Human moms and dads are not the only ones going through the struggles that come with parenthood. Animal parents have to deal with similar problems, and they may have it worse! Their children often have sharp teeth and claws. But no matter whether a parent is a human or an animal, there is no doubt that parents have a tough and important job. With this list, we have found some funny examples of animals that show what it’s like to be a parent. Get comfortable, grab a snack, and get ready to scroll a list of furry parents and their babies.
Mama Cat
Here is a mother cat showing everyone just how tough it is to be a mother. Her kittens are cute and cuddly, but we have to imagine that having four of them must be an extreme headache. That tongue sticking out is probably her way of saying she is fed up with all the work she’s doing. We’d love to pet and cuddle these furry little guys if given the chance.
Check out the claws on the little one in her arms! He sure does look cute, but we wouldn’t want to make him upset or scared. Looks like he could leave a nasty scratch!
Mama Pug
It looks like this dog is crying out for help. And by the look at the litter of puppies that is surrounding her, we aren’t surprised that she’s tired. From what we can see, there are at least 5 puppies. We can’t even begin to know what she’s going through. If dog moms are anything like human moms, then this little dog probably finishes the day feeling like she ran a marathon.
We wish that we could help her out. These puppies look so warm and soft. We would be more than happy to help her. Hopefully, this mom gets a chance to rest soon.
Terrified
This is a dog that looks like it is starting to regret being a mother. Those big, gray eyes are staring into a future that she was not anticipating. And by the looks of it, that‘s a future with 4 fuzzy puppies for her to take care of on her own. While caring for four puppies sounds awesome to us, it’s obvious from her face that she is dreading it.
She looks terrified! I’m sure that there are some human moms out there that know exactly what this dog mom is going through. We just hope this mom and her puppies are happy and healthy.
Break Needed
We aren’t sure what the equivalent of coffee is for dogs, but this tired mama could use a big, piping hot mug of it. Her eyes are drooping, her body is slouched, and she just looks worn out. Who could blame her? Look at those little pups beneath her. Being a mom to those puppies is a 24/7 job. Where’s the dad? Maybe he can step in and give her a break.
We feel sorry for this dog. It looks like she hasn’t had a break or a chance to nap in a few weeks. We hope for her sake that the puppies will tire themselves out.
Well Behaved
It seems like this mother is serious when it comes to her kittens being on their best behavior. Her kittens are all lined up and looking at the camera. We imagine once the camera was put down, these little guys took off and ran all over the place. It’s both scary and cute how they all look the same. They look like fluffy little pillows with eyes and legs.
This cat family may be the softest and fluffiest cat family in the entire world. Don’t you just want to take one and rub your face in its fur? That sounds like heaven to us!
Mama Cheetah
Here is an animal mother who would do anything for a little peace and quiet. She looks like she’s exhausted, but she also seems to be used to this morning routine. This is an incredible picture to catch the cub in mid-jump. You pay so much attention to the cub in the air that you almost don’t see the other cub on the ground. These two seem like a handful for their poor mother!
It’s amazing how calm and relaxed she looks despite what’s going on. She’s probably built up an extreme amount of patience from dealing with hyper cubs on a daily basis.
Gorgeous Duo
You always hear that having kids is rewarding and one of the greatest things on Earth. But this dog parent seems to think otherwise. They look tired and a little upset about their kid biting their lip. There is a good chance that this isn’t the first time. Both of these dogs look gorgeous and so soft. We would love to wake up to this cute duo in our home!
This parent dog is obviously annoyed, but we would switch places with it in a heartbeat. Who wouldn’t want the chance to play with a chubby and fuzzy puppy all day?
No More
We hope this mother cat didn’t have anything to do because it does not look like her kitten is moving any time soon. As cute as this picture is, you can tell by that mother kitten’s eye that she’d rather be anywhere else than there. How did something so small and blind even get up there? Let’s just hope this is a one-time thing. We aren’t sure this mom can take much more!
It’s cute now, but if that kitten makes it a habit, we don’t think that mom is going to be so calm when it gets older and bigger. What a great photo!
