Parade Pets

Animals are family. There's no way around it. Especially animals that you've known and spent time with for literal decades. And when we lose one of these animals, it really is like losing a family member. 

On February 1, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium took to Instagram announcing the heartbreaking death of its Silverback Western Lowland Gorilla, Mrithi, who was the first gorilla born at the Zoo in the early 1990s. 

A post shared by Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (@pghzoo)

According to the post, "Mrithi had recently been exhibiting mobility problems and spinal issues were suspected. Despite medical treatment, the 31-year-old gorilla went into a sudden decline this week and passed away today during an anesthetic procedure to help determine the cause of his symptoms."

Related: Gorilla Mom at Zoo Atlanta Sweetly Tries to Wrangle Her 'Wiggle Worm' Baby

A handful of folks in the comments have been leaving messages reminiscing on their experiences with Mrithi, while others are sending love and positive vibes to the zoo and staff. There's never a good time for moments like this, but one positive is that Mrithi is no longer in pain. 

Mrithi was born on June 1, 1992 to parents Mimbo and Zakula and that day was a cause of great celebration, as he was the first gorilla to ever be born locally at the Pittsburgh Zoo. 

From there on out, Mrithi (whose name means “prince” in Swahili) was undeniably one of the Zoo’s most popular residents. Generations of visitors watched him mature over the years, from a wide-eyed infant to the impressive Silverback he inevitably grew up to be. 

Mrithi became Silverback of the group in 2005 after the passing of his father, and he leaves behind four offspring of his own: Charlotte (born last Valentines Day), Ivan (born April 11, 2013), Frank (born May 25, 2018), and, most recently last summer, Bo (born May 11, 2023).

“Mrithi was a wonderful father and played often with his boys,” said Karen Vacco, Assistant Mammal Curator at the zoo. “It wasn’t unusual to arrive in the morning to happy rumbles (gorilla laughing) coming from the gorilla bedrooms to find a ball of rolling gorillas with Mrithi in the middle. His favorite thing in the summer was to roll in the pool then tumble in the grass to dry off.”

This news is heartbreaking for many reasons. Again, losing an animal with such a legacy is nothing to take lightly, but the fact that western lowland gorillas are currently listed as critically endangered (with a rapidly diminishing population) is just as sad. 

Fortunately, Mrithi leaves behind a legacy of gorilla conservation as his offspring continue to reside at the Zoo. 

Nevertheless, Mrithi will be greatly missed by both staff and thousands of visitors who have become famliar with him over the past few decades. 

The Pittsburgh Zoo reminds folks that, "Zoo guests are welcome to share their memories of this beloved gorilla on our social media pages." And I'm sure they'd love to hear them. 

RIP Mrithi. 

Buying dog treats is so easy, but it's not always the best option. Whenever possible, it's best for dogs to have fresh foods - just like humans. 

Luckily, making your own dog treats doesn't have to be so hard anymore. Just check out this new treat maker:

🐶 Baking tails wag one paw-sitively delicious dog treat at a time with our Dash Express Dog Treat Maker. 🐾 #WorldMarket #DogsOfInstagram #Dogs #DogsOfIG #DogOfTheDay #DogLovers #PetsOfIG

I have literally always wanted to go to World Market, but I've never lived within an hour of one. This might be enough to get me to make the trip!

Related: Adoptable Senior Dogs Treated to Special Christmas Cookies in Heartwarming Footage

The treat maker posted by World Market is made by Dash, which is a popular brand for humans, too! They make all kinds of mini-appliances, like waffle irons, heart-shaped pancake makers, regular pancake makers, mini-fridges, and more. Now, they've expanded into the pet world, and it's just adorable.

You'd use this the same way you'd use any Dash Express mini-appliance: plug it in, turn it on, and wait for it to get hot. Whatever you're using to make your treats goes in there, you close the lid, and wait for the red light to go off - that means it's done. For some extra crunch, you can cook them twice, but just watch to be sure they don't burn. 

Even though it's a little more time consuming to make your own dog treats, it's a lot cheaper. You can bulk-buy ingredients to save money, and that way, you're also choosing exactly what goes into them!

Luckily, dogs don't require a complex dish that takes hours to craft, cook, and serve. Most of the time, dogs are simply happy to be eating! It makes finding recipes that they like and that save you time super easy! With something like this where the treats will need to rise as they cook to fill the mold, you're going to want to use a recipe with flour. Over the years, this is the one I've ended up with:

1. 1 cup flour (I use whole wheat flour, but you can use AP!)
2. 1/4 cup water (or enough to make a slightly runny paste)
3. 1 egg 
4. 1 TBSP of greek yogurt 
5. 1 TBSP of peanut butter 

It should form a nice little dough ball, similar to regular cookie dough. I don't have a Dash Express, so I just cut out little shapes with cookie cutters and bake in the oven at 350 for about 9 minutes. They last for a while and don't need to be refrigerated. You could add in other stuff, too: blueberries, bacon bits, and even pieces of cheese have all been big hits. They get hard like a biscuit when you bake them in the oven, but the Dash tends to make softer goods, so you might need to double cook them there for crunch!

The last thing I have to say about this is that they might not be tasty for humans, but you could eat them if you needed to...

Taking a professional group photo is never easy. The more people involved, the higher the chances of errors. It’s even harder when a group portrait involves multiple dogs, especially when there are eight of them with a lot of energy.

Hence, one mom devised a plan to get her pack of eight ready for a photo shoot. As you might imagine, the effort needed to pull this off was epic.

Watch this Dachshund family get ready to pose for the camera in this February 1 video.

Wish us luck… 😮‍💨📸 #fyp #fy #foryou #dog #dachshund

Grace puts a lot of energy into caring for her eight Dachshunds! Today, this loving mom is taking her pups for their first professional photo shoot. Understandably, she tells us this is causing her a lot of anxiety. Wisely, she takes them on a run to expend their energy. After a few miles of trekking along the beach and playing lots of fetch, it seems to work. They all look rather tuckered out on the drive home. That was a smart move!

