That's why you don't let the puppy sleep on your head
February 25, 2014 7:00 PM   Subscribe

22 Adorable Before And After Pictures Of Animals Growing Up
Pets and people share a very special bond when they grow up together, which is why we’ve compiled a list of pictures of people and their pets growing up and sometimes growing old together.

Because of their shorter lifespans, dogs, cats and other domestic animals tend to grow out of their juvenile forms relatively quickly. In a few months, that cute and doofy puppy that’s tripping all over himself will be galloping between your legs enthusiastically, and in a few months more he or she will be approaching their adult size. Their growing bodies and maturity help put the changes in our own lives into perspective as well. It also helps us appreciate the fact that they spend their lives by our sides as our faithful companions.

Their shorter lifespans also mean that our beloved pets will invariably become a beautiful lesson in both love and loss. Watching your furry childhood friend grow old and die is a harrowing and sorrowful but also natural and potentially enlightening part of life. Of course, that might not be the case for the guy with the tortoise – although their lives are drastically shorter in captivity, a pet that can live for a century or more certainly has a chance to outlive its owner.

So let’s celebrate our pets’ short but loving and meaningful lives by checking out these cool images of them growing up!
posted by Lexica (47 comments total) 33 users marked this as a favorite
 
Audible "awwww'' s all around!
posted by honor the agreement at 7:04 PM on February 25, 2014 [2 favorites]


I particularly love the ones of both human and animal done years apart. Watching the kids grow up is almost, I said almost, as cute as the animals.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:07 PM on February 25, 2014 [4 favorites]


Those pictures display one of my favorite things about boxers. The ability to nap comfortably no matter what's piled on top of them.
posted by bswinburn at 7:10 PM on February 25, 2014 [3 favorites]


So. Damn. Cute.
posted by Scientist at 7:21 PM on February 25, 2014


D'awww! I can't find any of Nellie's baby pictures.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:23 PM on February 25, 2014


There was so much Cute glued to my face after watching this that I walked into a wall and stuck to it.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:25 PM on February 25, 2014 [5 favorites]


This serves as a great reminder that I need to go hug my 6-year-old baby kittens.
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 7:29 PM on February 25, 2014 [2 favorites]


Ooh ooh Kenda as a 7-week-old pup (her shelter picture) and now as a 5-year-old. One of her ears stood up as she grew.

I don't have any puppy pictures of my other dog, Maeby, because she was an adult when I found her, lost and very hungry in the backcountry of the Smoky Mountains. She has put on about ten pounds since then and she's thriving now.
posted by workerant at 7:43 PM on February 25, 2014 [24 favorites]


Animals' lives aren't too short, ours are too long. At least sometimes.
posted by tommasz at 7:44 PM on February 25, 2014 [7 favorites]


It really is poignant to see the tiny kids becoming almost-adults but their pups and kittens becoming elderly.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:44 PM on February 25, 2014 [17 favorites]


It's interesting to see the dogs who can no longer fit into their favorite puppyhood cubbies. I remember the day our labrador's skull got too big to fit under the bottom rungs of his favorite napping-under chair. He knocked the thing over again and again trying to fit. I never knew this was so common.
posted by vytae at 7:46 PM on February 25, 2014 [2 favorites]



Ooh ooh Kenda as a 7-week-old pup (her shelter picture) and now as a 5-year-old. One of her ears stood up as she grew.


I was not prepared for how cute that would be. Both those pics are like max cute. The lil tail captured midwag in the first one. And the sticky up ear in the second.
posted by sweetkid at 7:53 PM on February 25, 2014 [10 favorites]


That makes me want to get a turtle.
posted by whoaali at 7:57 PM on February 25, 2014 [4 favorites]


It's interesting to see the dogs who can no longer fit into their favorite puppyhood cubbies.

Our beloved lab mix, gone from and sorely missed for 8 years now, started curled on a little corner of a cat bed, grew to fill it and finally to spill out of it, and in the end to rest her chin in it.

She had a similar progression from running in and out of the cat door to barely being able to get her nose into it.

She always loved cat toys, too. Maybe she was a bit surprised she kept growing?

*heart hurting now*
posted by bearwife at 8:01 PM on February 25, 2014 [13 favorites]


This is one of my favorites of that type, from Cute Overload: a girl and her sulcata.
posted by tavella at 8:17 PM on February 25, 2014 [2 favorites]


I know it ain't nothing but a number, but it feels especially poignant when you have a pet across an entire decade of your life. I got my dear pup Sneaker while I was in my twenties, and lost her just a few months ago in my fourties. I know it would have been the same 14 years had got her earlier in my twenties and lost her in my thirties, but dammit, if there isn't something that feels, I don't know, epic when their journey with you straddles an entire decade and you see that first digit of your age change thrice in your time together.
posted by sourwookie at 8:23 PM on February 25, 2014 [5 favorites]


Eeeeee baaaaaaabiiiieeeeeesssssssss
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 8:44 PM on February 25, 2014


