Have we got a treat for you, dear Pandas! We know that many of you are huge fans of cuteness, so Bored Panda has taken the time to collect some of the most magical photos of animal friendship to warm up your hearts. From best buds of the same species to unexpected friendships blossoming between members of different kinds, you’re about to see that love, respect, and the desire to have fun can transcend appearances and genes.

As you scroll down, remember to upvote your favorite pics, and be sure to share this list with anyone who you think is in need of some cheering up. Got any photos of your pets getting along? Share ‘em in the comment section. (Pssst—we’ve got some more adorable animal friendship posts for you to lose yourself in right here, here, and here.)

Arizona Humane Society’s Pet Behavior and Pet Training Manager Jenny Dagnino told Bored Panda that social relationships between animals of different species are common. Read on for more of Dagnino’s insights.

#1 Little And Large

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#2 My Friend’s Cat And Rat Are Best Buddies

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#3 Best Buddies

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AHS’ Pet Behavior and Pet Training Manager Dagnino said that pets like dogs and cats are social animals and usually prefer the company of other animals and people. “It is safe to assume that animals who do have social relationships with other species likely had exposure to them during an early stage in their development, or had interactions over a long period of time that were positive for them,” she said.

“At the Arizona Humane Society, we have opportunities to pair animals of the same species (dogs with dogs, cats with cats) to provide some more social interaction, and sometimes it can provide a shy animal some comfort,” Dagnino explained.

What’s more, the AHS team can provide adopters with some tips for pet adopters to help introduce new rescue animals to their new forever homes in a way that’s safe and comfortable for all the pets involved. You can find some helpful tips and tricks right here.

#4 Cheetah And Doggo Stayed Best Friends From The Start!

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#5 These Best Friends. Even The Look In His Eyes Is Adorable

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#6 Meet Mickey And John, They’re Best Friends

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Dagnino confirmed to Bored Panda that cats and dogs can get along together and even show affection toward each other. “But their ability or inclination to do this is affected by both animals’ experiences in early development and maintained by positive or negative experiences during their lifetime, even genetics,” she warned.

Mutually beneficial friendships between different species can occur naturally (like badgers hunting together with foxes or coyotes), but some close bonds blossomed because of us—human beings.

Humans domesticating animals has created the foundation for some interspecies cooperation and friendships that otherwise would most likely never have come about. So you can see friendships blossoming between animals that live with or near humans. Ever been to a farm or a zoo? You’ll know what we mean, then.

#7 Today, At Doggy Daycare, My Dog Made A New Best Friend!

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#8 Give Us Back Our Friend

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#9 My Girlfriends Horse Got A New Friend

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That’s not to say that cats and dogs will suddenly become best amigos, but it does mean they’re more likely to get along (or at least tolerate one another) because they’re constantly around each other.

Animals of different species communicate with each other both verbally and non-verbally. Just like we can try and interpret what a dog is telling us, a dog can try understanding what its duck/cat/cheetah buddy is trying to say. Meanwhile, some species of monkeys have been known to communicate with one another by sounding alarm calls whenever danger is near. However, bonds aren’t always purely utilitarian.

The basis for friendship can be pretty much anything, but one of the most common ways it starts is through having fun. When animals play together, they get closer, and can become friends, eventually. It’s not that different for human beings!

#10 Bubbles The African Elephant And Bella The Black Labrador

Image credits: Barry Bland

#11 Rescue Fox And A Bulldog Become Inseparable And Form A Real-Life “The Fox And The Hound” Friendship

Image credits: Kennedy News and Media

#12 Shere Khan, Baloo And Leo

Image credits: Barcroft Media

#13 Torque The Dog And Shrek The Owl

Image credits: Solent News and Photos

#14 Meet Herman, The Flightless Pigeon And His Best Friend Lundy, The Chihuahua Who Can’t Walk

Image credits: Mia Foundation

#15 Friendship Through The Toughest Of Times

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#16 Friendship Is A Very Beautiful Thing

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#17 These Horses Always Come For A Kiss Whenever We Walk Past

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#18 Buddies

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#19 Making New Friends

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#20 Ingo The Dog And His Owl Friend

Image credits: tanjabrandt

#21 Cat And Fox Are Best Friends

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#22 Best Friends

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#23 New “Sisters” And Already Best Friends

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#24 A Pelican Befriended A Stray Dog Who Was Often Spotted Hanging Out All Alone Along The Boat Docks. The Man Who Photographed This Has Adopted Him But Brings Him Back Every Day To See His Friend, Petey The Pelican

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#25 He Made A New Friend At Doggy Day Care

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#26 The Start Of An Awwesome Friendship!

