Why do people love baby animals so much?

They are just so cute, sweet, helpless, small, lovable, just so…squeeee!

They are tasty and make great snacks!

@Imadethisupwithnoforethought I hope you have a deep foxhole. And I hope there’s room for me, because I’m LMAO.

@Adirondackwannabe Oh he got a pm from me and it wasn’t nice. :-)

@chyna I’m sure he meant it in jest. And I’m sure you gave him hell. Remind me to stay on your good side. :)

Oh hell, @Adirondackwannabe , that is simple. It’s because ”“baby schema activates the nucleus accumbens, a key structure of the mesocorticolimbic system mediating reward processing and appetitive motivation, in nulliparous women [women who have not previously given birth] and this is “the neurophysiologic mechanism by which baby schema promotes human caregiving, regardless of kinship.”

Lol, read the full article which is written more or less in plain English. It’s interesting to link these human responses to brain function. The theory is that we all respond to elements like round faces, stubby noses and high foreheads. It elicits the caregiver response in both men and women. This is an “evolutionary function of enhancing offspring survival.”

It seems to hold true of our response to animals as well as humans, hence the popularity of teddy bears and Mickey Mouse and cute animals at the zoo.

@Earthgirl I’m supposed to be able to know what that meant? Holy christ, I have enough trouble getting the same socks on in the morning.. I loved you’re answer.

@Adirondackwannabe Just read the article….or forget about it and go with the theory that it’s because they’re soft and furry and waddle about adorably and stare at us with those big wide eyes of theirs!. sorry about your sock problem, I have the same issues,lol

It appears that we aren’t the only species who loves baby animals. Remember Koko the gorilla and her Kitten named Ball?

Goochie goochie goo… who has fwoppy ears WHO HAS FWOPPY EARS nawww.

Sorry, was just looking at a puppy.

Cuteness, pure and simple.

Because they’re so tender

Anyone ever try Balut?

A long time ago someone told me God makes babies cute so we get sucked into taking care of them. The person meant all babies, human and other animals. Seems it is innate in us to be attracted to babies. Small, seemingly helpless, generally facial features that are more subtle, more symetrical, non threatening, their skin or fur is soft.

@JLeslie I was just going to say, that babies of any kind who are helpless and need feeding to survive, are all appealing so they will be cared for until they can take care of themselves. Compare the length of time various mammals stay cute. There are exceptions, I think. Newborns are NOT always cute. Some look raw for a while until their fur softens them.

If it’s cute and little and has fur, I am a sucker for it!

For some things, there are no reasons, they just are. This is one of those things.
That quote was from Socrates, or maybe it was Pee-Wee, I just don’t know.

How’s this for cute??
And this
Damn but they’re so cute sleeping! Just like kids are.

Awww.

@Earthgirl You’ll probably like This and This too : )

They’re innocent, usually not vicious (potentially like their adult counterparts), soft, fuzzy, they smell good, they are energetic and playful and brimming with life, did I mention how good they smell…nothin like a puppy’s stomach.

Because they’re so tiny, and fluffy, and adorable, and have big innocent eyes, and they’re all wiggly and friggin cute!!

@WillWorkForChocolate I agree! I think that Balut really brings out those characteristics :)