Pretty much everyone has lived through moments where things don’t turn out how you’d planned or hoped. Well, it happens. Maybe you’ve had a tough day, a challenging week, or even a whole hard month. If that’s the case, you’re in great need of some uplifting pictures to see that it’s not all bad.
There’s nothing like a dose of cuteness to ease your daily troubles and help you get through the week. That’s why we at Bored Panda have combed the web and collected some of the most adorable and charming pictures of our beloved animals to brighten your day. Get ready to witness how our four-legged friends make our lives generally better by showing us love and kindness wherever we go.
So sit back, relax and enjoy the wave of positive emotions that comes with this list. Continue scrolling, upvote the ones that made you smile the widest, and share your thoughts about them in the comment section below!
Psst! If you’re in the mood for even more wholesome pics, be sure to check out our previous posts about furry canines right here and here.
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It's A Good Day
My Son Always Texts To Say He's On His Way Home. I Open The Door, Letting His 17-Year-Old Cat, And 16-Year-Old Dog Know That He's On His Way. This Is Them Waiting For Him
Thought it was adorable and wanted to share.
Somewhere In Heaven There's A Black And White Dog Taking Care Of Seven Golden Lab Puppies
Daisy the dog lost all seven of her puppies in a barn fire at the end of February, and wasn’t the same afterwards, spending most of her days going to the remains of the barn to look for them. Her owner posted a desperate appeal on Facebook, asking if anyone had puppies she could foster. The next day, an owner of eight orphaned puppies contacted her, and Daisy took to caring for them straight away
No wonder people love animals. There’s plenty of evidence suggesting our adorable critters give us comfort, reduce stress, encourage exercise, and help us forget our everyday troubles. Not to mention that sharing our lives with such great companions makes us feel far less lonely and works miracles for our mental wellbeing.
Today, there are very few things people share in common as much as the love of our four-legged friends. According to a poll by YouGov, 69 percent of American adults have at least one pet in their home, and it seems that dogs, cats, and fish are the most common choice of pets.
Moreover, these animals are extremely cherished by their owners. The vast majority, 88 percent to be exact, see them as members of their family. More than a half of the respondents allow them to sleep in their own beds, plan to buy them holiday presents, and 50 percent revealed letting their pets lick their faces.
I Rescued A Stray Cat In My Neighborhood. At Night His Brother Would Come To Visit Him. I Really Had No Other Options
I Haven’t Seen My Dog In A Few Days, This Was His Reaction For 5 Minutes Straight
I Think Someone Has A Crush On My Christmas Light Decoration
When it comes to the main reasons Americans decide to get a furry house friend in the first place, having company, providing a nice home, and hoping they would improve their mental health were some of the top ones. Plus, more than a third mentioned they got a pet because their partner or family member simply wanted one.
While we appreciate the joy animals bring into our lives, we catch ourselves wondering: how did we get the pets we have? Although pets have adjusted to us, our behaviors, and our emotions, it was not always like that.
This Mare Lost Her Foal And Then, Two Days Later, This Foal Lost Its Mother. Here They Are An Hour After Meeting
If only you people could see my face right now mjmemethubn.jpg
Stray Doggo Interrupts Street Performance In Turkey To Help The Actor Who Was Pretending To Be Hurt. What A Pure Heart
I'm Recovering From Anorexia But My Cat Stopped Eating... Finally Worked Out That She Will Only Eat When I Do. A Very Good Reason To Keep Eating
To find out how the domestication of animals works, we reached out to Lee Dugatkin, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist and a historian of science at the University of Louisville. "Ever wonder how our ancestors turned wild animals into the pets that play such an important part in our everyday life? An experiment in Russia, now in its 62nd year, is helping us understand," he told Bored Panda.
"In the late 1950s, Dmitry Belyaev, a brilliant Russian geneticist, came up with an idea for how to replay the evolutionary process that led to the domestication of dogs from wolves, but sped up and using foxes instead of wolves," he explained. The experiment that began in 1960 took place in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia.
Dugatkin noted that this groundbreaking project continues to this day "under the watchful guidance of Belyaev’s student, Lyudmila Trut," who recently celebrated her 88th birthday. "Each year, she and her team test hundreds of foxes, selecting only the tamest —the most prosocial toward humans—to parent the next generation."