Escape
This dog mom needed an escape and she found it! It’s quiet in the bathroom, she’s alone, and even if her puppies came in, they may not be able to get over the tub. She’s found the perfect hiding spot. You can just tell by that tired look on her face that she’s worn out. We’d give this furry good girl a treat and a whole bunch of pets!
You have to get some sleep in whenever you can when you’re a parent. There are probably tons of human moms and dads who have done this same thing a few times.
Colorful Mama
Those are eyes that are screaming out for any type of help. This colorful mama cat looks scared, tired, and confused all rolled into one. It looks like she’s seen something horrific. We’re sure that she loves her kittens, but she probably has nightmares about feeding them. And with four little kittens nibbling at you, who wouldn’t? We hope this mom gets some time to herself soon. She needs it!
No one ever said that being a parent was easy, and this cat is showing just how hard it can be. There doesn’t look like there’s much energy in her!
The Apple Doesn't Fall...
Not only can children physically resemble their parents, but they can also end up acting like them. That seems to be the case with these two dogs! This cute puppy is on its parent’s back mimicking what it sees. It could be a yawn, a bark, or maybe their owner is dropping a tasty treat. We don’t know for sure, but we do know that we love this photo.
This must be the dog equivalent of a human baby having the same smile as their mom or dad. We would love to see what else this pup can do like its parents!
Papa Cat
We’ll take this dad’s spot if he needs a break. We would love the chance to have these chubby and furry kittens climb all over us. Sign us up! As tired as this handsome dad must be, he’s dealing with it like a soldier. Look at that fluffy face of his. He isn’t stressing about a thing. This is just another day of being a cool dad to him. He’s used to it.
This dad cat would probably prefer meowing at birds flying past a window, or taking a long nap on the couch, but he seems to have it under control. He isn’t worried about a thing!
Heaven
This picture is what heaven looks like. Two-parent dogs and their four pups sleeping and snoring together on a couch. This is an overload of goodness. We wish we could hop in this photo and join these dogs on the couch. That would be a dream come true for us. These six dogs are probably a nuisance when they are awake and barking, but that would be worth it for moments like this.
The mom and dad dogs must get an insane workout each day from keeping up with these pups. It seems like it would be exhausting. These types of naps probably happen pretty often for them.
Cat Nightmare
It looks like this parent cat can’t catch a break. Those little orange kittens don’t look like they are going to calm down any time soon. Hey, if that cat needs a nanny, we would love to step in. Where that cat sees a nightmare, we see a fun time! It would be great to play with those kittens. We would also like to give that mama cat the time off she deserves.
This cat looks like it needs to hire a nanny or someone to help take care of all the kittens. It looks like it’s way too much work for just one cat!
Trooper
These little balls of fluffs are just as cute as they want to be, but look at what they are doing to their poor mother. This mom dog probably hasn’t had a chance to take a break in days. You can tell that she is dedicated and determined to give her children the best. She found a place to rest her head while keeping her body upright so they can feed.
This girl needs a soft bed, some treats, and to be left alone for a while. This mother dog is a trooper. We’re sure she’d do anything for those cute puppies of hers.
Magnificent Seven
We’re not sure what led all those cuddly dogs to fall asleep like this, but we are sure that their mother is glad that they did. She has seven puppies that, when awake, are probably running, fighting, and barking. This break that all of them are having is probably well-deserved. They probably wish that whoever is taking the photo would turn off the light and get out so they can sleep in peace.
This mom has had a rough day. She’s probably dreaming of being alone, in a quiet place, playing with her favorite toy. She probably daydreams about the days when she didn’t have puppies.
Manners
If animal children are anything like human children, then there’s a good chance that no matter what you tell them, they are going to do what they want. That seems to be the case for this excited kitten! Its mother is behind it with a stern and serious look. There’s no way that this is how she had ever expected it to act. This cat is going to get a lesson in manners later!
Kids are not always on their best behavior. That is what this mother cat seems to be figuring out in this photo. This little guy may be in trouble when they get back home.
