffed Cow
Friend Of A Friend's Pooch Dragged The Sprinkler In Through The Doggy Door
Because of the lack of understanding about animal behavior, people often jump to conclusions about what might be causing that unwanted behavior. There are a few common stereotypes people have and you are probably familiar with them. Have you ever had a thought that your pet might hate you sometimes and is doing those 'crimes' on purpose? Yody Blass reveals that it's not true.
"Many people jump to conclusions that their pets are just being 'bad' or misbehaving because they are 'mad' at us. An example of this is the dog that has destroyed the couch when left alone. When the family gets home, they assume the pet is mad at them for leaving him alone, without realizing that the pet was anxious and possibly panicked at being alone and did not necessarily enjoy destroying the couch," Blass says.
Lolly The Destroyer
How Could You Be Mad At Her With Eyes Like Those
It Was The Cat, I Tells Ya
Sometimes it seems that pets have unique behavioral patterns when it comes to items they prefer to destroy, but Yody Blass assures us that pets are not particularly picky and will destroy anything that's available."For the most part, pets will go after what is available to them. That is why it is so important to kitten or puppy-proof the home before bringing home a young animal, or pet-proof when bringing home any new pet. Put away breakables, cover valuable furniture, and provide a dog crate, close off rooms, or use a baby gate to prevent access to areas until you know the pet is able to handle being in the area without issues."
Heard My Husband Screaming While In The Shower. Walked In On This
He Looks So Innocent You'd Think The Vase Broke On Its Own
Bane, Destroyer Of Worlds
Once you've caught your cat, dog, or other pet red-handed ruining your stuff, it's important to keep your cool, interrupt the behavior, and offer a fun alternative.
"I caution people often not to get angry or punish the pet after the fact. Pets need to be taught in the moment as much as possible for training to be effective, not hours later when they can't understand the connections between what happened and why you are now upset. The key is to interrupt the behavior whenever possible, and then immediately redirect the pet onto an appropriate item," says Yody Blass, who has successfully treated thousands of pet behavior problems over the past 26 years.
This Isn’t What It Looks Like...
Good Boy Does A Bad
I would leave it. I mean who wouldn’t want permanent paw prints in their sidewalk. :)
These Three Naughty Dogs Destroyed A Packaging Of A Colorant Powder. Fortunately, The Powder Was Edible
The next step in correcting the unwanted behavior is actually devoting your time and effort to educate yourself and train your pet from a young age.
"It is very important to train your pet and manage the environment they are in from the very beginning whenever possible. Avoid giving a puppy or kitten too much freedom until they can handle it. Some pets are more destructive and more persistent than others. These pets may need a trainer or behavior expert early on to get ahead of the problem. Also, any pet with separation anxiety or other fear/anxiety issues should get the help of a pet behaviorist," Yody Blass advises.
Dog Chews £80,000 Aston Martin
This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
I Needed To Use The Restroom And Saw This Instead
There is plenty of information online about pet behavior and useful tips on how to fix it, but most importantly, you have to analyze your own pet to figure out what's best for it.
"All owners should research their pet’s basic needs, taking into consideration the age of the pet, and make some changes to ensure these needs are being more than met," Wendy Kruger and Samantha Prior at Wood Green point out.
"If you believe you are meeting your pet’s needs and the destructive behavior is still happening, it’s time to reach out and ask for help."
These days, there is no shame in asking for help and using all the tools provided to improve your own and your animal's well-being. For example, Wood Green, The Animals Charity can provide free advice to anyone who needs it.
She Chewed Up Her Red Holee Roller Ball And Now Our Mask Collection Is Complete. We Finally Got One In Every Color
"Describe Your Cat In One Picture"
Throne Of Destruction
"Historically, destructiveness was something that prospective owners were understandably concerned about, and people would tend to try and keep the pet in an area they think prevents destruction of furniture and personal items," Wendy Kruger and Samantha Prior say. "For dogs, this used to be the kitchen; however, it’s actually one of the more expensive rooms to replace and repair the damage. Whilst it’s a good idea to minimize your pet’s access to things they may chew where reasonably possible, like picking up shoes and socks off the floor, it’s also important to provide things they can chew and play with to prevent mishaps."