Related: Mom Builds Bunk Beds for Her 8 Dachshunds and It's Priceless

After playing in the sand, she needed to clean the Weens. They look so darn cute in that tub! A couple of dogs even play a game of tug-of-war while being bathed. It’s hard to imagine how she finds the energy to do all of this because I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Grace's turn is next. She heads to the salon to get ready for the big event.

With Mom looking fabulous, she returns home and loads the Weens in the car. However, their boisterous energy returned while she was out, and even calming treats didn’t seem to make them relax. Ha! Thankfully, this well-prepared mother had purchased a playpen to keep them contained on set, along with lots of treats to keep them happy.

People eagerly anticipated the results. Viewer @pamzturn responded, “I cannot wait for pics!! I love the run and bath!” They are going to be the best! Viewer @Peachtree remarked, “I can’t believe how you can bathe them all! I hate just having to wash one of my dogs. It’s so stressful!” She’s a total pro. Viewer @AimeeVidal inquired, “When are we getting a calendar?! I need it in my life!” We'd love to see it, that's for sure.

Hopefully, we won’t have to wait long to see these photos. There’s no doubt they will be priceless!

Something tells me this talented little pup has a bright future ahead of him in the land of show biz! He has main character written all over him.

Singing along with his talented guitar-playing dad, one adorable dog is stealing hearts on TikTok with a recent live street performance. And let me say, this very well could become your new favorite song. Check it out!

Main character 🥰 supporting his human! #fyp #dogsoftiktok @Brad Jameston and buddy! Best duo!

There’s nothing cuter than a pup and their human teaming up to entertain. And this talented duo was stopping folks in their tracks as they put on the performance of a lifetime. Somebody sign these two already! Hey, this is often how those rare, life-changing moments start.

Related: Little Dog Goes Viral for Perfectly Singing Along to Dad's Harmonica

What I love the most about this video is how truly involved this cute little dog is. Look at that tail wagging! He clearly understands the assignment and it’s something to see. To say I’m impressed would be an absolute understatement. If anything, I’m a little envious. I wish my pup would sing along with me (even though I don't know how to play guitar). Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he!?

Since our furry friends are often by our sides during many of our favorite pastimes (and playlists), it's important to understand how our pups perceive music. And mainly, to see if they even actually like it. 

I guess before we get into dogs liking music, the first question should be: can they actually hear it? Well, you'll be happy to know that yes—dogs can hear music. 

In fact, they have much sharper ears than humans when it comes to high-frequency sounds. So while dogs may listen to tunes the same way we do, they can also hear frequencies that may be inaudible to humans, which is pretty interesting.

One example of this can be found on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. There is a high-frequency sound featured in the final song, "A Day in the Life." 

According to Nylabone, Paul McCartney actually acknowledged adding this sound specifically for dogs, saying, "We put a sound on Sgt. Pepper only dogs can hear. If you ever play Sgt. Pepper, watch your dog!" 

*Immediately puts on "A Day in the Life."*

Anyways, it's obvious that dogs can hear music, but now the question is, do they actually enjoy it? And again the answer is yes, dogs do like music! 

While each pup is different, most prefer music that is softer in tone and not high-pitched. A Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine study revealed that, "Easy listening music has a soothing, therapeutic effect on dogs and may mitigate stress. These tunes typically have a slow tempo of about 50–60 beats per minute."

What about howling, though? It's actually fairly common for dogs to "sing along" to songs that feature wind instruments, such as clarinets and saxophones. And while no one knows for sure, many believe dogs howl to music instinctually. 

When a pack of wolves howls, each wolf sings a different note. Therefore, it's not crazy to think that dogs may attempt to mimic this ancestral practice when listening to the melody of a song.

Either way, it's pretty incredible to think how much we have in common with our furry friends. Not only do dogs like music, but they respond to certain genres just like we do. It's awesome. 

Seeing this talented duo doing their thing is starting to make way more sense, right? You can't tell me they're not both super into it. These two are masters of their craft, and it's absolutely adorable. 

All I want to know is—when's the next show? 

When we're considering a new pet, we typically have things like color, size, and age in mind, though many are open to other options. One thing that a lot of people consider as well is the average lifespan: they want a dog that's going to live for a long time. 

On Friday, February 2nd, researchers published a new study that showed which dog breeds typically have the longest lifespans:

Scientists Determine The Dog Breeds That Live Longest – And It's All in The Nose https://t.co/X0lHKoTSBf

As a flat-faced dog mom, I have to admit that I wasn't surprised when Science Alert said they have some of the shortest lifespans. I've been hearing it for years. However, a lot of this data is so interesting - especially the information about designer breeds!

Related: Doggy Daycare Worker Showing Off Senior Pups’ ‘Powdered Sugar’ Faces Is Too Precious

According to the study, the dogs that generally live the longest are the dogs with long, pointed noses: Labradors, Greyhounds, Chihuahuas, etc., while flat faced dogs tend to live shorter lives. The data was collected from dogs in the UK, where the most popular dog breeds are a little bit different than in the US. The #1 breed in the UK in 2022, for example, was the Labrador Retriever, whereas in the US that top spot went to the French Bulldog.

The study also shows that pure breeds tend to live longer than crossbreeds. The issue with crossbreeds is that you're taking one breed's health issues and mixing them with another's, which in turn could create a whole new host of health issues. Breeding dogs because they're cute together does not mean it's ethical, especially when it comes to those flat-faced breeds.

A dog is mean to have a long nose. Their long noses allow them to breathe correctly, take in as much air as they need. Their airways are in no way restricted. That's why you'll see thousands of Labrador Retrievers going for hikes with their parents every year, but if you try to take a Frenchie on a hike, you will end up carrying it. 

