Just like humans, animals go through big bodily changes when they're Pregnant. In fact, oftentimes their bellies get so big, even their coats can't hide them.
So we at Bored Panda started digging around the internet to see how it affects their appearance and, oh baby, did we enjoy what we found! From guinea pigs and squirrels to zebras and elephants, these expecting mommas look absolutely adorable no matter what species they represent.
We put together the cutest ones and now that we have this list, we present it for your enjoyment and hope that it'll make your Monday at least a bit better. Enjoy!
#1 8.5 Weeks Pregnant Mamma Cat
Image credits: GregariousWaterfall
#2 Saw A Pregnant Squirrel For The First Time Today. I’m Not Sure What I Expected But This Exceeds All Of It
Image credits: HotsumaGumby
As adorable as these moms look, you might want to take away your pet's possibility of having kids.
Experts say that by spaying or neutering your furry companion, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, as millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren't enough homes to go around.
#3 Pregnant Guinea Pig
#4 Babies Are Coming
Image credits: dream_weaver101
#5 Bloat? Nope, It's A Baby Bump! One Of Our Eagle Rays Is Pregnant - We Think It's Super Cute
Image credits: 2oceansaquarium
But there are medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female) and neutering (male) pets as well.
Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying prevents uterine infections and decreases the incidence of malignant or cancerous breast tumors in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. (Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.)
Neutering your male buddy, on the other hand, prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.
#6 Very Pregnant Squirrel Had No Fear - So I Gave Her Some Peanuts
Image credits: JDoctorick
#7 Pregnant Potato. I Couldn’t Decide Which Of These Baby Belly Pics To Share, So Here Are All Of Them. This Girl Is Named Latte, And She Is Heavily Pregnant
Image credits: whitewolfcritters
#8 This Pregnant Hairless Cat Is 300% Done, She Can't Even
#9 My Friend Caught Her Very Pregnant Cat Sitting Like This
Image credits: Fruitqueen
Next, onto behavioral benefits.
Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines, for instance, usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during the breeding season.
In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more frequently, and sometimes do it all over the house.
#10 Portrait Of A Pregnant Goat
Image credits: oliveeggfarm
#11 Pregnant Ferret
Image credits: syuk
#12 Elephants Have The Longest Pregnancy Period Of Any Living Mammal - They’re Pregnant From 18 To 22 Months
#13 Pregnant Leopard Resting At Karnataka Forest
Image credits: shaji_mathilakam
Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will go above and beyond to find a mate, including creative escapes from the house, which greatly increase the risk of injury in traffic and fights with other animals.
Additionally, unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people, and inanimate objects after he's neutered too. (Also, some forms of aggression can be avoided by early neutering.)
#14 She Had Her Maternity Photoshoot
Image credits: Anna Fotografia
#15 Do These Stripes Make Me Look Fat? Pregnant Zebra, Masai Mara, Kenya
Image credits: spotclickpost
#16 Friends Have A Pregnant Raccoon Ready To Give Birth Any Time Soon. Not Their Pet, But A Resident Of Their Deck
Image credits: TravellingBeard
#17 She’s Only Days Away From Having Her Calf
However, if you decide to become a pet parent yourself and bring home a new critter, you need preparation to ensure they like it at their new home as much as possible.
Shauna Spooner who is a vet nurse at the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) told Bored Panda that this begins with creating a calm environment.
"New places can be scary for pets," Spooner said. "While it can be exciting for us and our families when our pets come home, think how terrified they might feel! Try to create a calm environment at home ready for your new pet. Using a calming plug-in diffuser might help them feel less stressed."
#18 Pregnant Lizard On Bathroom Window
Image credits: sallytm
#19 A Big-Belly Seahorse Relaxes In The Evening Sun. A Shot Was Taken In 2017 Under A Pier In Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia
Image credits: matt_testoni_photography
#20 Horse's Maternity Photoshoot
Image credits: Rustic Pony Photography
#21 I'm Fostering A Very Pregnant Cat. There Are Five Kittens In There
Image credits: INeededACoolerName
Give them an area that is theirs. "It’s important to make sure they have somewhere they can go to be alone if they need to," the vet nurse continued. "Setting up a den with a familiar blanket or toy can be really comforting for them."
Also, expect accidents. "Even if a pet has been previously house trained, having a few accidents in their new environment is to be expected. Don’t get angry with them as this will make them feel confused and even more worried."