Did anyone notice that crazy cat with different colors for each eye? It's the grey and white calico with a blue eye about a third of the way down the page. Never seen that before.
posted by Edgewise at 9:22 PM on February 25, 2014


Edgewise, that's called Heterochromia. It happens in people as well as cats (and other creatures too)!
posted by Mizu at 9:32 PM on February 25, 2014


You know what's ridiculous? That animals as complex as cats and dogs can grow THAT MUCH in just a few months time. Metabolic processes are amazing, man.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:57 PM on February 25, 2014 [3 favorites]


Ha. That turtle/tortoise one is awesome just because it's so unexpected.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:18 PM on February 25, 2014


It really is poignant to see the tiny kids becoming almost-adults but their pups and kittens becoming elderly.

It's the fucking definition of "poignant".
posted by mr_roboto at 10:39 PM on February 25, 2014 [7 favorites]


If you're in need of a bit of cheer after some of those sadder photos, the article that came up when I read this from another source was 30 Cats Who Have Mastered The Art Of Sleep-Fu and it is filled with hilarious and cute kitties of all types.
posted by librarylis at 10:49 PM on February 25, 2014


Additionally, 50 Pets in Dinosaur Costumes.
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 11:01 PM on February 25, 2014


30 Cats Who Have Mastered The Art Of Sleep-Fu

Link is B0rked.

Curse you.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:09 AM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Here is my little Figlet at 4 months and 8 years..

(He lets me use his name for my MetaFilter handle, in exchange for a monthly ration of treats)
posted by Fig at 3:25 AM on February 26, 2014 [4 favorites]


30 Cats Who Have Mastered The Art Of Sleep-Fu (fixed link)
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:46 AM on February 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


Something must be done before the cats continue to grow at this alarming rate and take over the world.
posted by ootsocsid at 3:52 AM on February 26, 2014


WHO'S A KITTY? WHO'S A KITTYY?

the one on the left
posted by mcstayinskool at 5:43 AM on February 26, 2014


a beautiful lesson in both love and loss

Nothing effing beautiful about still missing my dog, C., two decades after he went. Too soon, man, too soon.
posted by kariebookish at 5:46 AM on February 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


Zhora, a couple of hours old (not sure which grublet she is tho)
Nineteen days old
Seven weeks
Four and a half months
About 18 months, last week, after her first qualifying agility run
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:44 AM on February 26, 2014 [4 favorites]




Why did the golden lab's eye colors change from bright blue to brown?
posted by bbqturtle at 6:55 AM on February 26, 2014


Human babies do that, too.
posted by phunniemee at 7:22 AM on February 26, 2014


Oh and this isn't really related to the theme at all but people need to see it because it's the best picture of the best doggies.

This is Truman this past Christmas with my brother's dog Sadie.
posted by phunniemee at 7:44 AM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


God I love Truman; I was hoping he'd make an appearance in this thread.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:10 AM on February 26, 2014 [2 favorites]


Why doesn't Truman have his own flickr page or instagram or whatever it is dogs have? I would follow!
posted by janey47 at 9:17 AM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


You can always be my friend on facebook! It's mostly pictures of him. (I'm way too lazy to do anything else. I used to regularly post youtube videos but I crapped out on that, too.)
posted by phunniemee at 9:19 AM on February 26, 2014


Truman is also making a guest appearance in AskMe, so it's a pretty good day for me. I have several dogs of my own, and two border terrier friends 5 minutes away, so I don't know why I'm crushing so hard on Truman. The heart wants what the heart wants.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:01 AM on February 26, 2014 [2 favorites]


Is Truman a mutt? He's adorable! That face!
posted by feste at 10:02 AM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Truman is a border terrier! Border terriers are awesome.

I can't believe Truman has such a fan club! I am so happy right now, guys!

p.s. Here's a bonus picture of the time he got stuck in a bra.
posted by phunniemee at 10:10 AM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Truman might be the final straw that gets me to join facebook. Give Truman a big slobbery kiss from me!

Little Kiwi and Cosgrove occasionally get stuck in the handles of handle bags, but it's usually traumatic. Truman looks slightly bewildered but not at all freaked out.
posted by janey47 at 10:18 AM on February 26, 2014


Stewie at 6 weeks and at 15 months, doing his patented We Are Not Amused look.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:28 AM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


FelliniBlank, did your dog change color?
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:36 AM on February 26, 2014


The sable ones do that as they grow up!
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:28 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


I want to play, too!

Baby Thunderdog when she was coming home from the Animal Shelter, 3 months old. We put her in the laundry bucket so she wouldn't roam around the car.

Teenager Thunderdog revisits the laundry bucket, 8 months old. I thought for sure she would keep growing that fast and wind up being enormous. She kind of stopped growing at that point, though.

She won't go anywhere near the laundry bucket now.
posted by Elly Vortex at 1:00 PM on February 27, 2014 [2 favorites]




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