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds are prone to breathing problems because of it, and overbreeding of these "desirable" breeds has created even more health issues. For instance, I recently got a Boston Terrier puppy. At her first checkup, the vet informed us that one of her nostrils is even smaller than it should be, so on top of the breathing problems, she's going to need something called "stenotic nares surgery," where they'll take a laser and widen her airways. SNS is common for these breeds. 

Flat-faced dogs are also prone to other health issues, such as:

1. Cancer
2. Arthritis 
3. Dysplasia
4. Heat stroke
5. Throat problems

All of these are things that cost a ton of money to fix, not to mention that even simple surgeries like a spay will run you between $500-$1,000 on their own. Depending on the surgery, the potential risks and outcomes, and how old the dog is, many flat-faced dog parents opt for euthanasia instead. When you're adopting a breed like this, rescuing is always best!

It’s heartbreaking to think about older animals being without a home. Sometimes, when their guardians move, they are left behind to fend for themselves. In other instances, they are left alone when their parent passes away. These sudden changes can be hard on any animal, but it’s especially difficult for those of an advanced age.

Learning to trust again proves challenging, even when welcomed by a new family. Particularly for cats who devoted their lives and loyalty to one person. Fortunately, for this beautiful boy, he finally understood his new parents had nothing but love to offer him and opened his heart to them.

Watch this sweet kitty give his mom the most precious gift in a video from January 29:

The last clip had me like 🥹 huge step in Ottos growth from rescue cat off the street to a part of a family ❤️

Otto’s mom knew just what this former stray needed. She explains that she’s been trying to get him to feel more comfortable and begin cuddling a little more with the members of their family. So, she ordered a new soft blanket on Amazon and his reaction to it surprised her.

Related: Woman Shares Amazing Hack for Earning a Stray Cat’s Trust

With a blanket on her lap, she called him over and he eagerly jumped up for some pets. Initially, he only seemed interested in having some attention. She reports that after getting his love; he shocked her by curling up on her legs and taking a nap. This moment touched her, as it was his first time feeling this comfortable. She describes, “It is such a huge part of his growth and feeling like he’s home with us. And has found comfort with us as his family. It brought so much joy to me.” His mom notes that while he was sleeping, he rolled over and turned his chin up. This, she reports, is the universal sign a cat feels comfortable. This handsome fellow appears to understand the hard days are behind him.

People sent encouraging words to his caring parents. Viewer @Vida remarked, “Baby steps. He is still processing being in a home with a loving family. Poor baby. It’s hard to imagine what he went through until you found him.” It is painful to think about. Viewer @Yersinia responded, “Aww, I’m so glad you’re giving him all the love he’s been lacking.” He seems to understand that he’s in a safe place now. Viewer @nna-Lina Levi reacted, “I so love this boy! And you for loving him and taking such good care of him.” People like this provide us with hope for humanity.

Now that this sweet kitty is in a safe and loving home, his personality will continue to blossom. Soon, he will become the cat he was always meant to be.

It's hard to imagine what it would be like not to have a place to call your own, and we imagine that is just as challenging for pets who don't have a home to go to either.

On January 22, TikTok user Dumb Friends League (@dumbfriendsleague) shared a video of a sweet cat who has lived outside most of his life and is now experiencing the joys of life's simple things. Take a look!

Having spent most of his life outdoors, Flounder is grateful for the little things, like rolling around in this chair ❤️ This handsome 4-year-old is available at our Leslie A. Malone Center. #sheltercat #FIVcat #adoptable #adoptacat #grateful #compassionalways

In the short 19-second video, we meet Flounder, a rescue cat who spends most of his life outside.

Related: Cat Mom Recalls Heartwarming Moment Her Rescue Kitty Felt Safe with Her

Dumb Friends League, a non-profit animal shelter in Colorado, shared a video of Flounder, who finally got to sit in a chair inside for the first time ever, and the reaction was heartwarming.

"Experiencing a chair for the first time after living outside," the text on the screen reads. In the clip, we see Flounder jump onto a velvet yellow chair and immediately have the sweetest response.

He first rubs his head along the back of the chair before doing that cute cat flop and then rolls over onto his back to rub his face into the chair. He's really calm and happy and starts to clean his face gently.

"Having spent most of his life outdoors, Flounder is grateful for the little things, like rolling around in this chair," the video's caption reads. "This handsome 4-year-old is available at our Leslie A. Malone Center."

In the comments, people found Flounder's reaction very sweet.

"Best chair ever," one person wrote. "And the best, most precious kitty appreciating it has made my day."

"He looks so sweet," another shared.

"What a sweet little face," added someone else.

His cheeks were a big point of swoon for a lot of commenters, too.

"His cheeks," one person wrote, " I love him."

"Those cheeks," added another, which included several exclamation points.

According to World's Best, people can do a few things to help their rescue cat feel more comfortable and more at home. And it starts with creating a safe space.

"It’s incredibly important when you’re bringing home a new cat that you create a 'safe zone' — a small room with a minimal amount of objects in it is best," the experts suggest.

In this safe space, it's important for the rescue cat to have their own litter box, toys, bedding, and somewhere they can hide if they're feeling shy or overwhelmed. And it's important to give the rescue cat some grace and space as they adjust.

"For the first week or so, this will be your new cat’s space. They need to warm up to your home before they will drop their guard," the site explains. 

Adding, "Remember, you don’t know exactly what kind of environment your rescue cat came from, so be patient and loving, and eventually, they will feel right at home."

We're so happy to see Flounder loves his new space.

Even the best behaved dogs in the world are going to get into things they are not supposed to: it comes with the territory. Whether or not you catch them will depend on the crime they're committing and how stealthy they are. 

