There's an abundance of pop culture revolving around a handful of animals these days. Have you noticed? I'm talking posts, headlines, movies and even song lyrics. Vine after vine of otters smacking on food pellets or baby goats in PJs are going global every day. Even this article is contributing to the heap. Let's take a look at the six cuties we're obsessed with:
1. Otters
According to one article, there are over 10 different types of otters in the world, and these creatures have been around for "more than 5 million years." That's awesome, right? And while humans have long been considered one of the otters' main predators (we've hunt them for their pelt for ages, apparently), our eyes have recently been opened to their adorable nature. Otter footage spreading across the web shows them using their tiny hands to pick up food and smack their mouths while eating (in the adorable way, not the annoying way). They have also become known for holding hands with other otters so they don't float away from each other in the water. Good grief-- my heart!
2. Pygmy Goats
The National Pygmy Goat Association (yes, there is such a thing) writes on their website that pygmies are "alert and animated" creatures. This is certainly true; videos of these spunky kids bouncing around (usually in decorated PJs) have become more and more popular. I break into a high-pitched laugh/cry every time I watch a new six seconds of goat-action. Seriously. And I'm not much of a squealer. Before you knock the people putting tiny goats in pajamas, you should know that they are actually reported as being "docile, responsive pet[s]." They offer great milk, too!
3. Foxes
There's no doubt the love we have for foxes, from The Fox and The Hound in 1981 to Ylvis's famous song "The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)" in 2013 to Juniper the fox-- who's recently been featured from Facebook to Tumblr and other articles with her dog-brother-- this year. They're beautiful animals, the perfect blend of canine and feline with a hint of mousey in there somewhere, and they're showing up more and more often as pets. Millennials totally swoon when we see footage of them jumping up and face-planting a fluffy comforter or pillow. But it's actually more difficult to own a fox-- laws on this issue vary from state to state. And as with any animal that's been domesticated, we take a risk getting too close!
4. Pandas
Oh, panda bears. They're so fluffy and round and rolley poly-esque, it's hard not to become giant mushpots over them! Desiigner even brought them into the spotlight this year with his song "Panda." Not quite in the cute and cuddly way, but still. Pandas are extraordinary creatures any way you look at them and it's a good thing that they finally made it onto our generation's radar-- these adorable bumbling bubs are endangered and need our help! You can learn more about all the great reasons we should help pandas-- like the fact that mama bears take care of their young for "one and a half to three years"-- here and if you want to donate to the cause, you can find out how to do that here.
5. Hedgehogs
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain Sonic the Hedgehog started the popularity of these spiny cuties. Since then, hedgehogs have become even more popular, making their way into homes as pets. These adorable animals are "fun to watch, not aggressive, and [are] fairly easy to care for" according to one website. They're also considered "very active," which has worked incredibly to increase their cute factor. Biddy is one very busy hedgehog that we probably all know-- pictures of him traveling the world are all over the web and have been melting my heart since I first saw them on Tumblr. If you haven't seen what I'm talking about, check it out. He really gets around!
6. Teacup Pigs
There's been quite a bit of controversy surrounding pigs as pets. More than once a potbelly piglet is mislabeled as a teacup and an unsuspecting buyer winds up with more than it can handle, resulting in the abandonment of pigs everywhere. And pigs also require a lot of care that isn't initially assumed. But it's completely understandable why people are drawn to piggies-- they're freaking adorable! The tiny grunts and squeals paired with the wagging tails are incredibly irresistible. Oh, you don't believe me? Please do yourself a favor and search for teacup piglets on YouTube. You won't be disappointed!
These six animals have made quite the impact on pop culture and our ideas of "adorable." The amount of social media posts surrounding them is evidence enough that our generation is obsessed with them, and after doing further research on each animal to write this article, I have no doubts about why! Each is incredible, unique and above all heart-breakingly cute!