Different
That is a ton of puppies! We aren’t sure how many are usually in a litter, but that is quite a lot of puppies. But if you look closely, there seems to be one that’s just a little bit different than the rest. All of them are gray with black splotches, and then right on top is a bright orange cat! This mama dog does not seem to mind too much.
This gorgeous mother probably has so many puppies that she sometimes loses track of who is who. That cat seems pretty comfortable. It seems like it’s part of the family.
Ponytail
Some kids look like their parents from birth. For others, it takes some time. This gangly colt is doing its best to speed up the process by impersonating its mother. It may not have flowing hair just yet, but if it is patient, its hair will grow long like hers. But, for right now, they seem to be pretty satisfied with pretending. That mama horse is clearly used to her colt playing games.
It looks like even animal children have big imaginations. That little horse doesn’t know it yet, but one day it’s going to be just as big or bigger than its mother!
Mama Bear
A bear sighting is usually a reason to panic and call the authorities, but if we saw this out of our window, we would probably be more excited than scared. This mama bear is putting in hard work carrying around her young cub on her back. Parents, both human and animal, are probably familiar with this situation. That cub is having the time of its life up there while its mother works.
This is an incredible photo. We wouldn’t want bears showing up at our house all the time, but if this happened every once in a while we would love that.
Oh No
We don’t think this cat was expecting to see that on the screen. Her face shows that she has a few things to rethink. Motherhood is no easy ordeal, but she is on her way to experiencing it firsthand. We hope that she’s ready! We wonder if her owner is as surprised as she is! This is going to be a big change for them and this new mama cat.
Sometimes women go to the doctor thinking something is wrong, and then it turns out that they are pregnant and didn’t know it. It’s wild to think that that may have happened to this cat.
Mama Hedgehog
Talk about a spitting image. This baby hedgehog is a clone of its mother! And by the looks of it, it is having a good time! That mother hedgehog probably needed a good nap from taking care of this little guy. But while she’s catching up on sleep, this prickly little cutie is keeping the fun times going. He’ll probably still be raging when his mother wakes back up.
The lifted hands and feet from this little hedgehog are all we need to see to know that he’s full of energy! That mother earned the sleep she is getting.
Cat Sandwich
Mother’s really can do it all. This picture is proof of that. Not only does this mother cat teach, feed, and keep these little kittens safe and clean, she even acts as a bed for them. If that isn’t love, then we don’t know what is! This photo would be even cuter if the other cat had found some way to get on its mother’s belly as well. It would be a cat sandwich!
Being an animal parent seems like a tough job. It comes as no surprise that this mama cat is taking a nap with her kids. Who knows what she had to do all day.
Bullydog
Sometimes kids want to go out and play, but you just want to relax. That’s what is happening in this photo with this angelic-looking puppy and it’s the parent. Tugging on its parent's ear might as well be like a little kid pulling on his dad’s shirt to get his attention. As cute as this is, we feel for that parent dog. It probably just wants to roll over and ignore its puppy.
Most parents will relate to this photo. They get done with work, decide to rest, and then next they know, their kids are asking to go outside. Parenting is a tough job!
Blue-Eyed Pup
Small animals sitting on top of bigger animals will always be cute. This photo of a dad dog and his beautiful blue-eyed puppy is no different. Look at how safe and comfortable the puppy looks on top of its father. It’s pretty clear that this is not the first time that this has happened. This dog is a good father. He definitely received a few tasty treats after this photo.
This dad is cool, calm, and collected. He’s not going to let anything happen to that adorable puppy of his while it is on his back! This is true love.
The Face
This poor cat looks like it is barely hanging on to its sanity! That face is screaming for some help, but her kitten is refusing to calm down. Look at how she has it embraced. It’s clear that there is some love there, but she probably wishes that it would go off and find something else to do for a while. The kitten clawing at its mother’s eye really makes this photo great.
Children are relentless. It’s like they are programmed to be annoying at the worst possible times. This mama cat probably wishes that she had something to take her kitten’s attention off of her.
