The Cutest Pet Friendships Of All Time That Are Making Us Cry From Joy

Pet parents and admirers love seeing unique friendships between animals; two cute critters are better than one, especially when it involves a cat who likes to cuddle or a playful pooch looking to wrestle. While many believe that cats and dogs are natural enemies, this could not be further from the truth. Though a difference in personality can put them at odds, early socialization and supervised interactions with other species at a young age can lead to remarkable friendships.

While a connection between a cat and dog is not unheard of, many other heartwarming relationships are possible. At the same time, any pet parent aiming to forge such remarkable bonds should always exercise caution, as many of these pet friendships took time and patience to develop. Celebrating the differences between pets is just as key as trying to make them find common ground and become companions. Still, these best buddies have us crying with joy.

Tenderhearted and high energy, Dalmatians have remained a popular choice for homes and work, thanks in no small part to their Disney-famous counterparts and the Dalmatian's history of working in firehouses. Still, the doggos don't always make for the best companions for other animals, considered only moderately compatible with multi-pet households. Yet owner Taylor Meadows found herself pleasantly surprised by what happened when she took in a batch of shelter kittens to care for until they found homes. Not only did her Dalmatian, River, love the little fluffy babies, but one of them took a particularly strong liking to the large dog.

The aptly-named Summit, who loves climbing his bigger sibling, soon started following the spotted dog wherever she went, and the two became quite close. This strong bond resulted in Meadows inviting the kitty into her own home permanently. "They are inseparable best friends and adventure buddies," she shared with Newsweek. "They do everything together, from hiking and camping to paddleboarding. They're the perfect duo for exploring the outdoors and I feel so lucky to have them."

Originally bred to hunt rabbits, beagles have become beloved family pets thanks to their carefree attitudes and overall charisma. With its history, the charming breed still holds onto that high prey drive, so when Chloe the beagle befriended a bunny named Rue, it took the internet by storm. Yet Rue and Chloe's time together was short-lived, with the adorable brown rabbit dying after two years of unforgettable friendship. While owner Megan Cottone felt devastated as a result of her beagle losing a good friend, the dog still had a lot of love to give.

Following Rue's passing, Chloe met Chlea, a gray-and-white tabby, and the two fostered a friendship that has been well-documented on social media. As the playful kitty grew up with her big sis, she followed in her pawsteps and began to copy her actions. Going on walks, sitting obediently for treats, and going on playdates with other dogs — Chlea exhibits some of the best attributes of both species.

Chloe also started picking up on her little sister's traits, including staring out the window and jumping on countertops. In the caption of a TikTok, Cottone said, "I think this is why I say I am a—cats who act like dogs—and—dogs who act like cats—person whenever I get asked if I am a dog or cat person."

What is more adorable than a cuddle puddle of fluffy friends? How about a trio that includes two bunnies and a kitty? A testament to the power of proper socialization at a young age, little Mojo grew up alongside his two leporidae friends, Milky and Gaia. While the three pets love to play together, one of their favorite things to do is cuddle up for naps, with their TikTok full of videos of the three catching a snooze together.

Now the best of buddies, the trio's owner, Lisa, spoke about the challenges of getting to the perfect harmony of cuteness in an interview with the French blog Le Blog Le Meillure Pour Mon Lapin. When asked how long it took, Lisa said, "With Milky, it was a great relationship right away. With Gaia, it took several months before we saw any progress. Mojo has been with us for 2 years, and she hasn't been coming to sleep next to him for long. As you can see, with patience, you can do a lot of things!"

A pup excited to take part in its favorite morning outdoor activity may be quick to get its pet parent out of bed with a playful lick or a hefty bark. One dog, Nova, has adopted a unique routine where the German shorthaired pointer's day does not begin until she says hello to her favorite friend on the farm. Every morning, Nova rushes out to give Athena, her horse companion, some licks and snuggles. Their bond has become a daily ritual, with Nova and Athena's owner stating in a video for Cuddle Buddies, "No matter the weather, Nova will be there, with her whole body shaking with glee."

Nova has lot of love to give. Not only does she have her favorite horse, but she enjoys spending time with her sibling Riley and exploring the farm where she lives. On the trios' TikTok and Instagram, the chocolate Lab makes friends with any frog, lizard, or other animal she crosses paths with. Still, Nova and Athena's bond remains one of the most adorable pet friendships you will find anywhere online.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may have been the most tubular turtles of the 1980s, but one modern-day shelled cutie may have them beat. Using a skateboard to travel with speed, Gunso loves shredding around his home, always in search of his favorite feline, a cat named Koyuki. Gunso is always close by, a little "shell on wheels" that constantly shadows his best friend.