On Wednesday, January 31st, one mom managed to catch her Golden Retriever in the act of committing a hilarious crime:

🤦‍♀️ #dogsoftiktok #dogproblems🐶

Emily's dog definitely made some magical memories with this one, that's for sure. I can't stop laughing at the way his slobber turned the mix into a batter!

Related: Golden Retriever Caught on Camera Stealing Dad's Clothes Is a Total Riot

Somehow, this guy managed to get his paws on a box of pancake mix - no, not pancake batter. Straight powdered pancake mix. Apparently, he thought it was pretty tasty, because he ate a good portion of it, which is a feat: how did no one realize he had done this? That's some top-tier sneaking, 

He's fine - she's posted follow-up videos, and Comet seems to be doing just dandy, though he has yet to get into another tasty snack. He also has a sister, but allegedly, she had nothing to do with his pancake heist. I don't know if I buy that!

This issue has an easy solution: assume the worst. If something is in a box, and it's a food item, try putting it in a plastic container instead: something they can't break into. I'm sure this mama is probably considering it!

Dog safe pancakes are real, and they're actually very tasty. While human pancake mix can be used to make pancakes your pup can eat, it doesn't do much for them nutritionally. As long as they're cut into smaller pieces so they're easier to digest (and cooked all the way through to eliminate raw flour), a dog can eat a regular pancake with no problem.

If you want to step up your game and make pancakes that are good for them, easier on their tummies, and tasty enough for you to eat together, try:

1. 3/4th cup round rolled oats (a substitute for flour)
2. 2 ripe bananas
3. 1 egg

Optionally, you could add peanut butter or blueberries to the dog's portion, and yours would be delicious with chocolate chips, too. It's not exactly like a pancake, but it does the job and is especially good if you love bananas!

If you don't feel like doing all of that, it's understandable. Luckily, they make dog-specific pancake mixes that you can use instead, with fun flavors like bacon, peanut butter, and... beef. Less tasty for you, but that's fine, too!

There are some dogs who love to go to the groomers and others that can't wait to be done so they can go back home.

On January 23, TikTok user I Am Henry the Doodle (@i_am_hentrythedoodle) shared a quick video of how Henry reacts to seeing his mom after his grooming appointment. Take a look!

MAMA!! ♥️ #dogs #goldendoodle #groomersoftiktok #happydog #wholesome #fyp #puppylove #dogsoftiktok #doglovers #dogmom #mom

In the sweet 20-second clip, we can see the moment this sweet Goldendoodle recognized his mom, and it's so precious.

Related: Goldendoodle's Subtle Hair Trim Results in an Epic Fail

In the video, Henry's mom heads back to the groomer to pick him up after getting a clean-up and trim. The wall looking into the groomer space from the reception desk is all glass, which means the dogs can see who walks in. But it takes a moment for Henry to recognize that his mom was there.

"When I finally recognize it's mama here to pick me up," the text on the video reads. We can see that exact moment as his mom gets closer to walking into the backroom. Henry keeps his eyes on the person coming closer, but it's not until she's right up at the window that he sees who is there.

Immediately, his tail starts to wag, and you can see all the happy energy radiating from the sweet dog.

"Mama!" the video's caption reads, adding in a heart, too. And in the comments, people loved this moment, too.

"My doodle is named Henry, too! Best name ever!" one TikTok viewer shared.

"The tail wag. He sees you," someone else wrote.

"What a beautiful sweetheart!" one viewer added.

"Dogs love their people," someone else shared.

Goldendoodles are known for their fluffy, long hair, which can either be closer to a wavy Golden Retriever look or dense and long like a Poodle. 

Either way, these pups need to have a pet parent who can either keep up with their grooming needs or take them to get their hair professionally taken care of. But how often do you need to do that?

According to DoodleDoods, Goldendoodles should get their hair cut every six to eight weeks, and this is in addition to brushing their hair at the very least three to four times a week.

"The amount of time it takes to groom a Goldendoodle depends on a number of factors, including their size, coat type, and hair length, how frequently you do the job, the tools you have, and how well your pup has adapted to being groomed," the experts explain. 

Adding, "A Standard-sized, curly-coated dog will generally take the most time – maybe around 20 to 30 minutes a day – and a smaller or straight-coated one, perhaps 10."

We're so glad Henry likes the groomers and very clearly loves his mom!

Nature is full of fascinating, borderline unthinkable creatures. It's sometimes hard to believe that certain animals even exist, which is absolutely the case here. 

The Memphis Zoo recently welcomed an extremely rare addition to their animal family in the form of an adorable baby pygmy slow loris, and as we see in this video shared by ABC News, this little guy is already melting hearts. 

The Memphis Zoo in Tennessee is celebrating the birth of a baby pygmy slow loris, whose native population is in major decline, with the number living in the wild currently unknown, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The birth of this cute little furball calls for celebration, as the pygmy slow loris population is unfortunately in major decline. But I'm thrilled to know that the Memphis Zoo is doing their part in not only caring for this newborn, but assisting with the conservation of these adorable little creatures in general. 

Related: Baby Sloth's Tiny Yawn Will Put a Big Smile on Anyone's Face

Honestly, I just can't get over how tiny this little guy is. How is that even possible!? It looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, in my opinion. It's so small, so fragile... so vulnerable. Consider my mind blown. Regardless, this tiny newborn male (who has yet to be named) is expected to join the Memphis Zoo’s Animals of the Night exhibit once he’s big enough.

The slow pygmy loris is not an animal most of us see (or probably even think about) very often. And that's most likely because they're extremely rare and extremely endangered. 

Unfortunately, pygmy slow lorises are the "most endangered of the non-lemur prosimians," as reported by Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. 

They're constantly threatened by things like pet trade, habitat loss and the logging industry, but fortunately, protected areas continue to create opportunities for their population to recover. Fingers crossed!

Their goofy little faces are patterned with light and dark fur and they usually have circles around their eyes (that almost resemble clown makeup). In fact, the name "loris" actually comes from an old Dutch word for clown. 