Colorado Man Reunited With His Donkey, Ennis, After Fire Swept Through His Town
When One Act Of Kindness Creates A Lifelong Friendship
Rejected From Police Training For Being 'Too Friendly'
This Veterinarian Has A Comfort-Dog Assistant That Helps Sick Patients Know That Everything Will Be Alright
Dugatkin and Trut tell the whole story of this experiment in their book How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog): Visionary Scientists and a Siberian Tale of Jump-Started Evolution, which is full of science, political intrigue, and tales of love. "In a nutshell, what the Russian team has done is create domesticated foxes that will lick your ears and melt your hearts with their devotion and love," he explained.
It's hard to imagine that somewhere in the beautiful yet harsh Siberia, you would be able to find furry foxes that are as friendly as our beloved canines. "Incredibly, even though Lyudmila and her colleagues select the parents of each generation strictly on how behaviorally tame foxes are, their domesticated foxes look eerily like dogs," Dugatkin added. "Within a decade (ten fox generations), some of the foxes had floppy ears and curly tails."
This Mother Cat Has Taken In An Abandoned Baby Possum
My neighbor's black cat had kittens and they found a baby possum on their deck that must have fallen off of its mom. The mama cat took it in as one of her kittens, but she doesn’t understand why this little funny kitten hangs on her all the time. At this point in time we need to be more like the animals, take care of each other in their time of need.
My Foster Dog Had Never Been Indoors Before. This Is Her First Nap, On A Bed, In A Home
Sundae was taken from a dog hoarding situation — one man had 16 dogs (and a deceased dog’s body) in his backyard. The dogs had access only to a junk-filled backyard and a garage for shelter. We’ve had her for about a week and you would never know that she’s never been an indoor dog before. She’s totally potty trained, incredibly gentle and she’s very polite indoors. She loves to sleep as close as possible to me in bed — I think she’s just making up for 8ish years of zero affection.
She's lucky to have found you! Give her hugs from me! I love the senior puppers. I'm getting older and my next adoptions will all be seniors from now forward.
My Dad Was Dealing With A Lot Of Stress, So We Decided To Get Him A Dog To See If It Would Help. Judging By The Cuddle Puddle, Mission Accomplished
"By the end of the second decade, they had mottled fur patterns and dog-like faces and bodies. And these foxes are as good as dogs at following human gaze," the evolutionary biologist said. What makes this experiment particularly fascinating is that domestication of certain animal species took thousands of years, and this experiment managed to have surprising results in just a few decades.
My Boy Just Had A Successful Surgery And Is Now Cancer Free
She Saw The Kids Playing On It And Now She Meows Until You Rock Her
Bhahahahahahahah!!! Clever lady! She even looks like she's waiting too!
Snapped This Pic Of This Huge Pitbull And His Pooh Bear While I Was Out Running Errands This Morning. So Adorable
He Guarded A Bird With Broken Wing Under My Truck For Four Days Before It Could Fly Off
Had to bring them both food and water because he refused to leave its side day and night, very proud of him
Dugatkin continued: "If all of that were not enough to make us humans fall head-over-heels for these remarkable creatures, they also laugh. Indeed, a number of the vocalizations the domesticated foxes make are more similar to human laughs than the sounds produced by any other species," he told Bored Panda.
He concluded by saying that all of these incredible changes toward a pet-like animal "occurred in mere sixty-plus years. Who knows what changes lay in store as the experiment steams into its seventh decade?"
The Hospital Let My Dog Stay With Me After A Brain Surgery
Two Years And Tons Of Walks Later, Shiloh Has Reached Her Target Weight
This Tiny Fox Has Been Visiting Our Garden Every Day And Wants To Be Friends
We Fed Our Backyard Squirrel Once. Meet Frankie At Our Backyard Door Waiting For More Nuts
Random Girl At Farmer’s Market Seduces My Partner In Front Of My Very Eyes
Sweet Rat
I Got My Pup A Matching Chair So He Would Stop Stealing Mine. Needless To Say, He’s Very Pleased
My Dad Was Worried My Deafblind Dog Wouldn’t Recognize Him After A Year Of Quarantine But I Think She Did
An Autistic Boy, Who Can't Be Touched, Connects With A Service Dog, As His Mom Bursts Into Tears Of Hope And Joy
I'm not sure why, but people still ask us why we place service dogs with children sometimes. Let me help you understand, from a momma who knows first hand:
See this moment? I've never experienced a moment like this.