Just Came Home To This And I Don’t Even Own Chickens
Destructive little beasts. I had to keep them in a fully enclosed chicken run in the summer time or they would rip apart the vegetable and perennial gardens.
Alright, Who Destroyed The Couch?
Accidental Renaissance, Cat Edition: Destruction Of The Cardboard Tunnel
So the key to keeping your pets away from destroying your belongings is giving them alternative enjoyable items they can destroy. Yody Blass shares her experience:
"We want the pet to learn over time what is acceptable to chew on and what is not. It is important to provide chew items the pet will enjoy, as well as items that are safe, as some pets will ingest items that are not good for them. Some pets will do better with a faux fur toy that does not have any stuffing. Other pets will enjoy ripping out the stuffing, and as long as you supervise and make sure they don't ingest any of the toy (or the squeaker) they can have the empty shell to play with (hint: buy inexpensive items for this purpose)."
He Has Become A Plant
Dad, I’m Not Real Sure How To Say This But I Screwed Up... I’m Sorry
Destroy The Outsider
Wendy Kruger and Samantha Prior give tips for proud owners of the most common pets—dogs and cats.
"For dogs, pay plenty of attention to mental stimulation, exercise, and company. When it comes to preventing destructive behavior, chewing is probably the most important and under-utilized natural activity. Everybody seems to accept that puppies need chews, but dogs of all ages need an outlet for chewing! Who can blame them for chewing a shoe if this essential basic need is not being provided for? If your dog does get hold of something they shouldn’t have, don’t punish them or snatch it away. Instead, direct their attention and energy to something more appropriate—like a long-lasting chew or their favorite toy.
When it comes to cats, a safe and secure territory is essential. Make sure they have plenty of sturdy and appropriately-positioned scratching posts or mats. For example, if the sofa is getting scratched, place a large scratching post next to it to help them transition across."
Bagel The Bengal, Destroyer Of Boxes
Hey Mom, I Opened The Door For You
This Guy vs. An Elf
With all that being said, correcting the unwanted behavior in pets comes down to the owner's motivation and willingness to spend time working on it, because in most cases, the destructive behavior can be solved with simple changes.
"For many species, chewing is a natural behavior and it’s generally not difficult to prevent them from destroying the ‘wrong’ things. In most cases, it can be resolved with some simple changes to the pet’s lifestyle. The most important thing is finding the motivation for the behavior and the emotion that drives it—for example, a cat needing an outlet for scratching, or a dog being bored and having nothing else to do," Wendy Kruger and Samantha Prior say.
With millions of suffering and homeless pets around the world, it's important to understand that owning a pet comes with a big responsibility and the moment you become a parent to a lovely animal, its welfare is completely is your hands.
Not That I Can Go Anywhere Anyway
Every Time I Straighten Them, Stevie Jumps Up And "Fixes" Them
True Artist
To balance out all the animals' documented crimes and give you hope after you possibly found a ruined piece of furniture today, here is a friendly reminder that pets can be wholesome and their role in our lives is beneficial for multiple reasons that go way beyond having a furry friend.
"Among the well-documented effects of HAI [Human-Animal Interactions] in humans of different ages, with and without special medical or mental health conditions, are benefits for: social attention, social behavior, interpersonal interactions, and mood; stress-related parameters such as cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure; self-reported fear and anxiety; and mental and physical health, especially cardiovascular diseases," a 2012 study by Andrea Beetz, Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg, Henri Julius, and Kurt Kotrschal in Frontiers in Psychology reveals.
I Wonder Who Tore Down The Blinds
This Is The Second Plant My Bastard Son Toby Has Maliciously Killed
I Took Care Of Your Bills!
Got My First Succulent. It Lasted 8 Hours.