As their name suggests (and the video proves), pygmy slow lorises are extremely small; smaller than an average squirrel, as a matter of fact. Their bodies are typically about 6 to 10 inches long, and males and females are generally around the same size.

However, as cute as slow lorises look, they also produce a venom in their upper arm that—when combined with enzymes in their saliva—causes their bites to be extra painful. 

It can also lead to allergic reactions and slow wound healing, which is obviously no fun. And because the venom is not fast acting, they don’t rely on it to attack predators; instead, they use it in territorial disputes with each other. 

Oddly enough, they also groom themselves with the venom to ward off parasites and warn predators to stay away. Hey, whatever works, right?

While scientists are still learning about pygmy slow lorises' behavior in the wild, they do know they are typically found living by themselves (when they aren't mating). Males’ territories tend to overlap, and it’s possible that they are friendly with each other, but not yet proven.

Again, the good news is, places like the Memphis Zoo are single-handedly helping with conservation efforts with these unique animals, and the birth of this little cutie is a huge deal. 

There is a lot to love when it comes to having a cat to call your own. But when they bond with humans who are also important to us, the love takes on a whole new level.

On January 30, TikTok user Rachel Tuttle (@racheltuttle69) shared a video of a gorgeous orange cat who had very quickly bonded with her human newborn. Take a look!

this is the sweetest thing I have ever seen #catsoftiktok #orangecat #babygirl

In a quick 19-second video, we see a sweet, fluffy orange cat who is about to pour all their love into an adorable newborn baby.

Related: Cat Gives Newborn Baby Sister a 'Love Tap' Upon Meeting Her for the First Time

In the clip, the orange cat jumps into the bassinet where the baby rests (and the baby's human parent is close by, behind the camera).

The cat gently lies down next to the cute baby girl, who is wearing an adorable, cuddly sleeper. The cat and baby are nearly the same size, but you can tell this cat loves the baby with all their heart.

After the cat lay down, she cuddled up to the baby girl, rolling onto its back and giving a little head rub into the baby's arm.

"This is the sweetest thing I have ever seen," the video's caption reads. And people felt the same in the comments.

"She said, 'Well hello, little bestie,'" one person wrote.

"Aww, so sweet," another shared, "my cat is terrified of my baby."

"My orange cat is like this with my grandbaby," someone else wrote. "It's the sweetest thing ever."

"Aww, that's her little human," added another. 

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, you should follow a few rules when bringing a new baby home, and you already have a cat. 

"When you first arrive home from the hospital, peacefully greet your cat in a quiet room without interruption," they suggest. "Once you've had a few minutes to reconnect, let in everyone else—partner, baby, grandparents, baby nurse and other well-wishers."

Another important tip is to let your cat smell something from the baby. "Place a used receiving blanket or piece of infant-wear in a quiet area where the cat can investigate it. Make sure that the crib and other baby sleeping-locations are off-limits to the cat," they write. 

"A newborn cannot turn over or even move her head at first, so a heat-seeking cat who chooses to cuddle up close to the baby's face could make it difficult for the child to breathe," the organization warns. 

"Close the door to the nursery when the baby is napping. If there is no door, either install a temporary screen door or place a crib tent over the crib to keep the cat out. These precautions also prevent the cat from urinating in the crib, something she may try if extremely stressed."

We're so glad this sweet orange cat loves their baby sister so much. Hopefully, they 'll continue to be the best of friends. 

Police K-9s are some of the bravest, hardest working dogs in the world. They're fearless, and they have absolutely no problem taking down the bad guys!

When push comes to shove, though, a dog is a dog, and dogs are all a little bit goofy. That's why when one Indiana sheriff tried to get some help from a K-9 for a video, it didn't go quite as planned:

K-9 Jinx was such a good boy for wanting to help with the Warrick County Sheriff’s recruitment video! We appreciate his patience and cooperation 🤎🐾

The Warrick County Sheriff's Office is lucky to have Jinx around! He's just precious!

Related: K9 Dog Totally Houses Mom's French Fries and It's Priceless

Jinx is a Dutch Shepherd. While he and others just like him are known to be extremely loyal, hardworking pups who will put their all into any job given to them, they're also notoriously goofy. The comments of this video alone are filled with dozens of people identifying with this clip, with things like, "it's good to know that even the highest trained dogs still get the zoomies!"

When he's working, Jinx is a great listener: he has to be. His behavior could literally be the difference between life and death, and no one wants to take any chances. There is no room for error... but this isn't really working, is it? Jinx is not in the field, he's sitting in an office, so it's possible he just decided it's time to goof off. The zoomies need to get out!

"Zoomies" is an affectionate nickname for Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs). During a FRAP, a dog will get the urge to move, and fast. FRAPs do have some triggers, like being in a new place, getting wet, experiencing a new texture/temperature (like in the snow), facing a threat, and getting really ramped up during play. However, zoomies can also occur at random, and they can happen to any dog: any size, any age.

Dogs cannot control their zoomies, which is why it's imperative that K-9 handlers keep their animals calm at all times when at work. Typically, that means leaving them in the car unless they're needed, and incredibly rigorous training so they're prepared for anything. Otherwise, they could freak out in a new situation and end up zooming.  Big dogs with sharp teeth like Jinx can be dangerous at full zoom!

While occasional bouts of zoomies aren't enough to cause a dog to flunk out of K-9 training, high anxiety or over-excitability could be. Dogs that can't handle K-9 life are adopted out to experienced families. If Jinx made it this far, he's definitely one of their goodest boys!

Groundhog Day is upon us. That means on February 2—as the folklore goes—if the iconic groundhog known as "Punxsutawney Phil" sees his shadow, he'll predict six more weeks of winter. If there's no shadow, however, that means spring might be arriving early.