This picture was taken near the end of the day after my autistic five-year-old was finally able to sit down with his new Service Dog Tornado. He flew across the entire ocean, stopped in multiple states, and uprooted his entire routine to travel the globe for this. He was so overwhelmed through the day that he had to leave to take a break for a couple hours before he could come back. This boy is the strongest child I have ever met; he has faced countless rude and ignorant adults and children who do not understand him, who have hurt him, and who have not valued him because he is different. This picture captures the face of a mother who saw her child, who she can't hug, wash, dress, snuggle and touch freely lay on his new Service dog of his own free will, with a purposeful unspoken attachment. This is the face of a mom who has seen her son experience countless failed social interactions on the playground in an attempt to have a friend. Any friend. Any kind of connection. She has sat with her son while he has cried at night for months because he has no consistent connections outside of the family no matter how hard he tries and no matter what he works hard on in his Autism therapies. It doesn't transfer to the natural occurring world for him. And now she is sitting behind her son silently watching this moment, with the air sucked from her lungs, and no words to say.
Holding her mouth and silently crying because she doesn't want to distract him from the moment and break him away from a pure, honest, and truly fulfilling moment for her son of his own free will. This is truly magic. Words cannot explain it.
I have cried so many times for this boy, but this is the very first time I have cried for a reason like this.
It's new, it's painful, it's wonderful, and it's grateful. I will always stand behind this boy (probably still crying ) but I am grateful that he will have Tornado to stand beside him. The 4 Paws magic is real. The wait is long, but this moment right here makes it worth every moment of waiting. It's worth every fight for services for my son, every diagnosis, every new provider, every dollar spent, every paper filled out, every school meeting, every shed tear, every step forward, every step back, and every wonder of the unknown future. Somehow because of this- because of Tornado- I know everything will be okay.
Some Images Require No Title, Just A Smile
Jellybean Does Not Like The Cone Of Shame. He Tolerates The Flower Of Protection
If it's because he lost a few -ahem- ounces, it's for a good cause. The FoP is adorable.
A Goat Followed My Friend Home From Work
Boss Said We Could Have Office Pupper Fridays
Guy Spots The Most Adorable Little Squirrels Napping Just Outside His Window
Turbo's Smile Always Makes Me Smile. This Was His Prosthetic Fitting Day
My Local Wildlife Shelter Had One Of Their Soft Release Raccoons Manage To Sneak Over The Fence And Into The Deer Pen. Adorableness Ensued
My Little Man Is Cancer Free
Our Cat Had Kittens 2 Days After We Had A Baby. This Kitten Climbs Into The Lounger With Her Whenever He Has The Chance. I Think These Two Were Destined To Be Best Buds
10 Days Ago, Somebody Poisoned My 11-Year-Old Fluffball Leon In My Own Garden
Against all odds, he made it through and is back home recovering to cause trouble for a while longer. The veterinarian called him a miracle. So proud of you my grumpy old kitty
"You Saved My Life. I Knew I Was Going To Die At That Shelter, But You Saved Me Today" - Dog, Saved From Euthanasia, Thanks His Savior
Hooman, This Is My Son
My Dad Passed Away 2 Days Ago And Was Inseparable From His Cat. He Refuses To Leave This Spot Where He Can See The Driveway. He's Waiting For My Dad To Get Home
My dad's been gone for nearly three years and his dog still goes out to his workshop and lies on the floor where dad sat. They spent so much time together. My dad passed unexpectedly and never got to say goodbye to his doggo.
I'm sorry for your loss, and the loss for the puppy
Load More Replies...My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. My dad passed away 7 months ago. He used to call home when he was on his way from work, and their dog knew it was him calling and started wagging his tail. After my dad's gone, for a while, he would sit near the phone expecting a phone call from my dad.
You can. Pets understand the smell of death. Let them say goodbye too.