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#27 Rare Friendships Are The Best Friendships

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#28 Welcome To This Beautiful, Unlikely Friendship.

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#29 Family Isn’t Always Blood

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#30 I Went To The Shelter To Adopt A Dog, And I Found Those Two In This Posture, I Couldn’t Separate Them So I End Up Adopting Both Of Them

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#31 Tinni The Dog And Sniffer The Wild Fox

Image credits: Torgeir Berge

#32 Mani The Wild Boar Piglet And Candy The Dog

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#33 Best Friends

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#34 Our Neighbor Sent Me This Adorable Display Of Pure Joy Between Our Dogs. They Finally Got Him A Stool So He Could Greet His Big Friend Properly

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#35 Goat And Sheep Friends

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#36 We Adopted A New Cat Not Knowing They’d Become Inseparable

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#37 Dog And Crow Are Best Friends

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#38 Now This Was An Unexpected Friendship

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#39 Friendship Goals

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#40 Dog And Raccoon Friendship

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#41 They Don’t Let Species Get In The Way Of Their Friendship

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#42 My Lamb And Kitty Shared A Kiss This Morning

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#43 Unusual Friendship

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#44 My Aunts Goat Thinks It’s A Dog. It Wont Associate With The Other Goats And Only Hangs Out With The Dogs

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#45 Anjana The Chimpanzee And Tiger Cubs

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#46 Cat And Goat

#47 Golden Retriever And An Abandoned Kitty

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#48 Best Friends Playing

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#49 Best Friends

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#50 Dog And Newly Rescued Calf Who Are Best Friends At The Gentle Barn

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#51 An Unexpected Friendship

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#52 Friendship Goals

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#53 Unexpected Friendships Are The Best Ones

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#54 Comforting A Friend

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#55 Magpie Mike’s Favourite Perch Is His Best Friend Boo

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#56 The Beautiful Friendship Of A Senior And A New Pup – Even Though 15 Years Tell Them Apart

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#57 “A Rare Friendship Developed Between A Gray Wolf And Brown Bear”

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#58 Best Friends

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#59 Friendship Between A Horse And Husky

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#60 Baby Elephant And Ostrich’s Friendship

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#61 Azizi + Storm = Cuddle Time

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#62 What It’s Gonna Look Like When I Finally Meet My Friends

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#63 We Just Picked Up Two Stray Kittens And They Are Already Best Friends!

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#64 Aww Just Best Two Friends

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#65 You’re Gonna Be My New Friend Pup

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#66 Best Friends Sleep Like This

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#67 We Were Declined By One Rescue Because We Had A German Shepherd, So We Adopted From The Spca And They Are Best Friends!

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#68 Cat Comforting His Friend At The Vet

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#69 Friends Know How To Share

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#70 Doggo & Cow Friendship

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#71 Best Friends

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#72 My Dog And Goose Are Best Friends. My Goose Constantly Grooms My Dog

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#73 An Unusual Friendship

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#74 Best Friends

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#75 The Beginning Of A New Friendship

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#76 Best Of Friends

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#77 My Cat And My Roommate’s Dog Are So Sweet Together

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#78 Who Would Have Thought

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#79 These Two Are Always Together At Freedom Farm Sanctuary

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#80 The Best Of Friends

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#81 Pup Decided To Join Kitty

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#82 Duck And A Dog

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#83 Best Friends Already

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#84 You’ve Got A Friend In Me

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#85 My Sister’s Cat And Turtle Are The Best Of Friends

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Source: boredpanda.com