Since the most famous Groundhog Day celebration typically takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, there will be live streams of the big day taking place all over the Internet—including here! 

Growing up, I always heard of "Groundhog Day" but never really thought twice about it. Winter is always over here in San Diego, but as I've grown older, I've learned to appreciate the historical and cultural significance of the day. 

Related: The Real Origin of Groundhog Day—And How It Can Be Traced Back to the Ancient Christian Celebration of Candlemas Day

It's honestly pretty cool, and although it's technically not a scientifically accurate way to predict the weather, it's a fun tradition nonetheless. Also, I love the classic Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day. So... there's that!

The real question here is—are you going to believe Phil or professional weather forecasters? I mean, predicting the weather is a total gamble, so it's actually a pretty tough choice. 

According to FOX News, "Records kept by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club show Phil had predicted 108 continued winters and only 20 early springs through 2023. According to the Stormfax Almanac, Phil has gotten it right only 39% of the time." 

Like every year, there are plenty of mixed predictions as to what folks can expect weather wise on the big day. But really, that's the fun part!

"If the FOX Forecast Center's 'Shadow Cast' holds," writes FOX, "Phil will not see his shadow, and spring will be closer than we think if the groundhog's prediction comes true."

The tradition of using Phil to predict the weather has existed since the 1880s. And the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club claims that their famous groundhog has been alive for so long because he drinks an "elixir of life," which is a secret recipe. 

"According to the club, Phil takes a sip of this magical elixir during the Groundhog Picnic every summer," writes FOX. "Which gives him an extra seven years of life."

Over the years, Phil has directly inspired other supposed "animal forecasters" around the country, all with the same goal of answering the timeless question: When will winter end? 

This year will be the 138th year of the Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney and again, if you want to be a part of the celebration yourself, tune in here for the live stream. 

Golden Retrievers are supposed to be the nice ones. They're lovely, kind dogs who adore humans and want to please us, no matter what. Most of the time, that's true, but get between a Golden and a good enough snack and you might be fighting a losing battle!

On Monday, January 29th, one mom found that her Golden Retriever had been lured to the dark side with a bag of Hot Cheetos, and it's just too cute to miss:

he will not surrender the hot cheetos #dogsoftiktok #dogtok #goldenretriever #hotcheetos

I definitely feel like Josie Kamdan lost this battle. Did you see the way he looked at her? Those are his Cheetos, Josie!

Related: Golden Retriever Caught 'Having a Moment' at the Beach is a Total Vibe

In the video, the Golden Retriever is displaying classic resource guarding behavior: as she gets closer to catch close-up evidence of his crime, the dog's reaction escalates. He growls at her, warning her not to mess with his snack. Whether or not that reaction escalates into biting typically depends on the dog and the severity of the situation. For example, I have a particularly crotchety old man dog, too. If I try to take his toy, he growls, but never bites - but if one of our other dogs tries, he will bite.

Resource guarding is a natural behavior in dogs, and it's nearly impossible to prevent completely. In fact, the only thing you can really do is take whatever item away: which puts you at risk for a bite! However, it may be necessary, especially if you notice them getting nippy with your other pups. 

Guilty as charged, Your Honor: I have let my dog have a Cheeto or two before. Regular Cheetos are bad enough (they have no nutritional value and are literally coated in salt, food coloring, and artificial flavors), but one Cheeto won't do too much harm. Hot Cheetos, however, are a line that should never be crossed: feeding a dog spicy food is a one way ticket to a messy, tummy-troubled night. 

For a Golden Retriever, one Hot Cheeto might not cause too much of an issue, but you will likely be dealing with some bathroom-related issues: their digestive systems don't know how to react to the spice. This guy had a whole bag in his grubby little paws. If you don't know how many they ate, even if you don't think it was that many, call your vet and see what their recommendations are.

Senior privilege for dogs is a real thing: yes, they can have an extra piece of cheese. Maybe even a little bit of bacon at breakfast. This guy is pushing his limits - even though he looks great doing it, senior privilege only gets you so far, buddy!

A cute little Bulldog recently got put on time out after ruining some of his Mom's plants and his reaction was absolutely hilarious. 

In this funny video shared on TikTok, we see this adorable little meatball trapped in his cage throwing quite the temper tantrum. He is clearly not impressed with his punishment, and it's a sight to see. Take a look! 

My house hippo throwing a tantrum because I put him in time out for stamping his elephant paws on my plants 🤣

This really is too funny. He's so disappointed and clearly doesn't understand why this is happening to him. All the while, Mom's commentary really adds an extra layer of comedy to the situation. I mean, it literally sounds like a mother disciplining her child! And in away, that's exactly what we're seeing.

Related: Bulldog's Curious Encounter with a Frog Is Total Cuteness Overload

I love when dogs do stuff like this. It's like he goes on a mini rampage, then pauses—is she looking?—and the rampage continues. And the way he continues to look up at Mom has me cracking up. He's like, "Ohhhh, I'll show you!" Mr. Tough Guy. I love it!

Bulldogs are certainly one of the most recognizable dog breeds out there. These popular, non-sporting dogs have little endurance, a wrinkly face and a lot of personality! 

If you're looking for a laid-back, fun dog that keeps their mellow personality all the way through adulthood, a Bulldog may be the right breed for you. And if you happen to be on the fence about getting one of your own, there are a few things worth knowing about them beforehand.  

Bulldogs are muscular, heavy dogs, and again, they're known for their cute wrinkled faces and pushed-in noses. 

These pups can be civil with other pets in the house, but with that said, they can be very aggressive with dogs they are unfamiliar with. 

Depending on your preference, the sizes of male and female Bulldogs are pretty similar. Males tend to get to a height of 17 inches at the shoulders and weigh an average of 54 pounds, where females grow to about 16 inches at the shoulders and weigh an average of 50 pounds. 