Load More Replies...Wisława Szymborska - The Cat in the Empty Flat To perish - you don't do it to a feline, For what can it possibly do, In the empty flat? Clamber the walls, Rub against the furniture, It all seems unchanged, And yet, all has changed, All the things as they were, And yet, spaced more widely, The lamp shines no more in the evenings, Some steps on the staircase, But not those steps, The hand putting the fish on the plate, Is no longer the same, Something disrupted, The daily routine, Something is wrong, Instead of right, There was a person, Who has dissappered, Persistengly absent, All the drawers looked into, All the shelves run through, There's nothing under the carpet, Even the rule broken, The papers scattered, What else could possibly be done? Hold on and sleep, Why, let the him come,
After living with my mom for the past several years to care for her, then losing her to covid a year ago, this just ripped my heart out. Thank you. Although not for me, it says it all.
Load More Replies...My Father's 16 year old cat died of a broken heart a month after he passed. People who still think animals don't feel or love are full of it.
Cats can and DO die of broken hearts. Some people think cats don't form loving bonds with people or other cats. And dogs. They DO. And they hurt and mourn just like humans. For us, and for their bonded buddies. My cat Apache Cat was inconsolable when his buddy Smokey died suddenly. Just went around looking in all the usual places, and calling for her. Broke. My. Heart.
Load More Replies...Oh god, I can't even. Animals feel just like people do. Sorry about your Dad. ❤
Hope you adopted your dad’s cat! Hate for him to end up with complete strangers.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your Father. I sincerely hope his cat will be ok too. I always say I would rather I outlive my cats so they don't have to mourn the loss of me.
I live in senior apartments, we always let the pets lay next to and smell where their pardners are. Only kind to do it 🙂
So sorry for your loss. Is there anyway you can let the cat see your Dad? He would then understand why he's not coming home.
Like the dog that waited more then a week in the train station for his owner, but he died at work…. So loyal… I hope they can see each other in a better place..
Reminds me of my parents' dog. Not long after my dad passed, my brother borrowed his truck. When he got back and pulled into the driveway, my parents' dog got excited thinking it was my dad. My mom felt so bad for her.
Im sorry but i had to shed a few tears. My grandfather passed away a few days ago and his bird has been calling out for him. “Papa? Papa?” He says. I break into tears every time he says it because he was my savior from suicide, threw a party when he found out i was bi on my birthday, and was the one i go cuddle with him and just cry on him shoulder for no explanation and just comfort me. I love him so much.
So sad. I'm am truly sorry for your loss. Please try to give the cat extra affection to help her get through this. She is hurting too, but is also very confused.
Would a companion help? Is there another homeless cat that can be a buddy for this one?
Give him some of your dads shirts to cuddle in....? This is sad. Wouldn't really know how to handle the situation.
Owe that is so sad on so many levels. Sorry to both of you for your loss.
I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you can keep the kitty if not hopefully another nice home.
I am so so sorry, kitty, he will ever come back and you will never really understand why. :'-(
Please take him in, I swear if you tell him enough times he will understand. Dad's in heaven and point upward. It helps my kitties who just lost their 14 yr old son. I'm sorry for your loss.
Please accept my deepest condolences 😭 Your dear Dad's dear sweet black boy kitty will continue his vigil 😿💔
That cat looks like it was painted in watercolor. So elegant. Please say you still have him/her. I've read stories where cats, and dogs, somehow find where their people have been laid to rest, and just sit there, waiting. Animals are amazingly "human"
I am crying for this beautiful cat! Condolences for your Dad's passing xx
One of our dogs didn't eat for 3 days after my dad passed. They all grieved him deeply just as we have and they are just starting to get that happiness back after almost 2 years, we all miss him so much.
Yeah. This is why I had to move to my dads house last year after he died. 2 dogs. 4 cats. 15 turtle. 2 tortoises. All wondering where their best friend went. I figured ... uprooting them all to New Orleans weeks after he died was TOO MUCH change at once. So instead I uprooted myself and my zoo of animals and moved up here so they could adjust in their own time. We'll be moving back home to Louisiana (we need a WAY BIGGER PLACE now so Nola ain't gunna fly) once everyone has adjusted to him being gone. Lucky for them, they're adjusting faster than I am.