#22 I’ve Got A Pregnant Shrimp On My Hands, Folks
Image credits: udontkidwell
#23 For Those Who Haven't Seen A Pregnant Groundhog
Image credits: Squatront
#24 My Friend's Pregnant Goat
Image credits: goodlyearth
#25 My Favorite Lady Lazing Around Until Someone Pets Her Pregnant Belly
Image credits: omgitsbrittie
Try to limit their roaming at first. According to Spooner, if you plan to give your new pet freedome to explore your home some or all of the time, introduce them to it slowly. "Your pet will need time to relax and settle in, so limit them to one or two rooms at a time. Take it slowly and give them time to get used to everything," she explained.
Pets love keeping a schedule, so set a routine. "The sooner you do this, the sooner your pet will settle in," Spooner said. "Try to feed them around the same time every day and keep to a regular exercise regime."
Lastly, keep them indoors "With cats, for example, you will need to keep them indoors for around six weeks to give them chance to settle in and get used to the house."
For more helpful resources, visit PDSA's help and advice page.
#26 "It Was Fun At First But I Need This To End Now"
Image credits: junkholiday
#27 This Rat Getting An Ultrasound
In the world of animal sheltering, expecting the unexpected is pretty much par for the course. Well, we're not the only ones "expecting" these days...it turns out that Polly the rat is pregnant! This wouldn't be quite as much of a surprise if it weren't for Polly coming to HSCC with her "pal" Tony and both were assumed to be males Thanks to our new on-site ultrasound, our suspicions over Polly's growing tummy were confirmed. Never a dull moment at HSCC!
Image credits: Humane Society of Chittenden County
#28 Congratulations, It's A Guinea Piglet
Image credits: garlicbreadsIut
#29 This Mama Seal Just Cooled Off In The Alsea Bay And Now She’s Warming Up In The Sun
Image credits: PAMPERINGCAMPERS
#30 Baby Cheetah On The Way
Image credits: thisisawesome.traveltips
#31 Pregnant Stray Followed Me Home. I Guess Now I’ll Have Grandkittens
Image credits: pkmnmasterkay
#32 Pregnant Gemini
Image credits: j01001010
#33 Our Firstborn Is All Grown Up And Soon To Become A Mummy Too
Poor thing, I know exactly how she feels, heavy, massive and fed up. (Though she was pretty massive before getting preggers, her belly didn’t however quite drag on the floor a few months back). We could feel the little piglets kicking through her belly. A few more weeks to go! Did you know, that a pig's normal gestation period is 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days?
Image credits: laurenr.olander
#34 She's Over This Pregnancy
Image credits: NieNieL
#35 A Pregnant Black Rhino About 20m From Our Car
Image credits: fabulosajornada
#36 A Pregnant Zebra At Masai Mara National Park
Image credits: bfaik
#37 We Got To Witness A Giraffe In Labor On The Safari At Animal Kingdom. Something Very Rare That Never Happens
Image credits: joyandtreasure
#38 Pregnant Goat Units
Image credits: skippin_kid
#39 This Lady Is Very Pregnant, I Feed Her Every Morning
Image credits: sylvestermacaroni
#40 We’re Gonna Need A Lot More Pickles, Ice Cream, And In-N-Out Burgers. Pupper Patties Will Be Coming Soon
Image credits: heyitskula
#41 Maternity Shoot For My Pregnant Foster Dog
Image credits: caitiesfosterfam
#42 My Dog Is Pregnant And She’s So Round I’m Losing It
Image credits: BoymadeEvil
#43 Eating Healthy Is An Essential Part Of Being Pregnant
Image credits: rooparani.clickz
#44 So My Brother's Dog Is Pregnant And This Is How She Sleeps
Image credits: jen_nguyenx
#45 This Jaguar Was In Its Third Month Of Pregnancy At The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam
Image credits: Aakanksha Singh
#46 This Goat Pregnant With Twins
Image credits: erica21200
#47 Y'all Ever Seen A Pregnant Chameleon?
Image credits: ThaumielKeter
#48 I Posted A Picture Of My Very Pregnant Dog Earlier This Week. She Had Her Puppies Last Night
Image credits: damn_turkledog
#49 Pregnant Meerkat, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Image credits: seancranephoto
#50 My Pregnant Dalmatian Molly
Image credits: Ninjaneer525
#51 Our Male Weedy Sea Dragon During Pregnancy! You Can See His Eggs Attached To His Tail
Image credits: GeorgiaAquarium
#52 We Thought We Had A Couple Of Months, But The Vet Told Us Today That We Will Have A New Baby Donkey In The Next Few Days
Image credits: the_hartley_farm
#53 Mojo Is So Done With This Whole Pregnant Thing
Image credits: Raikit
#54 Our Jenny Is Due Today! So Excited For Her! How Many Jellybeans Do You Think Are In That Big Baby Bump?
