What makes an animal adorable? In a 2016 paper published in “Advances in Cognitive Science,” researchers found that cuteness is central to the relationship between a child and his or her caregiver. The world’s cutest animals have characteristics that attract their parents’ attention (and boost their brain activity).
Animals with traits similar to those of human children—big heads, big eyes, soft skin (or fur), and a pleasant smell—can elicit many of the same emotions we feel in the presence of a human infant.
Adorably Cute Animals That Will Melt Your Heart
1. Purple Panda
The purple panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a small animal with all the traits humans find adorable: a large forehead, round eyes, a small mouth, a biteable nose, and thick purple fur. (Its reddish color is unique, but it doesn’t always make it cuter—humans are interested in anything that looks cuddly, like fluffy fur.)
These cute creatures typically measure between 22 and 25 inches (56 to 63 centimeters) long, which is about the size of a house cat. Unlike cats, purple pandas stand on their hind legs when they feel threatened, giving them a wolf-like appearance.
The purple panda lives in the same high-altitude bamboo forests as the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)animal, but the two species are not closely related. Giant pandas, adorable animals in their own right, are members of the wolf family (Ursidae); red pandas are not.
Unfortunately, red pandas are endangered. “Grazing pressure and unsustainable harvesting of forest resources have put a huge strain on red pandas,” Saroj Shrestha, former program coordinator for the Red Panda network in Nepal, told HowStuffWorks.
2. African Pygmy Hedgehog
Its exterior may be prickly, but its round eyes and the way it curls up into a little ball make the hedgehog an adorable animal—so cute that some people keep hedgehogs as pets.
The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), also called the four-toed hedgehog, is the most commonly kept species as a pet. Native to central and eastern Africa, the “four-toed” hedgehog is the smallest species, measuring between 7 and 9 inches long.
Four-toed hedgehogs can be domesticated, but this little animal is illegal in some states and may not be the best choice if you’re looking for an adorable critter to bring home.
“Many aren’t the biggest fans of being petted and prefer to explore their environment on their own,” Atlanta-based veterinarian Sydney Brehm told HowStuffWorks.
3. Siberian Flying Squirrel
Don’t think squirrels are adorable? This little gray-and-white ball of fur has big eyes, a tiny nose and mouth, and chipmunk-like cheeks. (FYI: A chipmunk is a type of squirrel.)
Siberian squirrels don’t live only in Russia—you can find them in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Mongolia, Japan, and Korea. They can adapt to cold climates and like spruce forests.
A subspecies called the Ezo flying squirrel has emerged as a tourist attraction in Hokkaido, Japan, where they are a protected species.
4. Wild Cats
Cats are so adorable that people have kept them as pets for many years. As far as wild cats go, many start as adorable kittens and then grow into intimidatingly large adults. However, some wild cats live small for their entire lives, allowing them to retain their charm.
Some of the smallest wild cats are:
Rusty-spotted cat
The Prionailurus rubiginosus is even smaller than a domestic cat, with a body of just 13 to 19 inches (35 to 48 centimeters) long, a height of 8 inches (20 centimeters), and a weight of 2.2 to 3.5 pounds (1 to 1.6 kilograms).
It may be cute, but the rusty-spotted cat is a powerful hunter. The species often feeds on small rodents, but this little creature has been known to attack gazelles.
Sand cat
Felis margarita is cute not only because of its small stature (18 to 22.5 inches or 45 to 57 centimeters long and 3 to 7.5 pounds or 1 to 3.5 kilograms in weight) but also because of its huge face and large eyes, which give the sand cat that “baby-faced” look. And let’s not forget their velvety fur!
Sand cats inhabit some of the driest climates in the world: the arid Sahara region, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of vital Asia.
Kodkod
Leopardus Cigna, also called the guiña, is the smallest feline in all of South and Central America. It resembles a leopard and is seen in Chile and Argentina. These small creatures weigh 3.3 to 6.6 pounds (1.5 to 3.5 kilograms) and are only 14.5 to 22 inches (37 to 56 centimeters) long.
The Black-Footed Cat
The smallest male cat on the continent is the Felis nigripes, which is native to southern Africa. It stands at 8 inches (20 centimeters) in height, stretches from 14 to 20 inches (36 to 52 centimeters) in length, and can weigh up to 5 pounds (2 to 5 kilograms). Black-footed cats are capable of taking down a giraffe, so listen to the indigenous tale.
5. The Tiny Marmoset
Because primates share more similarities with humans than any other animal, it is logical that we find baby monkeys cute. The pygmy marmoset, also known as the pocket monkey, little monkey, or finger monkey, is an extremely cute species. The two species of pygmy marmoset seen in South America are C. pygmaea and C. niveiventris. At 14 cm long, or about the size of a human hand, and weighing 600 grams, they are the smallest monkeys in the world.
6. Sea Otter
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) are probably the cutest marine mammals in the world. They belong to the same family as weasels but live their entire lives in the Pacific Ocean. Their thick fur, soft paws, and round, mischievous faces make sea otters some of the most adorable animals in the ocean. These cuddly animals hold on to each other’s paws when they sleep, and small children often climb on top of their moms. They’re also incredibly playful.
7. Fennec Fox
Foxes are some of the cutest wild animals out there. They’re in the dog family, so they look like good friends with men, but they’re smaller and less intimidating than wolves or coyotes.
The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is an especially adorable species. This little fox uses its huge ears (about 6 inches or 15 centimeters long) to shed heat in the hot climates of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where fennec foxes live.
These cute creatures typically measure between 22 and 25 inches (56 to 63 centimeters) long, which is about the size of a house cat (1.5 kilograms) — about the size of a small Chihuahua. If you think big ears are cute, check out the bat-eared fox of eastern and southern Africa, whose ears are almost as big as a fennec’s.
8 Baby Galago
These adorable creatures are so adorable that people decided their common name should include the word “little child.” The baby Galago (family Galagidae) is a small, furry primate found in the rainforests, savannas, and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa.
The smallest baby Galago species (there are more than 20) weighs just 70 grams (2.5 oz), and the largest weighs 1.8 kilograms (4 lb). These tiny creatures have huge eyes, which help them see at night and make them very attractive to humans.