If you don’t have a pet in your life, then all of the cute pics of animals online may fool you into thinking that animals are just that - cute little ornaments that you have to feed. Pets are so much more than that, however, and any pet owner will tell you that they can be full of love and friendship. We searched various online communities high and low to bring you some of the most wholesome pics of animals that we’ve ever seen.
Scientifically, there are a few different concepts governing how we form relationships with the animals we love. One is their level of domestication – the more domesticated an animal is, the likelier it is to be able to form affectionate social relationships with humans. Another is anthropomorphism – our predilection for assigning human motivations and ideas to uniquely animal behaviors.
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Came Home To My Roommate's Dog Protecting My Kitten From The Loud Thunder And Lightning Outside
They're Waiting In Line
This Is Luna. She's Not Usually Allowed On The Couch, But There Are Bigger Problems In The World, So She'll Be Right Here If You Need Her
Human relationships can be complex, so arguably, inter-species friendships can be even more complex. Instead of people with different personalities, perspectives and experiences, we have all of that plus different species with different wiring and capabilities.
I Feel Like It Was Saying "You First"
Two Years Ago We Rescued The Dirtiest, Most Diseased, And Starving Tripod Dog. Today He Is Gorgeous
A Cat Misses His Sister. He Sits Like This Every Day For Half An Hour. Animals Are Similar To Humans
So sad, not the first time I've seen an animal mourn. Don't understand the assumption that only humans experience loss this way. Anyone who studies animal behavior would tell them they are wrong.
People MAY be the smartest animals, but they are also the stupidest! God bless the animals. Hope they forgive humanity for our collective abuse.😻
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We had a cat who looked identical to her mother, when the mother died she would sit in front of a mirror for hours, yowling occasionally, it was heart breaking.
Please go to a shelter and rescue an adult ( other cat friendly), lonely cat fir your buddy, they will both benefit from it and so will you! ❤️
My older cat passed away a few years ago, and my younger cat was absolutely despondent. She would hardly eat or drink, and only came out from under the bed to use the litter box. Vet suggested adopting a friend for her. I was beyond depressed as well and NOT ready for a new cat, but I didn't want to put my little cat on antidepressants, so adopted a kitten from the shelter so she (3 y/o at the time) wouldn't be lonely. It warms my heart to see her so much happier now. I know that she still misses her sister. Much like the cat in this post, she sits and looks at a photo of her often. Cats are more like us than they are given credit for. <3
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I have had many animals for over 50 years, and they do indeed mourn when one of the group dies. I've seen my cats go from room to room crying for the missing furbaby.
Aw. So sorry for your loss, precious. Cats do indeed mourn. My cat is still mourning my dad's passing in March.
My mom had to put her puppy down several years ago. She was in between shots, and caught parvo; it spread to her brain and was causing seizures. For weeks afterward, my mom's cat would wander around the house meowing for her dog friend. It broke my heart.
Tears just came out of nowhere...freaking onion ninjas...poor little guy. Animals have more humanity than some people do!
My pitbull slept by my rescue cats cage after I had to put him down due to wet FIP❤️
I lost my sweet boy today. he was 15 and the sweetest kitty. God I miss him 😭
We had a chihuahua that only liked my husband. He was her everything. We used to joke if he passed we would have to intern her King Tut style. Cause she never would of been happy again.
We had a cat pass away....we had 4 other cats in the house....they all took turns going up to him, paying their respects
They grieve like we do.i.lost my husband in May..my dog still runs outside around the car when I get home..looking for him. She was with him when he unexpectedly died. I tell her daddy is in heaven now watching over us It will twke awhile. 💋👁️💥🪸❤️ .
Yes, animals can grieve...both cats and dogs....and.....maybe.....other animals too.
If u want to read a beautiful book on animals mourning, etc. read "When Elephants Weep". Animal behavior is fascinating. We're the only animals that kill for pleasure.
We had mother daughter furry family team. The mother passed away in December. The daughter has been quite somber since then, I wonder if this would help with her grief?
My dog is nearly 6 years old. She was just over three when our cat died. And yet even now, if I say the cats name, she still perks up and looks. Every black and white cat she sees might be her brother in her mind. It's heartbreaking when you see her moment of realization.
Every time I've had to put a pet down, I always let my other pets smell and hang out with the one who's passed for as long as they need to. Like us they need closure. Otherwise they will have no idea what happened to that pack member!
Awwww...so so precious..I would cry with him everyday also..I couldn't help that..
My cat's best friend was our giant Oscar fish. She wouldn't let us touch the tank for a month after her fish passed away. She sat on top of the tank and quietly mewed for the entire month. Then she allowed us to clean the tank but wouldn't let any other fish live in it. We hung pictures of her fish on thread inside the tank but never filled it with water until after she passed away.
if only people realized the real emotions they feel, they'd never get rid of a pet again, or get one if you don't really want it..