Koyuki's owner met the little turtle by chance. "I was walking home one day when I saw something that looked like a seashell. And then I got closer and realized it was a tiny turtle," they shared with Cuddle Buddies. The pet parent helped nurse the reptile, which was in desperate need of water, back to health, buying him a tank and all the necessities. The turtle quickly took a shine to Koyuki, making them inseparable and an adorable addition to their owner's home.

With around 250 owl species worldwide, there are many different ways in which the majestic birds of prey live. Yet most owl breeds choose to roost solo, getting together with others only when mating and rearing owlets. In contrast, Huskies are energetic, intelligent dogs who can certainly thrive within a pack. However, the Husky's high prey drive can prove challenging when it comes to socializing with other species. The characteristics of both Huskies and owls may cause many to think that a friendship between the two is impossible.

Falconer Amy Jo Lawrance found Blue, her 11-year-old Husky-German shepherd mix, forming an unlikely bond with three of her owls, Juneau, Xena, and Frankie. When they were younger, the trio would play with and even nap with Blue, with Juneau taking a particular liking to their big fluffy friend. Yet transitioning from youth into their teens and moving out of Lawrance's home into their aviary has changed the dynamic. These independent owls still enjoy walking with Blue and Joanne but have grown out of their cuddly phase.

Not all friendships last forever for people, and the same can be true for pets. However, the short time the four spent together and the adorable footage from it marked a pretty miraculous friendship. Opposites certainly can get along, even if it is just until it is time for the little ones to leave the nest.

The saying "It takes a village to raise a child" certainly applies to pet parents welcoming new little ones, whether it's working with the mother to help keep them safe or the community to find all the adorable babies' forever homes. Yet one doggo stepped up in a big way when he decided to help his cat friend raise a batch of kittens. Golden retrievers are known to be good in homes with kids, but Dasher is certainly one remarkable pup for caring for other pet babies.

There isn't much information about Dasher and his friends, as their TikTok sheds little light on the daily lives of the many pets, with most videos only bearing tags and no descriptions. The page is full of interactions with Dasher and the wee ones, as well as litters of other golden retrievers and dogs visiting the family. Still, the language of cuteness needs little explanation, with the most popular videos on TikTok of Dasher and the kittens garnering millions of views.

There are plenty of reasons why cats perch, and it is not just to act as an ornament for the unique cat tree a pet parent just purchased. Height allows a kitty to survey its kingdom for prey while also making it feel safe from those who might be hunting it. For the domestic kitty, it also puts it at the perfect height for pets and scratches from their favorite person. Yet Morris, a cat from NSW Australia, has upped his perching game by befriending a horse named Champy and riding him around the farm.

"Champy really initiated the friendship," their owner shared (via Daily Mail). "Sometime in that first week Morris realised Champy was being really gentle with him and just wanted to be friends and Morris just jumped from the verandah onto his back." The two are most active on Facebook, where their owner updates fans about the dynamic traveling duo and the other farm animals. Still, the affectionate feline and majestic equestrian are the focal point. Whether they are dressing up for Halloween together, enjoying a ride around the farm, nose boops, or Morris cleaning Champy's mane, the two seem inseparable.

The intelligence and kindness of a golden retriever are special attributes that can make them very compassionate pets. The adorably named duo Bear and Mighty Smols is a testament to the breed's adaptability, as a dog and a bunny make for an unlikely pairing, with retrievers originally bred to hunt small game. Yet the two became inseparable, with Bear always wanting his little friend involved in household events, like dressing up as a bee and a flower.

Beyond countless adorable videos on TikToK, the duo's owner was inspired by their friendship to make a better change in the world. Embracing the Japanese term "omoiyari," which roughly translates to "acting towards others with kindness and a warm heart," Bear and Mighty Smols starred in their own book, "Bear Hugs." With a message of compassion and empathy using real stories of the two, the book supplied more than just positive vibes. The unique pair helped raise money for No Kid Hungry and gifted reading material to Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Sadly, the friendship came to an end, as bunnies only have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years. The happy golden retriever outlived his little buddy, who died in July 2023. Still, through the book and many social media moments, the unlikely pairing left many great memories for their owner and the countless who logged on to have their days brightened by the duo.

