Few things are cuter than hearing the sound of paws hitting the floor when your dog runs to greet you at the door or watching your cat purr lovingly in your lap. While a pet—any pet—is a huge responsibility, they are also an immense joy, a part of the family, making life just a little bit more exciting when they’re around; which, in some cases, can be up to 10, 15, or even 20 years.

Today, we want to celebrate the beloved pets that accompany their owners through many ups and downs over the years. We have put together a list of some of the cutest ‘then and now’ pics of critters posing with their favorite humans, showing just how loyal and loving they are; so scroll down to find the pictures below, but view them at your own risk – some of them might simply be too cute.

Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with Dr. Anastasia Stellato, an Assistant Professor in Companion Animal Science at Texas Tech University, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about the human-animal bond.

#1 The Ratio Of Dog To Boy Stayed Constant, That’s So Cute

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#2 Received My Cat, Chandni, For My 10th Birthday. I Turned 30 Yesterday, So We Celebrated 20 Years Together

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#3 10 And 15 Years Later. My Old Pal Is Still Going Strong

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As much as I would hate to admit it, we all know that life with pets is not always fun. There are times when they cause serious problems, be it because of their habit to chew on something expensive, or their tendency to rip apart whatever important document they can find. Moreover, there’s always the stress of having to take them to the vet if need be or the total heartbreak once it’s time to say your goodbyes.

Be that as it may, all of the positives arguably outweigh the negatives; otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many choosing to share their home with a pet. According to the 2024 APPA (American Pet Products Association) National Pet Owners Survey, as many as 82 million households in the US own a pet.

#4 How I Met My Human

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#5 Mojo And I In 2005 And 2024. This Year, He Turns 20 And I Turn 50

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According to the aforementioned survey, dogs are by far the most popular choice, as they can be found in roughly 58 million households around the country; the second most popular pet, cats, can be found in as many as 40 million of them. If you were wondering – next on the list are freshwater fish, reptiles, birds and other small animals, and horses respectively.

#6 Then And Now. 1996 vs. 2013

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#7 My Dog Lexi Is Turning 10 Soon. Through College, 3 Cities, 2 Apartments, And Our First Real House - Anywhere We Go, We Go Together

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#8 Me And My Cat Shadow Then And Now, 19 Years Later

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Discussing what makes dogs and cats such common choices for people looking for a pet, Assistant Professor in Companion Animal Science at Texas Tech University, Dr. Anastasia Stellato suggested that the two offer companionship and have the capability to live easily in our homes and be integrated within our varied lifestyles.

“In this way, they can live alongside us within our family units and take part in our day-to-day tasks and adventures, such as road trips, travel, social events, or hikes, for instance. In addition to a variety of other reasons, I believe this may explain why they are more popular compared to other animals,” the expert told Bored Panda.

#9 My Best Friend Has Survived Cancer Twice And Made It To 15 Years Old This Week

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#10 Fifteen Years Later, Still Best Friends

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#11 Even After 10 Years, Some Things Never Change

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Having a companion for all sorts of activities, from hiking and road trips to snuggling on the sofa, is just one of the many benefits of sharing a home with a pet. “Research has found that brief interactions with companion animals can lead to improvement in mood,” Dr. Stellato told Bored Panda, naming another perk of such an arrangement.

“[In addition to that,] owning a pet has been associated with reduced stress, improved physical health (cardiovascular health and survival rates), mental health (reduced feelings of loneliness, reduced reports of depression), and improved social skills and self-esteem.”

#12 Me And My Baby Boy On The First Night We Ever Met And Now 12 Years Later. Haven't Missed A Single Night Snuggling To Sleep While At Home With Him, Not Once

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#13 He’s Given Me 19 Years Of Love

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#14 Photos Are 6 Years Apart. They're Such A Sweet Pair

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While there are many positives that come from owning a pet, it’s not only humans that benefit from such a friendship. According to Dr. Stellato, owners provide their pets with secure attachments, routine, and guide them through the world while accommodating the environment and interactions to suit their needs, consequently maximizing their welfare.