Ripped The Curtains Down, Looked Me Directly In The Eye - And Started Playing With Them
Halloween Decoration. Totally Worth It
What’s This? Something You’re Working On?
Pavlov Woke Me Up Early To Show Off His Kill
That Took Much Effort
My Cat Has Strategically Chewed A Hole For His Head In His Favourite Cardboard Box
All I Wanted To Do Was Make A Depawsit To Buy More Treatos. Not Sure Why My Puppy Eyes Didn’t Work In Dis Situation
To Make Matters Worse, This Place Was A Rental
That One Time My Dane Tried To Convince Me She Was On Cloud Island And Didn't Destroy Her Bed
Found This Old Picture Of My Dog And God Am I Happy She Doesn't Do Stuff Like This Anymore
This Was After Less Than One Hour
All That Effort Just To Chew My Lampshade
Our German Shepherd Loves To Destroy Tennis Balls
They can destroy his/her teeth, and the fuzz can be ingested, to no good results. A very cute doggo, though.
The Destroyer Of Pillows
Ginger Ale Defending Her Kill
I Just Wanted To Play Monopoly
1-Year-Old Boxer Cece Further Distressed My Already Distressed Leather Couch
Guess Who Just Got Neutered?
Pricey Chew Toy
She Tore The Bottom Off Of Our Box Spring And Now Uses It As A Kitty Fort
This Is All That Is Left Of Their Stuffed Raccoon And They Are Beyond Pleased With Their Destruction
My Cousin's Cat Is A Destructive Jerk
This Is What Happens When A Full Grown English Mastiff Really, Really Doesn't Want To Be In A Room
Psbattle: Dog Destroying Couch
Everyone Is Posting About Their Dogs Looking Guilty And Then There's My Dog, Who Is Clearly Proud Of Her Work
All These Bones, And He's Chewing My Shoe
Got Home From Work To Discover My Cat Having Destroyed My Television U
Breakfast Was Late
Please close the lid so I can sit on it and have easier access to unravel the TP 😸
My Dog Ate The Wall
"Look What I Did Today!"
I dunno what happened? I was sitting on the sofa when it suddenly exploded!
So Long My Loved Futon
My futon was the piece of furniture that I loved most.
Some months ago I travelled to California for a business education (I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil).
My mongrel (adopted from the streets) got stressed and wanted me back right away. To show her feelings, she decided to blackmail me using my futon.
So long my loved futon.
He Destroyed A Pigeon. This Is What I Came Home To
The Destroyer
Bob The Kitten Did Not Approve Of The Cactus
Who Did This?
Guilty Party Lurking Around Somewhere
Albert Having A Great Day
I’m Tearing Out All The Scary Parts. You’re Welcome
Her Checklist For When I'm In A Meeting: Dirt On Floor, Killed Plant, Chewed On Slipper, Looking Cute
Destroyed His Only Friend
My Dog Found The Source Of The Red Dot, And Destroyed It
One Of The Many Destroyed Beds In His Lifetime
He Was Alone Just 5 Minutes
Get A Dog They Said, It Would Be Fun They Said. Thanks, McDonalds
"I Missed You"
She Murdered Her Bed
Innocence. The Guilty Party Is In The Background
Houdini Helping Reorganize Mommy's Research
Once We Talked About Getting New Door. Apparently She Heard Us And Wanted To Help
She Chews Every Box
Margaret Killed Her Christmas Toy
New Baby Is So Destructive
Oh my god!! I’ve heard of these murder mittens...but I thought it was just a myth.
The Only Time I Actually Caught Him In The Act
My Cat Is Very Proud Of Herself For Destroying This Shoebox
Good Boy Is Also Guilty Boy
Why Do I Even Bother?
I Needed New Chaps Actually
Our Corgi mix and Heinz 57 have been cohorts of disaster previously, usually keeping the carnage to underwear and socks with the occasional shoe. Fun times ensued when I came home from a 20 minute (max) errand in August. Apparently the leg of these jeans must have been hanging just far enough for the Corgi to yank them out of the hamper.