Parrot Parent
Keeping your child happy is an important part of being a good parent. And whatever this parent parrot is doing to make their child happy, it is working. That baby bird is maybe one of the happiest-looking creatures on this planet! It looks like it is still waiting on some feathers to come in, but that’s not stopping it from perking up. The parents have done a good job keeping them happy!
If anyone needs evidence that birds can smile, just direct them to this photo. That baby bird is beaming with happiness. It will probably be even happier when all its feathers finally come in!
Mama's Responsibilities
This cat looks like she’s just seen a ghost. In reality, she’s probably just realized that she has to take care of all of these kittens on her own. She’s probably thinking of a way to get out of her responsibility as a mother. She wouldn’t be the first one to do that! These gray and white kittens are gorgeous, but they seem to be too much for their mother to handle.
It’s ok to ask for help when it comes to raising kids. That seems like the best option for this big-eyed mama cat. She’s going to need all the help she can get.
Mama Rhino
Parents are just big playgrounds for children. It doesn’t matter if their parents are cooking, cleaning, or trying to sleep, they are going to want to climb all over them. That’s what this curious baby rhino is doing! Animal children, just like human children, are full of energy. And more often than not, it’s the parents that have to deal with the release of all that energy. That’s how we get photos like this!
Becoming a parent is making a lifelong commitment to making sure that your child is taken care of. We’re just not sure all these animal parents knew it would include becoming beds for their kids.
Soft Mama
If you look at this photo too quickly, you may miss the baby sheep on top of the big sheep! We can’t say we blame this baby sheep for using its mother as a bed. That fur looks soft and comfortable. And since the baby sheep doesn’t have much fur of its own yet, it is probably using its mother for warmth. We’re sure that the sheep's other children are pretty jealous.
This photo is just one more example that shows how similar animal babies are to human babies. Seems like they both love finding a comfortable spot on top of their parents and not moving!
Toy Tail
This mama cat with a beautiful pattern in her fur has figured out a way to both give her kitten something to play with and to comfort her. She probably wishes she could move her tail, but we’re going to guess that she enjoys the peace that comes when her kitten is tuckered out. A little bit of creativity goes a long way when you’re a parent. This animal parent has it figured out.
Her tail is a toy, a sleeping aid, and she barely has to move for it to work either. This mama cat could probably teach a thing or two to other parents.
Approving Meowing
Human children love mimicking what they see their parents doing, and it looks like the same goes for kittens. That kitten probably follows its mother around everywhere and copies all that she does. Meowing, stretching, scratching at things, and like we see here, yawning. In the second half of the photo, it looks like the mother is giving an approving look to her kitten at their attempt to copy her.
Imitating and mimicking is how kids learn. Let’s just hope that this mama cat teaches her kitten all of her good habits and none of the bad ones that she has.
Unruly Child
It seems like every family has one unruly child. In this photo, it looks like this mama cat has just learned which of her kittens is the unruly one. What’s great about these photos is that the first one is a clear look of stress and terror, but in the second, the mother looks relaxed and accepting. It’s like she knows that no matter what, her kittens are going to do as they please.
While the rest of the kittens sleep, this dedicated cat parent is trying to find a way to calm their wild child. No one ever said parenting was going to be easy!
Recovery SOS
The kittens all look bright, alert, and well-behaved. But the look on their poor dad’s face shows that they have been anything but well-behaved. They have probably been giving him hell all day, and now this dad has hit the wall. His litter of wiry-haired kittens has clearly zapped him of all his energy. He may need a day or two to recover from what they have put him through.
The best thing about this photo is how unmoved the kittens look. They look like as soon as the camera person disappeared, they went right back to bothering their tired dad.
Family Nap
Sometimes a family nap is exactly what’s needed to give everyone a chance to recharge. This family photo also does a great show of showing the wonder and randomness of genes. You have the fluffy little gray and white kittens, and then on the ends, you have the two cats with eye-catching fur like a leopard. But this photo shows that no matter how they look, they are one happy and sleepy family!
This photo is proof that no matter how annoying your children can be, you are always going to look out for them. Look at the mom and dad letting their puppies sleep on them!