“Promoting their welfare involves creating opportunities for positive experiences while reducing the negative experiences,” she explained, adding that research also found that animals experience an increase in oxytocin—happy hormone—during certain interactions with humans.

#15 17 Years Later, Dodger The Doxie Is On His Way To Outlive The Whole Family

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#16 I Got Photos Taken Of Me And My 13-Year-Old Dogs To Recreate Some Old Ones For Christmas

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#17 Prom And Wedding Day, 16 Years Apart! Beaker Has Been With Me Through Milestones, Heartaches, Celebrations, And Challenges. She's 19 Now And Still My Favorite Girl

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While any person can arguably benefit from having a loyal friend, such as a dog, a cat, or a reptile, for that matter, it is arguably especially important for kids and young adults.

In the interview with Bored Panda, Dr. Stellato emphasized that that is not only because of the aforementioned positive aspects of a strong human-animal bond, but also because it helps kids develop a sense of responsibility.

“A sense of responsibility is achieved when they are held accountable to care for another being, especially when taught and expected to perform responsible pet care, such as cleaning, walking, feeding, grooming, or training.”

#18 17 Years Together

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#19 20 Years Of Love

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#20 My Cat And Me 14 Years Ago vs. Us Today

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Chances are, quite a few pet owners in these pictures became more responsible because of the creatures that depended on them. What is even more likely is that they probably got to enjoy endless hours of playtime, scenic walks, and snuggles, with their friends, which ought to have increased their own levels of oxytocin, too.

#21 True Love, 13 Years Later

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#22 He’s Been My Comfort From Beginning To End

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#23 Best Friends Then And Now, 18 Years Later

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#24 13 Years Later, My Dog Still Does This To Me When I Lay On The Floor

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#25 A Picture Of My Cat And Me 12 Years Apart. 2009 vs. 2021

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#26 Today I Said Goodbye To My 15-Year-Old Cat That Grew Up With Me. Love You, Pumpkin

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#27 From Crazy 4-Month-Old Rescue To 8-Year-Old Medical Alert/Response Service Dog. My Best Friend And Lifeline

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#28 My Dog And I, 15 Years Apart. The Day We Met, And The Day We Said Goodbye

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#29 4 Years Later, Still A Smitten Kitten

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#30 Wiggles And I 13+ Years Later

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#31 It's This Little Diva's Birthday Today! She Was My Birthday Present 18 Years Ago

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#32 When We Brought Her Home, And 22 Years Later

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#33 My Cat Ralf And Me In The Same Place, 20 Years Later. She Was A Bit Grumpy During The Photoshoot

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#34 17 Years Of Unconditional Love

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#35 Little Guy Wouldn’t Let Me Hold Him This Year, But Here’s Another Year Later

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#36 Me And My Best Friend, Fuzzy, 11 Years Apart

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#37 My Cat And I, Pictures Taken 18 Years Apart

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#38 22 Years And Counting

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#39 I Had To Say Goodbye To My 19-Year-Old Childhood Cat Ophelia. I’m Making This Post To Memorialize Her Because She Is So Special To Me And Has Such A Big Place In My Heart

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#40 They Grow Up So Quick

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#41 Me And My Sweet Girl, Taz. Been My Best Friend For 19 Years And Counting

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#42 Growing Girls, One Year Apart

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#43 Growing Old Together. 2001 vs. 2021

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#44 10 Years Goes By Fast

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#45 14 Years Later. Me And My Pup

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#46 10 Years Later We Still Love This Book

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#47 Got My Best Friend 10 Years Ago Yesterday

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#48 Almost 4 Years With Daisy

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#49 Me And My Dog After 11 Years, Best Friends Forever

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#50 17 Years With My Beautiful Pup

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