With the sheer attentiveness on the faces of most kitties when they see a bird flying or an insect buzzing, it would be challenging to picture a feline suppressing that instinct to hunt in favor of friendship. Yet, one little lovebird named Chicken managed to befriend a cat as a play buddy and snuggle companion. Wherever Frank went, Chicken followed. Frank's owner, Rachell, was so taken aback by the relationship that she tried her luck with another kitty, Pugsley, and the three became an unlikely trio.

Frank died from illness just before the one-year mark after Pugsley joined the household. With the loss of their friend, Pugsley and Chicken found comfort in each other, taking on a loving relationship much like the one Frank had with the little lovebird. "I don't think they understand that one is a bird and one is a cat," Rachell shared with The Dodo. The orange tabby spends time in Chicken's cage, and the two eat and play together. The lovebird's family always seems to be growing, with Rachell also adopting hamsters and a dog.

While an adorable piglet can be tempting to bring into your home, a pig can be the most expensive pet you can own. While seeing plenty of cute little piggies online may make you want to own one for yourself, these pets need the right home to accommodate them when the little 2 to 3 pounders grow up to be as big as 200 pounds. The quick growth of a pig is highlighted in one unique companionship between the 135-pound French Mastiff, George, and his pig sister, Debbie, who caught up with her brother in size. 

George looked after Debbie from the moment she arrived as a piglet, and the pair spent many a day snoozing around the house together. Debbie eventually died, but George has a large family to call his own. On his Instagram, his pet parent shares many of her rescue efforts. George has been able to befriend ducks, cats, squirrels, and other canines. Amidst a busy household full of adorableness, George's friendship inspired his caretaker the most, who named the rescue after the friendly mastiff, calling it the Nana George Home for Animals In Need.

There are many aspects to consider when it comes to adopting and raising reptiles, from needing a controlled environment to a special diet. Yet one of the most significant differences between cats and dogs is that, socially, reptiles are mainly solitary creatures; owners may find it difficult even to match pairs of the same species together. So when kitty Atlas befriended prehensile-tailed skink Junior, the internet was quick to celebrate their one-of-a-kind bond.

While Atlas is always the one to initiate, dashing to Junior's enclosure every morning to greet the lizard, both have adapted to each other. Pet parent Mallory Lindsay shared with The Dodo, "Whey they're apart they act very differently than when they're together." Atlas is a mischief-maker who enjoys getting into everything she shouldn't but is a cool and collected cat in Junior's presence. Junior, naturally territorial and a bit bossy to his owner and others, is much more chill around Atlas. The two bring out the best in each other — just as good friends should.

Rottweilers can get a bad rap, which largely stems from negative media portrayals and their history of working as police or security dogs. While the breed excels at protection, if appropriately raised, a Rottie can become a loving member of any family and even co-exist with other pets. Still, not everyone knows that they can be affectionate. Given this, Bethany, the owner of one such pooch, Meisha, was happy to see her Rottweiler finally find some friendships after being avoided by others.

Bethany and her partner, who work all day, left a video camera running to watch over Meisha and their guinea pigs. They were surprised to see Miesha viewing the rodents with a lot of curiosity, keeping an eye on them as they walked around the cage. The Rottweiler eventually became protective of her little friends, always looking out for them and giving their cat a little bark when she gets too close.

While many like to believe that the bond between a newborn animal and its mother is absolute, that is not always the case. There are various reasons that an animal parent will abandon their kid, whether it be because of a need for survival, lack of nutrition to sustain another life, or an unwillingness to take care of multiple offspring. For farmer Olivia Jane Akers, it was heartbreaking when one of her sheep was rejected by her mother while also coming off the recent health issues of one of her dogs, Max. Yet, these two came together for each other in a big way, with Max finding a renewed purpose in life by taking care of his lamb and the little wool ball finding a new mom.

Akers shared (via USA Today), "The second Max laid eyes on Beau, that was HER baby," which can be seen in the countless videos of the pair playing and bonding. Max acted as a mother to Beau, ensuring she stayed clean and healthy while growing up. When Beau was finally big and healthy enough to live with the other sheep, the proud momma doggo knew it was time to let her little one leave the nest. Still, the two go out of their way to play with each other daily, showing they have developed a lifelong friendship.