82 Wholesome Animal Pics That Might Be The Nicest Thing You See Today

Dogs seem to have an extra trick, and it involves eye contact. In a study from Azabu University in Japan published in Science, researchers found that when pet dogs gazed at their owners, the owners’ oxytocin levels rose, and the dogs’ levels went up in return.

Oxytocin is a hormone linked to bonding, including the bond between parents and babies. Wolves raised by people did not set off the same loop. Other scientists have questioned how far those findings stretch, so it is best to treat it as a fascinating idea rather than the final word, though it certainly matches the experience of anyone who has melted under a pair of pleading puppy eyes.

There are simpler reasons too. Cute animal posts are one of the few corners of the internet where nobody is trying to win an argument. A sleepy corgi has no hot takes. The content is short, it needs no translation and it is perfect for sending to a friend who is having a rough week. Animals also bring personality without any filter, like the cat who pushes a mug off the table while holding eye contact, or the dog who greets the same person at the door every day as though they just returned from a voyage at sea.

A tiny animal asks nothing of us except a moment of attention. We recognize ourselves in them, and we get to laugh without any pressure. So think of the scroll ahead as a small wellness break with whiskers, paws and the occasional wobbly baby goat. Science has a decent case that your focus and your mood will thank you for it.