Despite not being humans, we often see our fuzzy friends as members of our family and household, who live under one roof, sharing good times and bad. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that some of our pets might start to act like the other animals in the home are basically their family as well.
People from across the internet share funny, cute, and adorable photos of pet pairs, from actual siblings to interspecies found-families. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites, and be sure to share your own thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. We also got in touch with Nina Thompson from the San Diego Humane Society to learn more.
#1 Best Picture I Could Ever Hope To Get Of These Two
Image credits: healrum
#2 The Shelter Has Made A Rule That These Siblings Must Be Adopted Together Because They Are Inseparable. They Sleep This Way Every Night
Image credits: TieDyeSky
#3 This Big Brother Helps His Baby Sister Use The Dog Door. He Stands There And Lets The Baby Go Through His Legs
Image credits: bkrees
Bored Panda got in touch with Nina Thompson from the San Diego Humane Society to learn a bit more about animal friendships and she was kind enough to answer some questions. “At San Diego Humane Society we witness a wide variety of animal friendships. One special case is a dog named Bunny, who came to us with her seven puppies as a stray in November of 2022. Once Bunny’s puppies were weaned and old enough to be adopted, it was Bunny's turn to find a home.”
“However, without her puppies, Bunny's behavior shifted and she became shut down. We sent her to a foster home to help her through this time, but even still she struggled. The foster's child started giving Bunny stuffed animals for company and she would groom them and interact. So we found a young shelter puppy to send to foster with Bunny and she came to life! When that puppy was adopted we found her another new dog friend. Bunny has befriended many dogs during her time at the shelter, often with other shy dogs who also do well with dog friends.”
#4 They Slept Together Like This All Night Long
Image credits: MinimumPositive
#5 My Parents Found A Kitten And Our Rottweiler Found A New Friend To Look After
Image credits: Mustangrapidred
#6 Our Kitten Found A Cozy Spot In-Between His New Brother And Sister
Image credits: emilbeans
“Bunny is currently in fostering with her latest pal, Johnny On The Spot. Bunny is required to go to a home with a social dog to be an emotional support for her. She's been with the San Diego Humane Society for 425 days and is seeking the perfect home and dog friend. If you are interested in learning more about Bunny, here is a link to her adoption profile,” she shared with Bored Panda.
#7 I Heard A Scuffle, Then Silence
Brothers. What can you do.
Image credits: MarrGrimm
#8 Don’t Get A Kitten And A Husky They Said
Image credits: MJTree
#9 Practically Twins. Just Look At Those Ears
Image credits: dog_rates
“She also had some suggestions for readers who would like to help animals in need. “Shelters across the county, including San Diego Humane Society, are over capacity and struggling to keep up with the constant influx of animals. Most shelters are especially over capacity with large dogs. Here are some ways community members can help save animals:
Adopt: If you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family, San Diego Humane Society urges you to consider adoption first. By opening your home to a shelter pet, you give a deserving animal a second chance while creating critically needed space for other pets in need. Jan. 26-28, 2024, adoption fees will be 50% off for adult dogs at all San Diego Humane Society campuses. There are currently 240 adult dogs available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society.
Foster: With shelters facing space crises, fosters are more critical than ever. By temporarily opening your home to a pet, you give them a break from the shelter — and help preserve extremely strained shelter resources. Whether you choose to foster for a few days or weeks, it all makes a difference. At San Diego Humane Society, we provide all the supplies, you provide the safe space and love.”
#10 While On Holiday, My Sister Asked For A Picture Of Her Two Cats. This Is What She Got
Image credits: 0MoodIndigo0
#11 My Kitties (Brothers, 10 Months) Are So Connected, They Always Do The Same Things
Image credits: animabot
#12 Typical Sibling Behavior
Image credits: vladgrinch
The classic animal love-hate relationship is between a dog and a cat. These two pets, stereotypically, are seen as so different that they can’t even help but annoy each other. The bubbly, friendly, clumsy, and overbearing dog, who just wants to play, with the aloof, “superior” and deeply proud cat is a match made in hell.
#13 Autumn Has Been Teaching Her Brother A Thing Or Two
Image credits: AJKWEC
#14 My Friend's Golden Retriever Has Taken Quite A Shine To His Feathered Siblings
Image credits: TechnoGlobeTrotter
#15 My Friend Runs An Animal Temp House. This Is Usually How Young Fluffs Look Up To Their Older Temporary Sister, Who's Clearly Had Enough Of Their Shenanigans
Image credits: Semen_K
However, this is more often the case when an older house cat has “its” space invaded by a new and very energetic puppy. In reality, cats and dogs often have been seen exhibiting signs of friendliness. In fact, this can go as far as dogs “adopting” certain cat behaviors. For example, researchers have observed cats and dogs performing “nose sniffing” which is a distinct cat behavior. This means that a dog has not only learned and observed this move but is willing to do it with its friend.