I had a giant bird dog who howled in misery all night, for weeks after his girlfriend from a house thru an orchard was killed by a car...broke my heart...my same bird dog had been hit by a car before and lost an eye...he was SO PROTECTIVE of my kids..I looked out a front window once and he was pushing my 5 ye old son on his 3 wheeler away from that busy road...hed escaped the fenced in backyard, and I HADNT NOTICED.... WE REALLY DONT DESERVE THEM...THEY ARE SO GOOD !!!
When my father died, the cat searched the house for him for days.
Oh dear, I fear that will be the case for my cats (brother and sister) when one of them goes. They are always together.
AWW, please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your dear sweet girl kitty and please give your dear sweet boy kitty hugs for me 😭😿💔😻💖
How does she KNOW the cat sits like this due to missing her sister? But, if this is the case, mom NEEDS to get another cat, preferably a kitten which will keep this cat very busy.
My dresser is a few feet in front of my bed. At bedtime Luna the cat will jump up to the dresser and then jump to the bed. Last night she got on the dresser and turned her back to me. A little pissed because I was gone most of the day and she didn’t get enough hooman petting. After about 15 minutes she decided to go to her bed in the living. So there!
Omg my Maxwell does the same thing! His brother Milo (both cats) died the week before we got hit with Hurricane Florence. I keep his picture & ashes in my room & he cries when he looks at Milo's picture.
Turtle flattened on a country road...live turtle on the road edge seems perturbed...tries to get to the flattened one... "Oh dear oh dear, what happened to you??" Nothing wrong with anthropomorphizing... it's how we understand each other.
One of the most recognizable pillars of human-animal relationships (though certainly not the only one) is domestication. But how does domestication happen? We’re all familiar with the quasi-scientific story of wolves scavenging human waste and somehow gradually transforming into modern dogs, but how did that actually happen? One long-term scientific experiment in Siberia has shown (and continues to show) us what that may have looked like.
A Family Meowed On My Door And I Adopted Them
The Little Thing Might Just Float Away
She’s An Old Lady, But When She Looks At Me Like This, She’s My Little Kitten Again
Just like our 15 yo dog. He's got dementia, sick kidneys - but haves the time of his life in his last months... and we spoil him ❤️
In 1959, Dmitri Belyaev initiated a long-term experiment that would use silver foxes to explore how domestication may have occurred in other mammals from generation to generation. Generation after generation of captive wild foxes were selected for breeding based on signs of agreeability to human contact. Within the earlier generations, the selection processes were as simple as whether or not the fox chose to bite an assistant’s gloved hand or whether or not they could be trained to eat from an assistant’s hand.
Orangutan Jungle School
Nothing Like The Soothing Feel Of A Wonderful Furry Baby
We Don’t Have Kids So My Wife And I Take Our Dog Around To Look At The Lights. He Loves It
In a few generations, a broad range of surprising separate genetic changes began to take shape. In addition to behavioral tendencies, the foxes began to develop floppy ears, piebald fur patterns, adolescent features, and other characteristics that we associate today with cute and domesticated animals. And, most importantly, these once-wild and -fearful foxes were now friendly and eager to please, some even learning to play fetch.
My Girlfriend Put A Bird Feeder On Our Deck. This Bastard Ate Himself To Sleep
I Guess Not All Will Agree But I Found This Little Guy Quite Cute
I'm Currently In The Early Stages Of Labor And I Think They All Know It
As we’ve mentioned, domestication is not the only way that (once-wild) animals can form friendships with people. Some non-domesticated animals can also become friends with people under certain circumstances. One correlation is intelligence. Corvids, dolphins, and other intelligent creatures are regularly reported to understand human cues and form friendly, if not dependent, relationships. In other cases, wild animals with a natural tendency to form parental fixations or social relationships, like ducks, have formed social connections with people who’ve fit into their existing wild social behaviors.
A Real Gentle Giant
My Husband Comforting Our Kitten At The Vet
How My Cat Looks At My Boyfriend
Another common form of loose social relationship is when wild animals learn not to fear people based on simple reward psychology. In many national parks, for example, rangers caution visitors against feeding wild animals for precisely this reason. If visitors feed animals they see, the animals will learn not to fear people and to expect food from them, which can lead to dangerous situations.
This Is Truffles. She Works At A Children’s Optometrist To Help Them Feel Better About Wearing Glasses
I Brought One Of My Baby Bunnies To Meet My Great-Grandmother
Murphy, The Bald Eagle That Was Trying To Hatch A Rock, Has Been Given A Chick To Raise. Here He Is Feeding It
Many of the same ideas work for non-human inter-species friendships. Domestic animals are already well-equipped to form friendly and loving relationships with both people and animals, but what about inter-species friendships in the wild?
