Cutest animals on the planet

The most popular pet around the world by population is the domestic cat. In 2006 there were staggering 202 million cats being kept as pets around the world, with 93 million cats living in 38 million American households in 2008.

First domesticated around 7500 BCE, cats have gained in popularity because of their both their ability to adapt to high rise living for urban owners, and their pest controlling talents for those living in rural areas. They are affectionate companions who have spread throughout the world, following their owners as mankind scattered around the globe.

Although in the United States there were 45 million households with dogs in 2008, worldwide they are the #2 pet of choice. The most recent data for world dog ownership is for 2006, and shows there are 171 million dogs living as pets around the globe.

The American Kennel Club recognizes over 200 different breeds of dogs, ranging from Toy Poodles that nearly fit in your pocket to Saint Bernards that can weigh in at 175 lbs. Dogs are loyal, affectionate and have been mankind???s constant companion for millennia. They are companions, guardians, workers and helpers, though for many they are also a terrible source of allergies.

Coming in as the third most popular pet are freshwater fish. Popular throughout the world, the largest population of goldfish, guppies and other aquarium dwellers is the United States, which had 170 million fish hanging out in over 13 million houses, doctor???s offices and other locations in 2006. In the UK, 24 million fish were kept as pets that year.

Though less affectionate than their furry or feathered counterparts, fish hobbyists are very attached to their aquatic companions, enjoying them for their calm beauty rather than their quality as company.

This is the catch all category for a host of fuzzy mammals, including ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and many other cuddly creatures. Over five million American families own a small animal and in the United Kingdom the number of households is over two million.

From buck toothed bunnies to anything small enough to fit in a hamster ball, there were nearly 16 million small animals kept as pets in the USA in 2008, and the numbers are growing. Their often inexpensive purchase price and small size make them great children???s pets, at least until they get away and start making a nest in the kitchen cupboard.

Cuddling love birds, homing pigeons, budgies and talkative Macaws all fall into this next category. Birds are one of the most popular pet choices in the world. In 2006 the Chinese had more than 71 million pet birds, making it the country with the most feathered friends. The United States was estimated to have over 18 million birds kept in more than 5 million homes.

Like their very distant reptile kin, birds can be relatively small and require little in the way of food and space, making them an enjoyable companion far less likely to traumatize your neighbors then a 6 foot boa constrictor.

Though not the choice for everyone, some people love their lizards, turtles & snakes. In the USA 4.7 million households claim a cold blooded critter as part of the family. From the tiny gecko lizard to full grown alligators, reptiles are a growing part of the pet trade.

Though ownership of an exotic pet like a reptile often requires a special license, and they require their own special handling and care, reptiles are popular for a number of reasons. Their lack of fur or dander makes them a better choice for owners with allergies and they do not require daily walks or for the most part large pens or areas to roam. They also eat less often than Fido or Fluffy.

At first, you might think this animal is a giant ball of fluff, but there really is a rabbit in there. These large rabbits were bred specifically for the fluffiness. There are four recognized breeds, as well as several unrecognized breeds. They range from WTF fluffy (English), pretty fluffy (French, Satin) to large, but not super fluffy (Giant).

These mammals are the most adorable members the family Erinaceidae (mostly hedgehogs), even though it is filled with cute critters. You probably have seen one of these before or at least know how they look like. They are vaguely rodent-like mammals that have many small spines on their back. They can roll into a ball to protect themselves. This particular hedgehog has been domesticated, so you can have one for a pet without too much trouble.

The harp seal or saddleback seal is a species of earless seal native to the northernmost Atlantic Ocean and adjacent parts of the Arctic Ocean. It now belongs to the monotypic genus Pagophilus. Its scientific name, Pagophilus groenlandicus, means "ice-lover from Greenland", and its synonym, Phoca groenlandica means "Greenland seal". Originally in the genus Phoca with a number of other species, it has since been reclassified into its own genus Pagophilus.

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens, or shining-cat), is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It feeds mainly on bamboo, but is omnivorous and may also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day.
The red panda has been classified as Vulnerable by IUCN because its population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. Although red pandas are protected by national laws in their range countries, their numbers in the wild continue to decline mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression.

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (30 to 100 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter lives mostly in the ocean.

Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct. Three species of elephant are universally recognized: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant and the Indian or Asian elephant; some researchers also postulate the existence of a fourth species in West Africa. All other species and genera of Elephantidae are extinct. Most have been extinct since the last ice age, although dwarf forms of mammoths might have survived as late as 2,000 BCE. Elephants and other Elephantidae were once classified with other thick-skinned animals in a now invalid order, Pachydermata.

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae.
The koala is found in coastal regions of eastern and southern Australia, from Adelaide to the southern part of Cape York Peninsula. Populations also extend for considerable distances inland in regions with enough moisture to support suitable woodlands. The koalas of South Australia were largely exterminated during the early part of the 20th century, but the state has since been repopulated with Victorian stock. The koala is not found in Tasmania or Western Australia.

Rabbits (or, colloquially, bunnies) are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. There are eight different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cottontail rabbits (genus Sylvilagus; 13 species), and the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, an endangered species on Amami Ōshima, Japan). There are many other species of rabbit, and these, along with pikas and hares, make up the order Lagomorpha. The male is called a buck and the female is a doe; a young rabbit is a kitten or kit.

he domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in human history.

The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests. Cats have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years, and are currently the most popular pet in the world.

The Tamandua lives in Central & South America. Its diet consist mostly of ants which it eats with its enormous tongue, but in captivity it will eat fruits & meat.

The Bengal Cat it the result of crossing a regular domestic feline with an Asian leopard cat and its temperament is as gentle as a household cat.

The Bush Baby is a very curious little nocturnal primate on the list of endangered species native of Africa.

The wallaby originates from Australia. It is a very gentle animal and although similar to a Kangaroo it is much smaller.

the squirrel monkey is an adorable little primate that lives in the forest of Central and South America.

The Patagonian Cavy lives in Argentina & Patagonia. It looks like a mixed between a dear and a rabbit! The Patagonian Cavy spends it’s entire life with the same partner!

The Sugar Glider is native of Australia, like its name suggest, it glides between tress and although it resembles the flying squirrel, they are not closely related.

The Spotted Genet can be found in the Middle East, in Europe and Spain. It is a very handsome feline looking animal that is quite popular as an exotic pet in the USA.