I am so sorry for you and your families loss. Especially his cat. 💕
Aww my sincere sympathies for your loss this little one's poor heart because how do you explain?
So Heartbreaking, for BOTH of you. I’m so very sorry the two of you are going through this grief.
So sorry that both of you lost your dad.. hugs to both of you.
I work in Hospice and see this. If possible, PLEASE allow pets to see them at the end, for closure. 💔
I'm so sorry for your loss. Please take care of that kitty, your dad will be so happy if you do.
Someone needs to talk to the cat and explain to him that he's passed away and he's not coming back. But he will see him on the other side. Animals are VERY INTELLIGENT. Don't let him pine away to nothing. And get him something of your dad's he can always have to snuggle with. Animal whisperer, behavioralist and I talk with animals.
I am so sorry for your loss, and kitty's loss. A very dear friend of mine passed suddenly a few years ago, and the dog ran the house looking for her, and would sit at the foot of her chair. Her husband took the dog to the funeral home (with the approval of the home) before the viewing. Doggo sniffed the casket, and after he went home, he stopped looking for his mama to come home.
Poor kitty..makes me so sad..I am so sorry for the loss of your father
When my grandmother passed, her chihuahua was quite sad. But now he is my daughter's chihuahua. Take kitty home if you can
Sorry for your loss, hope you both will have good memories to share!
That made me cry. I hope maybe you can get a companion animal to help alleviate some of the pain.
I just lost my mother. And she had 2 cats that do the same. 💕 I'm sorry for the pain and sadness you have. Sometimes it hurts more than I ever thought possible, especially seeing the confusion, sadness, love and hope reflected in their eyes. 🥺💞
Oh gawd. This one got me. I miss my house panther something fierce and it's been 4 and a half years.
I wish there was an acceptable way for pets to experience their owners' bodies after they have died, so that they can understand. I know it is important for them to get to see their own animal friends' bodies for this reason.
Why is letting pets say goodbye to a deceased person unacceptable? And where??
Load More Replies...You need to tell the cat. Cats understand us way better than dogs. Even if you just give him the little kid “he can’t be with us anymore” they will understand
Let him show himself, He'll learn the hard way, You don't treat a feline like that, He'll be approached, As if there were better things to do, Ever so slowly, With the most offended paws, And no squeaking-leaping for the start. This is Michał Nycz translation, for others http://forum.mlingua.pl/archive/index.php/t-12693.html
This Duck Used To Come To My Porch For Food. Recently, She Brought Her Babies. I've Been Watching Them Grow Up
Whenever We Foster A Singleton Kitten, Our Dog Becomes Foster Mama
That looks like the moment the pupper was told they weren’t keeping the kitty
From Elementary School Drama To Motherhood, My Sam Was Always By My Side For 21 Years
14-Years-Old, On Multiple Meds, Needs Help Down The Stairs… But When It Snows He Acts Like A Pupper Again
This Is The Cutest Thing
The True Friendship Between A Dog And A Human
Wholesome Dog
Buttercup Is Ready For The Minnesota Winter
Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Words cannot properly express how much I love when BP posts wholesome/happy things.
Only one that didn't have a happy ending..? (The cat mourning) Other than that it made me happy too. :)
Load More Replies...I really really needed this. The last few days have been so tough and sad. I got to smile today. Thank you BP.
This is lovely but it hurts. A few months ago I had to temporarily leave my dog with my sister for work (military). She shared that he waited for me all night to come home. A few months later he died quite suddenly. I'm not able to grieve properly because I'm so far away. I'm better than I was but I miss him so much.
I enjoy the AITA posts (usually with me saying "you mean you don't know you *are* the A? how can you be so stupid?") but I agree this was a wonderful BP post. One of few I repost to FB.
Load More Replies...Love this - just what I needed to see today. Animal are wonderful - we really don't deserve them.
I'm balling my eyes out. Wanted to share this with my husband but he passed away last friday. SH!T.
Load More Replies...Thanks for sharing. These photos made my week.God bless them all.
Thank you, BP. Finally something to make us smile. And such beautiful and sweet animals 💖
So much love! I just don't trust someone who doesn't like animals! They don't have to be crazy like me, but you have to like them! I just wish dogs and cats and birds lived longer bc parting from them is so heartwrenchingly impossible.