After Almost 1.5 Years Of Training, I Entered My 6-Year-Old Rescue Bully In His First Agility Competition. He Was The Only Pitbull-Type Dog There
Our Dog Has Hardly Left My Wife’s Side Since Baby Arrived. He’s A Proud Older Brother
Our Newest Rescue. She’s Afraid Of Men So My Husband Put A Blanket Down For Her To Choose When To Approach. She Laid By Him And Used His Head For A Pillow
Many such friendships are built on naturally occurring mutualistic tendencies. These are cases where certain species rely on one another to gain an advantage in their environment and both benefit from the exchange.
I Hope This Picture Will Brighten Your Day A Bit
I’ve Been Taken Hostage. Send Help
Sweet Support Dog Who Gives Comfort To Children At The Dentist, Priceless
One example is the oxpecker, a bird that loves to perch on the backs of various large mammals living in Africa. The birds find easy meals on the backs of zebra, wildebeest and other creatures as they feast on the various parasitic insects that these mammals attract. Their relatively gigantic friends also keep them safe from smaller predators, while the birds, in addition to providing a hygienic benefit, keep watch in all directions and can alert their larger hosts if any large predators or humans approach.
I Often Substitute Teach At A Small Farm Town Nearby. Here's The Agriculture Class's Current "Project"
She was born premature, close to 2 lbs when most are born closer to 10 lbs.
The Gang
When You Tell Her A Story That She Doesn't Understand, But She Loves You Anyway
Now That’s A Great Place To Be
Proton Celebrated Her Sweet Sixteen Today
Went To The Beach Feeling Bad About Having To Hang Alone, This Cutie Decided To Join Me Out Of Nowhere And Helped Me Feel Much Better
Precious Golden Retriever Allows Lost Koala Joey To Snuggle With Her
A lost koala Joey has been found snuggled onto the back of a family's golden retriever. The Joey is believed to have been lost and found it way onto the family's back porch and used the golden for warmth.
The golden is believed to have allowed Joey to spend the entire night on her back before the family found her like this the following morning.
Someone At The Purrfect Day Cat Cafe In Louisville, KY Filling Out The Paperwork To Take This Kitty Home
My Brother Is In Another State Right Now Due To His Job. His Wife Decided To Set Up A Skype Date For Him And His Dog
Love Comes In All Different Shapes And Sizes
My Cat Is A Very Proud Mom
He Likes To Monch. It’s Gonna Be A Loooooong Car Ride
My Wife's Grandma Passed In Her Room Yesterday With All Of Us Around. My Dog Always Protected Her While She Was Lonely. He's Been Looking For His Friend All Day
I Met This Adorable Guy Today. Cuteness Overload
One Of The Most Unique Friendships We've Ever Seen
Flat Tire
One Of The Kittens In Our Neonate Center At Work Decided To Show Off The Beans
Little Bear
My Mother Insisted We Put A Bindi On My Bird To Celebrate Diwali
I don't know a lot about bindis but I know that the bird certainly looks amazing in it
My Cat Showed Up At My House Like This Today. Apparently, We Have A Cat Lover In Our Street
My Wife Is Three Weeks Away From Her Due Date And Our Cats Love Snuggling Her Belly
This Is My Boyfriend's Office, He Works From Home. Here Are All Of The Socks She Brought Up From The Basement To The Third Floor For Him Today
Couldn't Figure Out Why My Music Kept Pausing
Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
At home in bed with a chest infection. This made me feel a while lot better!
~and in tonight’s news, Pandaville citizen GhostlySnail has died after smiling so much she broke her jawbone…~
❤️❤️❤️ In this world today we definitely need more of this. Animals Are the BEST, LOVE them all, much better than the so called human.
Since the owner willingly left the items in the home, He obviously knew that they would bling to whom ever purchased his home! The relativs of the former home owner has NO RIGHTS TO ANYTHING THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER LEFT ! I’d refer them to their relative that formerly lived there! If they continue to be a bother to you, go see an attorney, or the sheriff! I hope this helps in some way! Happy new home day! Debbe’ 💞
Usually on pages like this there are a few photos that either don't fit or I just don't care for. This time around it was 100% love all the way.
At home in bed with a chest infection. This made me feel a while lot better!
~and in tonight’s news, Pandaville citizen GhostlySnail has died after smiling so much she broke her jawbone…~
❤️❤️❤️ In this world today we definitely need more of this. Animals Are the BEST, LOVE them all, much better than the so called human.
Since the owner willingly left the items in the home, He obviously knew that they would bling to whom ever purchased his home! The relativs of the former home owner has NO RIGHTS TO ANYTHING THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER LEFT ! I’d refer them to their relative that formerly lived there! If they continue to be a bother to you, go see an attorney, or the sheriff! I hope this helps in some way! Happy new home day! Debbe’ 💞
Usually on pages like this there are a few photos that either don't fit or I just don't care for. This time around it was 100% love all the way.