He is known for redecorating with folded hand towels and bath mats, his prime target, however, is usually my husbands gym bag and work boots. The Mutt is known for eating panties and shoes, this must have been the chocolate bar at the all you can eat cruise ship buffet and just too good for her to pass up.
When I emailed the photo to my vet, the one word response?
“Impressive!”. If you have pets, you know that for your vet to say that in regards to something your dogs have done that you have a pretty damn noteworthy incidence of sh*t my dogs ruined.
Luna Loves "Reading Papers"
My Dog Destroyed One Of Her Toys, And Became A Supervillain
She must of done the same thing with three other colored chew toys. About 25 pics back she's got four "helmets" each a different color.
This Is The Only Reason
Not Only Did He Completely Destroy Our Outdoor Furniture, But That Is Also A Piece Of Our Underground Irrigation System In His Mouth
All Day Long He Chews Up My Office Chair
My Dog Destroing The Table
Destroys The Kitchen Roll While My Back Is Turned And Then Has The Audacity To Laugh About It Right To My Face
Went Outside For 15 Minutes And Found This Mess
She Looks Very Guilty. And Remorseful
Husky Killed All The Tampons. No Shame
My Daughter’s Birthday
Dog Destroyer
Got Two Kittens Because We Heard They Were Less Destructive When The Have A Friend. My Poor Succulent Now Knows Otherwise
After 2 Weeks Of Work I Come Home To This
My Dog Feels Safe From Fireworks By Chewing Holes In His Bed And Then Laying Inside It
Cats Will Literally Destroy Everything You Own And Not Give A Single S**t
I’m freeeeee as a bird nowwwwww and this bird you cannot changggggeeeeeee
The Plant Destroyer Is Now The Homework Destroyer. I’m Taping It Back Together For My Son With A Note For His Teacher
They've Teamed Up To Destroy The Little Toilet And Kitchen Roll I Have Left
A Rare Photo Of Bijou Using The Blinds She Chewed As A Blanket
It Wasn't Me. My Cats Having Fun By Spoiling Christmas Decorations
That's why every year I decorate my Christmas Cactus! Cats don't seem interested in it.
She Ate The Bed I Am Not Even Mad
When I Came From Work
Finley (Rescue Mastiff Mix) Enjoyed This Stuffed Banana. For About 5 Minutes
Sure I'm Glad I Bought That “Indestructible” Dog Bed
Just A Bit More...a Bit More...a Bit More...
This photo proves the flat earthers wrong! If the world was flat, cats would have pushed everything over the edge long ago.
Their Humans Weren’t Invited To The Pillow Fight
Meet Cosmo, The Destroyer Of Plants
Willow Destroyed Maggie's Bed. Sorry, Not Sorry
I Didn't Know My Cat Was Capable Of This Kind Of Destruction
This Is The 3rd Credit Card She’s Eaten. No Guilt At All
My Dog Locked Herself In My Room For God Knows How Long, Had To Crawl Through Window To Get In Because Saxophone Case Was In Way. Great Thing To Come Home To See
She’s okey now, just so you know.
It's Okay Mom, I Killed The Bed
I Wonder Which One Of My Pups Killed The Toy?
First Kill Of The Season
Get A Cat, They Said. They Provide Emotional Support And Are Often Misunderstood, They Said
When You Think It’s Cute For Your Doggo To Play With A Childhood Stuffed Toy. The Fluff Was Like That When We Found Him
Hardware Engineer With Wings
Oodie the Alexandrine parakeet. He’s about 8mths old here…the forbidden stuff is always the crunchiest….they never tire of it, I’m looking forward to decades of ruined stuff.
I Look Cute, But I'm Actually 23 Pounds Of Maine Coon Sass And Will Tear Through Anything Like The Kool-Aid Man
He Still Has His First Teddy Bear. Once In A While He Gets To Destroy A Box
Destroying Puzzle Pieces And Rolling Around, Spreading Bastardness
Dog Chewed Hole Through Blinds To Get A Better View
My Dog Chewed Up Some Of My Presents
A Lovely Early Morning Surprise
Stephen King's Dog, Molly (The Thing Of Evil) Has A Thing For Butter
Personal Cloud
I want a personal cloud. Suppose i should go chew up my mattress, then...
