Another thing that can prove that idea wrong is a quick look at the animal kingdom, where petty human concerns don’t exist and different species can get along surprisingly well. Enjoy these prime examples of animals who transcended biological differences and became unlikely best friends.
Cat and Mouse
In a sweet depiction of a Tom and Jerry utopia, these two seem to get along just fine. Who said cats and mice can't be friends? Well, everyone, basically — our parents, our kindergarten teachers, and even our childhood books!
Was it all a lie? Are you telling us Tom and Jerry were just playing us this whole time? Unexpected, but ultimately very sweet.
Cat and Pig
Enjoying some time in the sun is one of the ultimate forms of chilling, and these two creatures seem to have raised their dual sunbathing to an unparalleled level of art.
Just look at this perfect technique: relaxed faces, eyes closed, cushy ground for the kitty, comforting weighted blanket for the piggy, ultimate synergy. Our panel of judges is raising their signs and it seems unanimous — tens across the board!
Pony and Emu
It's a beautiful summer's day and two friends are enjoying some time walking around in the yard. Nothing unusual here. Except that the two friends in this story are literally a pony and an emu!
In the wild, these two beings could never have met, as emus are native to Australia and the only kind of feral horse can be found in Mongolia. The thing is, these two don't know about it. Nor do they care.
Warthog and Giant Tortoise
Do you have your glasses on? Good, because this could fool anyone with less-than-impeccable eyesight. Sure, these two are about the same size and the same color but that's about where the similarities end. However, they seem unbothered by being different species.
These friends look like they have seen some things and have good stories to tell. We would love to put the kettle on and join them for some tea.
Monkey and Dog
You don't need to be Dr. Dolittle or speak the animal language to know that this sweet creature is saying "who's a good boy? Yes, you're a good boy!" to his four-legged friend.
Can primates have pet dogs? This woolly monkey sure seems to have taken a page out of the human book and adopted one. Well, whether a friend or owner, this little monkey seems to be one supportive partner.
Lioness and Wildebeest
Okay, let us spin a little Disney-inspired tale about what we think we're seeing here. After Mufasa's tragic death in the wildebeest frantic stampede, Sarabi (his mate, Simba's mom, keep up) and the rest of the Pride decided to avenge him.
However, on their way to the herd's grazing ground, they come across this lost little baby. Sarabi takes mercy on the little one and decides to put a stop to the vicious cycle, opting for compassion and teaching us a thing or two about conflict resolution. Go Sarabi!
Dog and Raccoon
We know what you're thinking — are your eyes deceiving you? Is this photo some kind of clever AI creation? After all, this perfect picture of a raccoon and dog frolicking around in a meadow full of little daisies must be a dream.
Maybe you're asleep? Well, let us assure you — you are very much awake and the picture is definitely real. Some things aren't too good to be true, apparently.
Cow and Dog
Dogs are cuddly. That is an undisputed truth that everybody knows. But what about cows? There aren't many people around who would take a look at a cow and think it looks like the ideal nap partner.
Well, apparently, those people would be wrong. This doggo right here is living proof that cows can be ideal for a cozy snooze. Is there room in this cuddle puddle for us too?
Chicken and Goat
Okay, there are a few ways to explain this picture. One is that this chicken has laid one funky-looking egg. Another is that this goat is just an Uber driver transporting the chicken somewhere important.
A third option is that this is the actual proverbial chicken and it finally found someone to help it cross the road. And finally, there is the possibility of these two living on the same farm and being great friends.
Possum and Labrador
This must be the most gentle nose boop we have ever seen. So soft, so inspirational. We can already see the Netflix production based on these two!
The possum (played by Timothée Chalamet) is a gifted high school kid taking advanced college courses. He easily navigates through the intellectual challenges only to fail the social ones, and the labrador (played by Chris Pratt, obviously) is a college student helping him through those difficulties in exchange for tutoring. Bromance ensues, people tear up, credits roll, and boom. Instant blockbuster.
Dog and Chameleon
Masters of disguise, chameleons can easily hide in plain sight when in nature. You know, with all the trees and greenery and stuff. At home, though, it's a different story.
This little chameleon's camouflage skills are not best demonstrated here, but it seems to be working in a pinch anyway. After all, the pooch seems to know his friend is somewhere out there but he can't quite see where. Maybe it's their way of playing hide and seek?
St. Bernard and Duckling
This St. Bernard's name is Heidi, and her heart must be at least the size of her head. When her owner took in some little ducklings, Heidi made it her life's mission to love and protect them.
Constantly snuggling one or more of them, letting them take a ride on her back, and generally watching them whenever they need to be watched — Heidi is the perfect adoptive mother. If you ask her, all the quacking and the feathers are irrelevant.