#16 Bought A New Bed For The Cats
Image credits: BYUNGHUT
#17 Madeline And Isabelle - Sisters From Different Litters, Up To No Good
Image credits: iain01110011
#18 These Two Siblings Have Been Inseparable Since We Adopted Them
Image credits: FXBBS-Bobber
The real reason why many animals form “unlikely” friendships with other beasts from different species stems from the same reason we have domesticated them in the first place. Domesticated animals have been selectively bred to be docile and generally friendly. After all, if a cow and a human can be “friends” then it’s by no means strange that a cow and a ram could do the same thing. After all, they probably share a lot more, from a love of grass to hoof fashion. Humans could never relate.
#19 When Your Parents Make You Hang Out With The Annoying Kid
Image credits: Kshandoo
#20 Meet Lola And Tobi, Six-Month-Old Brother And Sister
Image credits: Sythanachan
#21 Colin And Mango In A Supportive Embrace
Image credits: zannobanano
Interestingly, even less likely pairings can work in the right situations. In the San Diego Zoo, a timber wolf and two goats seemed to be play buddies, racing each other around back and forth by the fence that separated them. For scientific reasons, it could be interesting to see how they might interact without the fence, although the goats might not be the biggest fans of this idea.
#22 The New Cat Taught The Old Cat To Eat Like This
Image credits: ViVilma
#23 My Sister's Cat Was Lonely, So They Got Another Kitten. I Think They’re Getting Along Just Fine
Image credits: toxicjc
#24 My Mastiff Got A Little Sister. He Is Definitely In Love With Her
Image credits: hawker25
More relatably, many animals form interspecies friendships because, simply put, they are social creatures and love to hang out. Ironically, butterflies are not really social butterflies, compared to the generally less pretty ants and termites out there. However, mammals and avians are the most common groups that develop friendships and hang around each other.
#25 Just Look At Her Eyes After The Boop
Image credits: reddit.com
#26 I Was Trying To Take A Nice Photo Of My Cat, But Then His Brother Suddenly Photobombed Him
Image credits: ilmazziere
#27 My Kitten Likes To "Hide" In This Jar, Her Brother Is Confused
Image credits: MyLittleGirl
That being said, even some insects do interact with other species in a mutually beneficial way. While they might not be friends who hang out and play together, ants and aphids have been observed to interact with each other for food. Ants ward off predators by stationing warriors near them, like a sort of private security. Aphids, in turn, allow ants to collect some of their sweet secretions to use as food.
#28 Get A Sibling They Said, It Will Be Fun They Said
Image credits: liti22
#29 Shipper Has Already Had Enough Of His New Little Sister
Image credits: KipSo
#30 "You Are Showing Me Affection, And Yet, The Concept Baffles Me!"
Image credits: Jipdit
#31 My Dad Built My Sister's Cats Bunk Beds, And They Actually Use Them
Image credits: thedauisrising
#32 New Brothers Meeting For The First Time
Image credits: lilredisking
#33 Adopted A Cat, But Left Her Brother. A Few Days Later I Had To Go Back And Get Him Too
Image credits: reddit.com
#34 Best Friend Hug
Image credits: sunsetshanti
#35 Sibling Love At It's Finest
Image credits: withoutatres78
#36 Siblings
Image credits: WrinklyDog1
#37 My New Puppy Admires The Heck Out Of Her Older Brother
Image credits: Shenanigans22
#38 I Couldn’t Get Another Dog, But I Managed To Find Him Another Friend
Image credits: PokeManiac16
#39 This Kitten Showed Up On My Porch A Couple Of Weeks Ago. At First, I Was Worried About How He’d Get Along With My Older Cats, But Judging By This Face She’s Only Slightly Annoyed
Image credits: JohnnyPotseed
#40 Sebastien Recently Got A New Little Sister
Image credits: Beaugeek
#41 It Doesn't Get Any Cuter Than These Two Cuddle Buddies
Image credits: sisurefuge
#42 Derp Husky Brothers, Meet Lupo, Lucky And Luca
Image credits: henana
#43 Sibling Love
Image credits: beet111
#44 Have You Ever Hung Around Siblings Who Are A Little Too Affectionate?
Image credits: a-manda_hugandkiss
#45 New Best Friend
Image credits: flowbotronic
#46 My Pitbull Is Obsessed With Our Cat And Annoys Him Constantly. Last Night I Caught Her In The Act
Image credits: bottlefed97
#47 These Two Were Spotted In Sitka, Alaska
Image credits: Statertater
#48 Ear Chewing, Weekend Edition
Image credits: pepsiandco
#49 My Dog Meets Her New Sibling
Image credits: glcwvii
#50 Little Help
Image credits: mdabdullahalmanik