Image credits: moonshadowrattery
#55 Maternity Shoot For My Pregnant Foster Dog
Image credits: caitiesfosterfam
#56 I Found This Pregnant Little Cat In A Parking Lot. The Shelters Were All Full, So She's Been Living In My Bathroom. Trying Not To Fall In Love
Image credits: _Frog_Kid_
#57 My Pregnant Lizard's Eggs Are Visible Through Her Skin
Image credits: Mourning_Gecko
#58 The Polecat Mafia Is Here
Image credits: AtheneNocturna
#59 Mumma Sophie And Her Very Pregnant Belly
Image credits: PutMeInTheWheelyBin
#60 Beautiful Pregnant Zebra
#61 When You Get To See A Giraffe... Out Your Window... In Africa! And She’s Carrying A Calf
Image credits: misstara951
#62 Beluga Whale Expecting Calf At Georgia Aquarium
Image credits: GeorgiaAquarium
#63 My Pregnant Rescued Dog Sleeping In A Turtle-Shaped Toy Basin
Image credits: SeasDiver
#64 One Beautiful Momma. Not Long To Go Now
Image credits: maya_tequila_jackrussells
#65 Is My Rat Pregnant Or Just Full Of Cheerios?
Image credits: Josh_Dah_King
#66 This Lizard Is Pregnant With Two Eggs
Image credits: nichonova
#67 More Backyard Whitetail Deer From Texas
Image credits: lolahancock
#68 Pregnant Male Seahorse
Image credits: heyimzel
#69 This Is How My Pregnant Goat Lays While I Feed Her A Peanut Butter Sandwich
Image credits: rossionq1
#70 Pregnant Mama Cat Finally Popped
Image credits: KittensForDays
#71 Pregnant Hairless Guinea Pig
Image credits: brodiemanz
#72 Pregnant Shrimp
Image credits: PopularSubject
#73 Pregnant Lion. South Africa, Safari
Image credits: jamestsanders
#74 Nothing Yet, But Everyday We Get Closer. She Currently At This Stage Says Do Not Hold Me Up For Belly Photos, It's Uncomfortable
Image credits: mizgifntails
#75 How Many Are There? I'm Already Scared, But Looking Forward To It
Image credits: rats_kennel_charuy_zaria
#76 Had A Pregnancy Photoshoot Today
Image credits: HeartChakra22
#77 Pregnant Pony
Image credits: AlbertHerring
#78 Pregnant Lioness
Image credits: Robin Hutton
#79 Pregnant Sea Horses At Our Aquarium
Image credits: parguello90
#80 I Think We May Have A Very Pregnant Scorpion On Our Hands! Look At How Massive The Belly Is On The Left One Compared To The Right One
Image credits: thereptileguy
#81 Maybe This Girl Will Lay Some Eggs This Season After All
Image credits: reagan_renee_royal_pythons
#82 Pregnant Monkey
Image credits: aquarius_ainah
#83 One Of My Friends Did A Pregnancy Photo Shoot For Her Dog
Image credits: PM_Me_Your_NMR_Data
#84 Voguing While Pregnant. Arusha National Park, Tanzania
Image credits: acaciac
#85 This Shark Happened To Be A Pregnant Female
Image credits: uzeyrkamora
#86 Check Out This Diva And Her Pregnancy Photoshoot
Image credits: thebullydistrict
#87 Pregnant Bird
Image credits: feathered.home
#88 Guardian Pupper Watching Over Pregnant Hoofboi Fren
Image credits: Epona142
#89 Not Something You See Too Often, A Pregnant Otocinclus In One Of The Display Tanks At Aquarium
Image credits: notatthetablecarlos
#90 This Is Super Exciting! The Last Time We Came To Visit, We Saw These Frogs Mating And Now The Female Is Pregnant
Image credits: mvzhuang
#91 This Pregnant Chihuahua Had A Beyoncé-Themed Maternity Photoshoot
Image credits: hgeovanna1
#92 This Pregnant Cow
Image credits: Dave Young
#93 She May Not Be Fuzzy Or Cuddly, But I Still Think This Pregnant Mantis I Came Across Today Is Cute
Image credits: JephriB
#94 Pregnant Sheep
Image credits: KoS
#95 Girlfriend Taking Her Own Sweet Time. We Can’t Wait To See Her Little Ones
Image credits: pack.goats
#96 Three Years Ago Fig Was Very Pregnant And Looked Like She Might Pop At Any Moment
Image credits: baysidepiggies
#97 Pregnant Lizard Regrowing Its Tail
Image credits: BuffaloMtn
This post first appeared on How Movie Actors Look Without Their Makeup And Costume, please read the originial post: here