Kitty and Ferret
The sweet feline in this picture answers to the name Godzilla (or Zilly, for short), and her human loves to adopt different critters that are lucky enough to come her way. Well, it looks like some of her human's qualities have rubbed off on her as she just can't get enough cuddles with her ferret friend, Mr. Walter.
According to her human's Instagram, Zilly is great friends with all the other furballs around the house (another cat named Thomas O'Malley and two more ferrets named Gretchen and Betty White.)
Alpaca and Goat
This goat-alpaca duo lives on a farm with more than 30 other animals, but they don't give the tiniest of hoots about any of those other ones. We wonder what these two talk about.
A few good guesses might be upkeeping their lush fur, how nice and breezy it feels after shearing day, and how ridiculous humans look wearing wool that didn't grow out of their own skin. Hey, who are we to argue with animal logic?
Donkey and Doggy
Meet Tucker the Australian Shepherd and his herd of one — Pete the mini donkey. While not belonging to the same species, these two never pass up an opportunity to be together. Especially when there's sugar involved (that little thing they're licking is a sugary treat).
Honestly, there's probably a lesson in there for humans too. Sure, we all have our differences, but give us some sweet carbs and watch those differences disappear.
Rooster and Pig
This little piggy has better things to do than going wee wee wee all the way home. As his human shares on Instagram, his name is Harry and he is an absolute snuggle monster. If you let him, he will cuddle the shizz out of you. Except for John, that little feathery friend next to him, who isn't a fan of cuddling and likes to make it known.
So, how did this picture happen exactly? John had to stay indoors because of foot problems that made it impossible for him to resist Harry and finally give in to his TLC.
Parrot and Bunny
While they're both popular pets, we wouldn't think of pairing these two in the same household. But apparently, these two could be inseparable when given the chance.
And why wouldn't they be friends, really? Sure, one is feathery and the other is furry, one can fly and the other one is doomed to live on the ground, but they have pretty much the same diet, and we all know that's the key foundation to building a good, strong friendship!
Squirrel and Basset Hound
Meet Quasimodo the squirrel and Pongo the basset hound. While hounds were originally bred and used for hunting, it doesn't seem like Quasimodo has anything to worry about.
In fact, judging by this picture, it looks like anyone who has a problem with the squirrel will have to get through his canine friend first. And Pongo won't go down without a fight — a fight any bully would surely lose.
Cat and Groundhog
In the movie "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray's character is trapped in a time loop, having to repeat the same day over and over. (And if you haven't seen the movie, you're welcome to take a break, watch this classic, and come back once you've educated yourself.)
As torturous as having to relive the same day may sound to some, if it includes seeing this sweet union of a kitty and an actual groundhog, to us, it sounds like a loop we would never want to escape.
Lurcher Dog and Ostrich Chick
Sure, the dog is bigger now, but just give it some time and the ostrich won't be able to fit into that cuddly snuggle anymore. That time should be enough time for the ostrich to be properly trained in the trade secrets of how to be a professional big spoon.
Honestly, taking a nap with an ostrich wing as a blanket sounds pretty amazing. We can't wait for the future pic of the reversed roles!
Fox and Cat
This lovely fox and cat duo is taking the word catnap to a whole other level in the best way possible. The fuzziness, the color palette, the cozy cuddle, the cushy bed — if this was our afternoon nap, we would have probably turned it into a full night's sleep.
You can count on us only waking up the next morning at the very least. (Or next weekend, if we're honest.)
Dog and Duck
The game is usually "Duck, Duck, Goose", but for these two unlikely friends we'd be happy to make an exception and play "Duck, Duck, Dog." It's a wonderful game, where you find a friend, look for a nice place where you can nap in the sun together, and then take that nap together.
Such simple rules, right? Some might say it's no fun when everybody wins, but we have a feeling that after a round or two they'll come around.
Cheetah and Golden Retriever
A mashup of the Cheetah Girls with the Pointer Sisters? Sounds like someone trying to mix pizza with ice cream — each one is cool on its own, but together they simply don't work. How could cheetahs and dogs have anything in common?
Well, one look at this picture is all you need to understand that none of this matters. These two make us wonder if we should top our next pizza with ice cream. Maybe some things only work in the animal kingdom.
Kitty and Bunny
Some people would look at this picture and think "these two don't belong together." Not us, though. We look at this picture and think these fluff balls are the perfect match.
I mean, how different are they, really? They both have four legs, funny ears, and smooth, shiny, lush fur, and they even live in the same house! They're basically twins. So what if one of them is a little more prone to hopping than the other?
Cow and Dogs
Okay, we know this article is about unlikely animal *friends*, but we actually think there is a different kind of relationship in this photo. We still haven't made up our minds completely but we narrowed it down to two options.