But let's get to the important stuff—personality! A Bulldog's personality is generally gentle and sweet. They are predictable, dependable, and a great pet and protector. 

Like most dogs, they love attention from their humans and are known to be social pups. They're courageous (but not vicious), and they stand with dignity.

Keep in mind that this breed has a tendency to drool a lot! So just know that rings of slobber will most likely end up on your legs and clothing from time to time. Or, probably... always.  

At any rate, Bulldogs are fantastic pets and total lovers. They might be a little clumsy, might snore and drool, and they might even throw adorable little temper tantrums at times, but that's simply part of their charm. 

Animals in the same home often develop unique relationships with each other. Similar to human siblings, they learn how to push the buttons of their brothers and sisters. This often means there are times when one will try to avoid contact with the other.

This little Dachshund is experiencing this exact predicament as she tries to sneak a toy past her sibling. However, as sly as she thinks she is, her Husky sister is one step ahead.

See this adorable dog in stealth mode in this video from January 30:

Did she make it 😳 #dogsoftiktok #foryourpagedogs #trendingdogsoftiktok #dogvideosoftheday #siberianhusky #trendingdogsoftiktok #wienerdog #minidachshund #funnydogsoftiktok

Oh, Phoebe, it’s so hard to get anything past those darn Huskies! They always seem to be tuned in and listening to everything that’s going on inside their home. Phoebe believes she’s being sneaky while taking tiny footsteps, one at a time, with her bone in her mouth. Perhaps, sensing that Sky was cautiously peeking from around the corner, she freezes in place. Then, after sensing no movement, she takes a few more steps. Sky then moves one paw, which freezes her in place once again. LOL! All this tiny Dachshund wants to do is make it into her parents’ bedroom so that she can chew her bone under the bed. But that won’t be happening if her sister can intercept first.

Related: Dachshund's Not-So-Sneaky Way of Stealing Yorkshire Pudding Is Going Viral

In the comments section, her parents explain that while this may be funny to us, it isn’t as funny for them. They reveal that once Phoebe makes her way under the bed with her bone, she’ll then bark at Sky to come and get it. Ha! They really are just like human kids. Whatever it is they have, they enjoy tormenting their siblings with it.

And, of course, pups love to play with their humans as well. In addition to a classic game of fetch, they enjoy tug of war, agility training exercises, or a good old fashioned game of hide and seek! If you have a truly clever pup, you can actually go and hide and have them come find you.

Some pups also love to play hide and seek with their treats. My good friend's little Shih-Tzu, for example, will hide his cookie over and over again in the hopes of mom coming to find it. As soon as she retrieves, it, he finds another hiding spot! It's too cute to resist.

Even though we may not fully understand the games our dogs play, they are entertaining to observe. Even if they end with some barking.

It must be so hard to be large and in charge. No one would know better than the hippo: they're huge, slightly intimidating, and yet, some of the cutest animals in the world.

If you're not sold on the cuteness, just look at this video from Tuesday, January 30th. You will change your mind:

It’s the ear flutter for me 🥰🦛 #babyhippo #hippobaby #babyanimals #adorableanimals #foryou

Tanganyika Wildlife Park is not somewhere that was ever on my bucket list before, but after this video, they're definitely on their way there. I want to meet him!

Related: 'Feisty' Baby Hippo Sweetly Nips at Mom at Kansas Wildlife Park

The little guy in this video's name is Link, and he's Tanganyika's youngest pygmy hippo: he was born in 2021. At birth, he weighed just 13 pounds - so, really, not much more than a big human baby. Since his birth, Link has lived with his parents, Posie and Pluto, as well as his sister, nessie. Posie and Pluto have been at the park for about 10 years now, but both of them were bred in captivity as well. 

As we can see in this video, Link yawns, and his ears flap simultaneously. A yawn in a hippo typically means that it's feeling a little bit threatened: they show off their teeth as a way to say, "hey, back off, I bite!" Most often, this happens when a predator is getting too close for comfort - or if a mama hippo has her babies nearby. In this video, though, mama doesn't seem to perceive anything as a threat: she's just carrying on. Being that Link is so tiny, though, he's more likely to feel threatened by things. It only lasts for a few seconds, and he's totally fine!

Pygmy hippos are a rarer occurrence than standard hippos as it is. They weigh less than half of what a regular African hippo does, and they're only half as tall. They also spend most of their time on land, and they're considered to be more docile than larger hippos. 

Unfortunately, all of that makes pygmy hippos a poacher's paradise, and there are less than 3,000 of these animals left in the wild: a stark contrast to the African hippo, which is listed as "vulnerable" with an estimated population of around 150,000. Poaching and deforestation have wreaked havoc on their natural habitat. Link and his family live at Tanganyika Wildlife Park as part of their "Threatened or Endangered Species" exhibit, where they have lessons about wildlife conservation and the dangers these animals face in the wild. 

Sweet Link deserves to live out his childhood in peace. Maybe when he's older, he can help carry on his species, just like his dad did!

If you ever went to the zoo as a kid, you probably dreamed of busting an animal out of there and taking it home with you. Movies didn't help our creative little minds: animals escaping from zoos have always been a huge hit! 

On Monday, January 29th, one girl took inspiration from Harry Potter and attempted to use Parseltongue to free a snake from its habitat. If this were the Wizarding World, it honestly might've worked:

#parseltongue #harrypotter #slytherin eberswalderzoo #snake #fyp #funny

Too bad Hogwarts isn't a real place, because @angelofeastberlin's daughter would pass her classes with flying colors. What a promising young wizard!

Related: Pug's Adorable Harry Potter-Themed Halloween Costume Is a Gem

What Angel's daughter is doing is something every child does: you read Harry Potter, you see a snake, you try to befriend it with Parseltongue. It's a childhood rite of passage! Unfortunately, my Parseltongue was not very good, and I'm no wizard, so I have yet to have a snake friend of my own. 