Destroying Precious Commodity
Exhausted After A Day Of Destruction
My Grandfather Would Throw A Box Of Kleenex At My Dog When He Would Bark To Get Him To Stop. My Dog Destroyed The Box Of Kleenex When He Left The Room. I Approve
Sherman Loves Meatballs!
Sherman is a foster kitten that LOVES people food! He climbed up on the counter to knock off a casserole dish of leftover meatballs. Bad boy, Sherman!
What? I Am Still Cute Right? It Was Just A Play
Who, Meeee?
My Cat Leaves Our Tree Alone, But Enjoys Destroying The Toy Train Set Around It
New Toy Destroyed In Minutes. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
The Destroyer(S) Of Couch
Poppy Completely Destroyed The Only Cushion Big Enough For Her To Sit On
$60 Victoria's Secret Chew Toy
She Smashed Everything Down So She Could Be Extra Comfortable
These Two Spoiled Jerks Have A Toy Box Full Of Hundreds Of Dollars Worth Of Chew Toys, And Yet They Decided That My New Couch Was Much More Fun To Destroy
My African Grey Chews Everything
Toys Are Dying One By One
Basking In His Destruction
Laptop Chomper
Destroyed Foam Roller Found Under A Bed While Moving, We’ve Identified A Suspect
Here's My Junebug Caught In The Act Of Destruction
It was a string curtain, with beads, that my sister hung on her door.
Oops
You Didn’t Need This, Right?
He Just Destroyed That Plastic Bowl, Now Trying To Play Innocent
This Fluffer Chewed Up Both My Water And Electricity Bill
It Most Definitely Wasn’t Me , It Was The Cat Down The Road
Ignores The $50 Worth Of Cat Toys, Eats Mom’s Headphones Instead
New Curtains
I Made This
“I Chewed Mommy’s Bra In Half!” Thanks Charlie
Her On-Going Battle With The Blinds To Spy On All My Neighbors
Oops! Sorry Meowmy!this Day Will Be Marked As A Tragic One. Now I Have Nowhere To Sleep!!! I Will Be Forced To Use One Of The Cat Furnitures, Horrible!
Two Days Organizing My Closets And Putting Clothes In Bags. It Probably Took Him Less Than Five Minutes To Destroy All My Hard Work
So My Friend Decided To Leave Her Pet Timber Wolf Unattended
It Was Like This When I Found It - Honestly
The House My Mom Rented Out Was Destroyed Because The Tenant Had A Pig As A Pet
All the damage should be within 18" of the floor. Not unlike a toddler, I suppose.
Dogs Who Destroy Their Own Beds
“No, We Disapprove Of Another Corgi In The House”
I'm surprised there's no pet rats here. Those guys are absolute masters of destroying things. Give them a nice fleecy hammock to sleep in and within five minutes they'll have shredded the lining and bitten through the supports. Leave anything hanging too close to the cage and it WILL be grabbed, pulled through the bars, and chewed to shreds. Mine managed to rip the tail off my hanging fox pelt and hauled it into their nest so they could sleep on it. At least they were comfy.
Dogs do not like being left alone for almost any period of time....if you are lucky they might sleep....but if you are not....ARMAGEDDON!!!!
I'm surprised there's no pet rats here. Those guys are absolute masters of destroying things. Give them a nice fleecy hammock to sleep in and within five minutes they'll have shredded the lining and bitten through the supports. Leave anything hanging too close to the cage and it WILL be grabbed, pulled through the bars, and chewed to shreds. Mine managed to rip the tail off my hanging fox pelt and hauled it into their nest so they could sleep on it. At least they were comfy.
Dogs do not like being left alone for almost any period of time....if you are lucky they might sleep....but if you are not....ARMAGEDDON!!!!