One is that this distinguished pack of dogs is actually the cow's posse of bodyguards. Another one is that this group is about to drop their new CD and this is the album cover.
Pig and Lizard
English doesn't have a word for that sweet sensation of having nails gently going up and down your skin. (Until some internet baby comes up with one, that is.) Maybe some kind of animal language does have a word for it.
It doesn't matter if this piggy learned this reptile's language or vice versa, it's quite obvious the two understand each other perfectly. Those tiny scritch-scratches are their ultimate pastime together.
Horse and Camel
It looks like whatever farm this pair lives on likes to compartmentalize the animal species on the premises. But no fence is going to get in the way of this friendship, no sir! So what if one of them is a camel and the other one is a horse? They can still have so many things in common.
Just look at them and their shameless whispering, these two must be exchanging trade secrets on racing and having humans on their backs.
Guinea Pig and Hedgehog
What does your hair care routine look like? These things take years of trial and error to perfect for humans. However, this guinea pig, with all of this fabulous luscious fur, must have a thorough hair care routine.
And we are sure the little hedgehog friend is part of this routine. How exactly? Well, how do you think this stylish coat gets brushed? With the gentle care of the friend's spikes of course!
Horse and Cat
It took us a while but we saw the cat in there eventually. These two friends were so perfectly aligned that at first it just looked like the horse just had a big black spot on his neck!
The person who was lucky enough to document this moment tells us that the horse's name is Champy and that his feline friend, Morris, likes to smooch his eyelashes. Apparently, there are plans to put their picture in a pinup calendar. We'll take 100 copies, please!
Monkey and Dog
Oh, cool, piggyback ride! Or should we say doggy back ride? Either way, it looks like a really fun ride. This spider monkey answers to the name Keke, and it looks like one of her favorite places to be is on her dog friend's back.
This arrangement looks comfy as all that is good and pure. Also, we bet being wrapped in the sweet embrace of a fuzzy friend is as comforting as anything deep-fried and covered in chocolate.
Dog and Chicken
These two sweet friends (Gus the dog and Lucky the chicken, if you're into names) taking a nap on a rainy day give us all the cozy vibes possible. Add a fireplace, a fuzzy sweater, or a cup of hot cocoa and we just might explode.
Okay, maybe not explode, but we just might get too comfortable to ever get up. And we do want to (eventually) get up. We have Pilates.
Dog and Fox
Wait, hold up. You are seeing what we are seeing, right? A fox and a dog being best friends, napping and frolicking around on the grass? Does this image ring any bells? Any old-school Disney fans out there are sure to get the reference.
You want to tell us that Disney's "The Fox and the Hound" is REAL? We mean, sure, these are a fox and a shepherd of some kind, but movies take creative license all the time, right?
Dog and Ferret
Take a look at Mishka the dog. She is a Burmese mountain dog who lives with her human, Christine, in Australia. Now take a look at Jerry the ferret. That's the little fuzzy one with his head sticking out of the box. He lives with his human, Susan, in Australia too.
Taking after their human owners, these two furry creatures are enjoying spending time with each other. Honestly, why wouldn't they? We know we would enjoy spending time with them.
Lioness and Bear
What are the chances of a lioness meeting a sun bear? Slim to none. Now, what are the chances of the two becoming besties? Even lower. Now, what are the chances of one of them being albino? About 0.00000002% (sure, the number is legit. Don't look it up, though.)
What we're looking at is a statistical anomaly of the first degree! Who knew statistics can be so gosh darn cute?
Rhino and a River Hog
We can see that. I mean, if you squint a little, it kinda looks like a rhino with a baby rhino. (A rhino calf? Do they call baby rhinos calves? *quick Google* Yes, they do!)
But the smaller creature here has nothing to do with rhinos. Not genetically, anyway. River hogs are, in fact, more closely related to pigs, which is why they are also nicknamed bushpigs.
Hippo and Tortoise
The irony here is not in the sweet friendship between the two creatures here. It's that the green fella on the left is called a "giant tortoise". Yeah, it's significantly bigger than your average pet tortoise, but we wonder if it knows that the water-loving friend on the right will eventually be tank-sized.
Sure, they are about the same size now, but you just wait. Soon enough, that hippo will be so big the tortoise could ride its back with room to spare.
Frog and Crocodile
The person who took the picture called it a "jawsome" friendship, and honestly, we're kind of mad we didn't think about this first. Like, we know it's not really possible given how time works (until time machines become a thing, anyway), but still.
The person who snapped the picture says that these two were lounging around in the sun together for more than five minutes! That's a long time to be hanging around with something you normally consider dinner.