Animals. So sweet, so loving. Breaks my heart when they are mistreated!!!!
Oh how lovely it’s made me smile. So nice to see animals being looked after 🥰
After long wearing day really needed to chear up... Thanks so much for these photos!
I looooved all these pics thank u so very much it really put a huge smile on my face this morning...it just goes to show,that animals have even bigger hearts than some humans,I have cats myself & they are so kind & sweet..I always say people who have animals that we are their EARTH GAURDIANS just takin Care of them for God until they all meet him an put in a good word for us😊💖😊💖 thank u BP...GREAT PICS☺️
I'll have Coffee and Tear's to go please...the Autistic Boy & his new friend made me lose it. We have several Autistic/Aspergers spectrum folks it in the family...it touched my 💛💚
So basically, I've just liked every single post, they all have deserved it
i’ve never cried during a movie. not once. i cried during this a little though
This last posting has had me in tears 😢 for twenty or thirty minutes. I love all of what you folks post!! Thanks!!!!
Thank you for sharing your incredible pictures. Our pets and wildlife buddies have a lot to teach us : love instead of hate and peace instead of war.
One of the best posts here on BP in a long time. You better believe l went through the 130 images and they're all heartwarming
I wish our dog would cuddle to our son, but this freaking dog growls towards him (dont like kids our dog, which we didnt know) 😔
Please please please be careful. A month ago my brothers dog attacked my 1 year old nephew... Very, very scary
Load More Replies...Words cannot properly express how much I love when BP posts wholesome/happy things.
Only one that didn't have a happy ending..? (The cat mourning) Other than that it made me happy too. :)
Load More Replies...I really really needed this. The last few days have been so tough and sad. I got to smile today. Thank you BP.
This is lovely but it hurts. A few months ago I had to temporarily leave my dog with my sister for work (military). She shared that he waited for me all night to come home. A few months later he died quite suddenly. I'm not able to grieve properly because I'm so far away. I'm better than I was but I miss him so much.
I enjoy the AITA posts (usually with me saying "you mean you don't know you *are* the A? how can you be so stupid?") but I agree this was a wonderful BP post. One of few I repost to FB.
Load More Replies...Love this - just what I needed to see today. Animal are wonderful - we really don't deserve them.
I'm balling my eyes out. Wanted to share this with my husband but he passed away last friday. SH!T.
Load More Replies...Thanks for sharing. These photos made my week.God bless them all.
Thank you, BP. Finally something to make us smile. And such beautiful and sweet animals 💖
So much love! I just don't trust someone who doesn't like animals! They don't have to be crazy like me, but you have to like them! I just wish dogs and cats and birds lived longer bc parting from them is so heartwrenchingly impossible.
Animals. So sweet, so loving. Breaks my heart when they are mistreated!!!!
Oh how lovely it’s made me smile. So nice to see animals being looked after 🥰
After long wearing day really needed to chear up... Thanks so much for these photos!
I looooved all these pics thank u so very much it really put a huge smile on my face this morning...it just goes to show,that animals have even bigger hearts than some humans,I have cats myself & they are so kind & sweet..I always say people who have animals that we are their EARTH GAURDIANS just takin Care of them for God until they all meet him an put in a good word for us😊💖😊💖 thank u BP...GREAT PICS☺️
I'll have Coffee and Tear's to go please...the Autistic Boy & his new friend made me lose it. We have several Autistic/Aspergers spectrum folks it in the family...it touched my 💛💚
So basically, I've just liked every single post, they all have deserved it
i’ve never cried during a movie. not once. i cried during this a little though
This last posting has had me in tears 😢 for twenty or thirty minutes. I love all of what you folks post!! Thanks!!!!
Thank you for sharing your incredible pictures. Our pets and wildlife buddies have a lot to teach us : love instead of hate and peace instead of war.
One of the best posts here on BP in a long time. You better believe l went through the 130 images and they're all heartwarming
I wish our dog would cuddle to our son, but this freaking dog growls towards him (dont like kids our dog, which we didnt know) 😔
Please please please be careful. A month ago my brothers dog attacked my 1 year old nephew... Very, very scary
Load More Replies...