“Tiny Units” Online Group Is Dedicated To Everything That Comes In Cute Sizes (50 Pics)

The head moderator, u/hwhouston517, went into detail with Bored Panda about where the line lies between something that is a tiny unit and where it's no longer one. There's a lot of subjectivity involved, however, we really shouldn't overthink things too much. It's simply best to sit back, relax, and enjoy the overwhelming adorableness of the units.

"The beauty about this subreddit is that the concept of a 'tiny unit' is entirely subjective, meaning there are less complaints, fewer posts to moderate, and altogether more posts in general. Personally, I would define a 'tiny unit' not by total height, width or length, but by scale. My opinion is that an animal or object has to be at least 3 times as small as the average size of the animal or object in order to count," the head moderator went into detail about what they personally view as animals and things worthy of the label.

"For example, a Labrador Retriever cannot be posted here, but a Chihuahua can, since it’s probably three times smaller than the average size of a dog. The scale factor works in much larger animals, too. Fully grown elephants obviously aren’t tiny units, but baby elephants, which are still much bigger than other animals, count as tiny units as well."

The head moderator reiterated that a lot of people enjoy r/TinyUnits because of the cuteness factor. As human beings, we tend to enjoy and admire looking at tiny animals because we can comprehend them in their entirety. From our point of view, they're less threatening, meaning we tend to see them as cute. "The more cute or attractive something is, the more dopamine our brain releases and therefore it makes us more happy," the mod said.

Psychologists Gary Sherman and Jonathan Haidt propose that small and cute things trigger a protective impulse in us. However, that’s not all. Seeing cute things and animals also brings out a childlike response in us. We have an impulse to engage with adorable, tiny things because we find it fun.

We also feel a deep sense of satisfaction that we’re capable of taking care of vulnerable creatures who might be incapable of looking out for themselves. So it’s no wonder that tiny units win over our hearts and our souls, leaving no place for sadness.

According to PDSA Vet Anna, our love of baby animals such as puppies and kittens may be rooted in our desire to take care of our own children. The similarities between their feature only enhance this instinct.

“Many of us love baby animals, and a lot of this is to do with our inbuilt urge to care for human babies. Puppies and kittens have a lot of features which are similar to human children, such as big eyes, short arms and legs, a round body, and adorable clumsy behavior. This ‘cuteness’ can remind us of our urge to care for human babies and can trigger an urge to protect and care for young pets as they grow,” she told Bored Panda.

Vet Anna revealed that puppies and kittens ought to be with their mother until they’re 8 weeks old. “They should be in a warm, cozy environment during this time. Although from around 4 weeks old, many young cats and dogs will start to explore their environment, they shouldn’t be out and about without their mother and litter mates when they’re young.”

So if you stumble across a puppy or kitten that’s outside all on its own, you should get lend it a helping paw, as it might be lost or abandoned. It’s especially dangerous now that the weather’s getting chilly. “Young pets are at a high risk of hypothermia, so it’s important to keep them warm and dry, and their energy levels can drop rapidly if they’re not eating regular meals, so it’s a good idea to get help from a local vet practice or a rescue charity like the RSPCA (in the UK) if you find an abandoned puppy or kitten.” Meanwhile, those living in the US can contact the ASPCA.

The moderators of r/TinyUnits describe the subreddit as “a chilled out place” that’s all about sharing photos and videos of teeny tiny animals, insects, and even “random objects.”

“You seen a cool tiny unit in the wild whether it be an animal or object? Then this is the place to share it!” they share.

The subreddit is pretty rules-light. You simply have to be a decent human being and the content you post has to include tiny units that you think are totally awesome. It’s as clear and focused as it gets on the internet, folks.

According to Know Your Meme, the term ‘absolute unit’ came into existence in late 2017 when someone uploaded a photo of British hotelier David Morgan-Hewitt alongside the Queen of England on Twitter. They captioned the photo, “In awe at the size of this lad. Absolute unit," and the meme spread from there.

Over time, people began referring to anyone and anything that seems larger than life as absolute units. Our guess is that, eventually, the r/TinyUnits team decided to go for the exact opposite while keeping the term ‘unit’ as part of the community’s name.

While there are plenty of tiny units to be found in our homes, odds are that you’ll come across quite a few of them outside and in nature, too. Back in September, I’d spoken about protecting critters that we find in the wild with a member of the British charity-run advice website, ‘Help Wildlife.’

According to the representative, when we’re out in nature, we have to learn to be careful so we don’t disturb any tiny creatures. “To avoid disturbing small animals when in nature, it's best to stick to established pathways where possible. If you see a nest or other animal habitat then only observe from a distance, never try to touch or interfere. If you have a dog friend walking with you, make sure they're kept under control and they're not allowed to disturb or harm wildlife," Sarah told Bored Panda.

What’s more, traffic on roads also has “a very big impact” on wildlife. It affects animals of all sizes, small and large. "As well as the obvious accidents, roads also divide and reduce their natural territories," Sarah from ‘Help Wildlife’ said.

"Some forward-thinking countries create wildlife crossings when building new roads these days which can be helpful. Otherwise, the best way to prevent the loss of life is to drive carefully, especially in areas with lots of wildlife or where there is undergrowth at the side of the road which animals may dart out from. If an animal comes into contact with your car then always stop and check on them and try to find them help.”

Meanwhile, if we find ourselves overwhelmed with an animal’s cuteness out in the wild, we have to remember that we can’t let them become overly dependent on human beings for things like food, shelter, and attention.

‘Help Wildlife’ told Bored Panda that we shouldn’t overfeed animals, no matter if they’re small or large. 

"Make sure it's something healthy, don't feed so much that they become dependent on people, always keeping in mind you won't be the only ones feeding them, and don't let them associate people with food. It's best for their survival that they remain independent and don't start approaching people for food.”