Parseltongue, in the books, is a rare trait: wizards who can speak it are said to be direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin, the creator of Slytherin house and one of the founders of Hogwarts. He was a pureblooded wizard, and allegedly, only other pureblooded wizards can speak Parseltongue. Hypothetically, any wizard could try, but it would only be effective in the right hands. 

Parseltongue is not a real language, though most people speculate that it is based on Arabic and African language and tradition. Some enthusiasts say that the general inflections of Parseltongue are similar to Arabic, while "snake charming" has existed in Africa for thousands of years. J.K. Rowling has never confirmed or denied either theory.

Snakes do not communicate verbally in any way, shape, or form. They may "hiss," but that's just a physical response to feeling threatened. Snakes communicate through scents: their creepy forked tongues are constantly flickering along the ground, picking up pheromones left by other snakes. Their tongue tucks into their mouth and something called a Jacobson's Organ near the nose picks up the olfactory signals. How cool is that?!

Snakes can hear, however, but not very well. So even if another snake was trying to talk to them, they probably wouldn't be able to hear it. That's where snake charming comes in: traditionally, a snake charmer is playing a flute-like instrument and the snake sways to the music. Many believe that the charmer is playing at a frequency that the snake can hear, and because snakes don't "hear" very often, they're enthralled by the noise. 

There is little to no evidence to support that claim: most likely, snake charming is just another gimmicky tourist thing. More than likely, the snake is just feeling threatened and swaying to convey that. Unfortunately, snakes used for this purpose are often mistreated, much like other "tourist attraction" animals (boardwalk parrots, shoulder monkeys, big snakes, etc.,). Lucky for the little snake in this video, he's safe behind the glass!

As the Super Bowl approaches, people are getting excited for all kinds of different reasons. This year, there will be people watching for the actual football part. There will also be people who are just tuning in for the halftime show and the commercials. And, of course, there will be people who only watch the game so they can stare at Travis Kelce the whole time (that's me).

As much fun as we'll have watching the best Swiftie in football play the game, there's one commercial people will want to stick around for. The brand shared a glimpse into the ad on Tuesday, January 30th:

I'm going to be so for real, I have an irrational fear of mayonnaise and I have not eaten it since I was 5. Even so, Mayo the Cat is cute enough to get my attention!

Related: Walgreen's Makes a Check Out to Woman's Cat and Bank's Response Is Priceless

Mayo the Cat is the newest famous food-name cat, and if you ask me, she's one of the best ones. On screen, her name is Mayo, and that's the sound she makes, but celebrities aren't always who their stage name says they are. Mayo, for example, is actually named Chipmunk. She's 8 months old, and this commercial is her first big break - she's starring alongside Kate McKinnon (who, by the way, said Chipmunk was very professional).

The commercial is centered around "saving" leftovers, and Mayo is hailed a hero for it: her iconic meow inspires Kate to create something new with otherwise boring leftovers. As hilarious as it may be, the commercial really does have an important message: "make taste, not waste." After a while, people simply throw food away - they're bored of it, they've run out of ideas, etc. Billions of pounds of food waste are produced every year, and it's terrible - Hellmann's hopes that mayonnaise, along with a cute cat, are helpful in jazzing it up!

Mayo the Cat may be inspiring people to use mayonnaise to fix up their leftovers, but we don't actually see her eating any. Mayonnaise doesn't contain anything that's toxic to cats, so they can eat it, but it's not great for them. It's higher in saturated fats and cholesterols than a cat should be eating regularly, but it's fine for them to have a teeny bit if you really want them to try it. Maybe you can let them get a single lick of the spoon when you're done adding it to your leftovers!

A dog in Arizona had quite an ordeal after getting stuck in a car engine while chasing a cat. She's doing well now and has a new, appropriate name.

On January 30, new outlets reported on a 2-year-old Weimaraner mix who found herself in some trouble. Here's what happened. 

Two-year-old dog Nova had quite the adventure after chasing a cat into the engine bay of a car, but was luckily unharmed. #TODAYShow

According to reports, a 49-pound dog found herself stuck in the engine of a 1967 Chevy Nova.

Related: Coast Guard Searching for Dog's Family After Rescuing Her From Icy Lake Michigan Waters

On January 19, the Arizona Humane Society received a call about a stray dog stuck in the car engine of an old Nova vehicle in Phoenix. 

The Emergency Animal Medical Technicians were sent to the scene and found a dog wedged in tightly and could not get out by herself. 

The reports share that the dog ended up in the car engine after chasing a cat who went under the vehicle and into the engine but was small enough to get out, leaving this dog stuck. 

Thankfully, the technicians could free the pup after approximately 15 minutes, with getting her limbs unstuck taking up most of that time. 

Besides being understandably frightened, the sweet pup was doing well and was taken to the Arizona Humane Society for a check-up.

After getting a clean bill of health, the Humane Society gave the Weimaraner mix a name, and it's very appropriate. Given she was found inside the 1967 Chevy Nova, he was given the name Nova. 

She's still doing well, staying at the Arizona Humane Society, and ready for adoption. 

It's probably unusual to see a dog stuck in a car's engine. We hear more about it with cats and other outdoor animals like mice, rats, and even snakes. 

But you can do a few things to help keep animals out of your car, keeping your car safe from damage and animals safe from the dangers of being unnoticed in the car's engine. 

According to Consumer Reports, the best first step to keeping animals out of your car is to ensure you're not storing food in your vehicle. 

"Don't store trash cans used for food waste in the garage," they report. "Keep the car interior free from food wrappers; their scent can draw rodents. Move the car regularly, discouraging varmints from taking up residence. And occasionally honk the horn before starting the car to scare away any napping critters."

Also, another way to keep dogs, cats, and any other creatures out of the car's engine is to build a warm box outside where animals can find shelter from the cold. 

We're so glad Nova is doing well!