Baboon and Bushbaby
While commonly nicknamed bushbaby, this animal goes by Galagos to anyone who knows what they're talking about. But honestly, look at this one here adopted by a female baboon, and tell us that's not her actual baby in this picture.
While these two normally don't normally meet in the wild, they were able to meet and form a special connection in an African animal orphanage in Kenya.
Cameroon Sheep and a Black Domestic Rabbit
This is it. That is the thing we didn't know we needed to take our napping experience to the extreme. No, we aren't talking about a cuddle buddy, there's nothing new about that.
We're talking about using a bunny pillow. No, not a bunny-shaped pillow, but an actual bunny to snuggle up with. This sheep cracked the code and is living the dream WHILE dreaming!
Cat and Squirrel
Okay, this story is just too cute. The cat here is named Pusha and she raises four adopted children alongside her own kittens. When the keepers of the miniature park where she lives came across four tiny squirrels who lost their mother, they made the match, and now all the furbabies are living as siblings.
They love playing together, napping together, and even nursing together! (Though the adopted squirrels do get supplement milk from their human keepers.)
Wolf and Goat
Um, hello, UpsideDownLand? Yes, we'd like to report an escape. What's that? Oh yes, we've spotted a wolf-goat friendship that's looking a little sus. If you can come and take them back soon that'd be great. Why sus? Well, because predators and prey shouldn't be getting along so well!
On second thought, maybe we can try to make sense of this one. Wolves are canines. They are the forefathers of modern dogs. Dogs have been herding sheep for ages. Sheep and goats are sort of related. So this wolf-goat friendship is basically a bodyguard situation, right?
Brown Bear and Gray Wolf
Gah, just look at this picture. It can easily be a movie poster. The plot would be about the surprising bond formed between two friends as they go on a journey of self-discovery and salmon fishing in the forests of Scandinavia.
Oh, and we even have the perfect title. This one is for you literature nerds out there. Ready? BearWolf! (Non-literature nerds are welcome to Google Beowulf to get the reference.)
Brown Bear and Dog
This little brown bear (we know it's gray, apparently they change color as they grow) wandered into the backyard of a Slovenian family. Going against all human instinct, they decided to adopt it and pretend it was not going to become a thousand-pound beast with claws that can easily cut through human skin.
In no time, the bear and the family dog became BFFs, which will probably be pretty heartbreaking when the veterinary authorities move it to a wildlife shelter.
Monkey and Tiger
Tiger King who? No one can rule over a tiger. If there's something we learn from this picture it's that tigers answer to no one.
They will roam whatever part of the jungle they please, swim in whatever river they please, and scratch whatever tree they please. And if they want to befriend a monkey, well, they will darn well befriend a monkey!
Monkey and Cat
People who say that cats are cold and unaffectionate have obviously never seen this picture. Just look at this beautiful feline enjoying some monkey lovin' in the sunshine!
And what is that the monkey is munching on? Considering this picture was taken in Thailand, we assume it's something tropical and sweet. Oh, to be a monkey cuddling a kitty enjoying a sweet treat! What pure bliss.
Cat and Lizard
These are Miles and Oscar. The fact that Miles has fur and Oscar has scales has not once come between them.
As their human testifies, it actually helps them bond as the cat enjoys rubbing his face on the lizard's spiky bits for a nice brushing session. Oscar, on his part, enjoys the hugs and rubs. After all, it's not like his own kind is very cuddly.
Dog and Snake
Our first thought was that something wasn't right here. A dog and a snake? This warm-blood / cold-blood relationship seems odd but it looks like they are getting along surprisingly well regardless.
Then again, maybe it shouldn't be that surprising, after all, isn't that the whole premise of Twilight? And this franchise made millions! Now, where is the best-selling novel about this pair?
Impala and Warthog
This picture was taken in a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. The impalas at the sanctuary are all for inclusion, so when a little warthog came in they didn't think twice before accepting him as one of their own.
After all, the requirements are pretty easy to meet: 1. Look adorable. 2. Be chill. 3. Engage in cuddles. Where do we sign up?
Horse and Dog
The big brown guy here is name Clarence and his human states that he's her best friend. However, she also states that Elsa, the small (well, smaller, anyway) white one, is HIS best friend, which puts an awkward spin on things...
Still, we guess the human here has the upper hand here given that she does the feeding and grooming and pays the vet bills. You know, anything that has to do with keeping the other two alive. The furries should consider THAT next time they rank friendships.
Hamster and Dog
This sweet pooch is wearing its best friend as a hat. Definitely worthy of Paris Fashion Week. Or maybe this is a "Ratatouille" situation?
Maybe, by pulling just the right hair on the dog's head, the hamster can control its actions. This would turn it from a picture of a dog wearing a hamster hat to a picture of a hamster driving a dog!