Nowadays, many people can’t imagine their home without their beloved dog or cat. Or their bearded dragon. Or their dear tarantula. Or their cherished python. Well, you get the idea – people love their pets and they come in all shapes and sizes.
And that seems to have long been the case. Dogs are believed to have been domesticated roughly 30,000 years ago and while it might have taken a bearded dragon, for instance, a bit more time to become accustomed to a home environment, more exotic animals, too, have long been people’s companions.
Just take a look at today’s list and see for yourself! There are pictures of people walking raccoons alongside dogs on the streets back in the ‘70s, women with their leopards circa 1932, and even an image of a man with his bear cub taken more than a hundred years ago. Scroll down to find all of these and many more vintage pictures, as shared by the ‘OldSchoolCool’ subreddit, on the list below and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interviews with two animal behavior experts, Zazie Todd and Alice Chau-Ginguene, who were kind enough to answer a few of our questions about people’s relationships with pets.
#1 This Kitten Smiling Bigger Than The Little Girl For A Photo, 1955
Image credits: onepersononeidea
As of 2023/2024, close to 146 million people in the US alone shared their home with a pet, Statista reports. Out of them, the majority (as many as 65 million) lived with a—you guessed it—dog.
The second most popular pet is probably not that difficult to guess, either, as cats have long been people’s second favored animal to share a home with. Other popular choices, according to Statista, are freshwater fish, birds, reptiles, and horses.
#2 World’s Smallest Man Dancing With His Pet Cat. 26th October 1956
Image credits: outroversion
#3 The 1950s: A Boy, His Banjo And Dog
Image credits: act1989
Talking about life with pets in an interview with Bored Panda, animal behavior expert Zazie Todd noted that even though pets are believed to be a positive influence on people, this coin, too, has two sides. “In general we have a societal belief that having pets is good for our well-being, but actually the evidence on this is mixed,” she said.
“There are some ways that pets can be good for us. For example, they provide companionship, they keep us entertained, they can help us make friends, and especially in the case of dogs, they can help us get more exercise. But at the same time, sometimes having a pet can be hard. When a pet has a serious health or behaviour issue, pet guardians can experience something we call caregiver burden, because caring for a pet can be quite difficult (and expensive) at times. So our individual relationship with our pet is very important.”
#4 A Policeman In New York City Stops Traffic Just For A Cat To Carry Its Kittens Across The Street, 1925
Image credits: reddit.com
#5 Jane Goodall With Her Dog Rusty In Bournemouth, 1954. She Said “I Learned So Much From Rusty. He Proved To Me That Animals Have Minds, Personalities And Feelings. This Gave Me Great Strength In My Convictions And Work With Chimpanzees.” Written On The Back: “Jane And Rusty The Inseparables”
Image credits: AkashicRecorder
With so many pets living alongside humans, we tend to forget that most were once wild animals. Yes, that lazy orange blob on your couch was once a fierce wild cat, and that dog that’s been sighing hard sleeping in your bed is a distant relative of a wolf.
According to Todd, in the process of domestication, many animals have come to rely on humans to fulfill their basic needs, though it depends, to some extent, on the species and the individual animal. “For example, most cats could probably catch their own food if they needed to, as they still have those abilities, but some pedigrees in particular would struggle to find food. Some types of cats (Persian cats, for example) also need us to take care of their coats and wipe their faces to prevent infection.
“Quite a few dogs could probably manage to catch or find food if they had to, but some would really struggle; and again, there are some breeds that are very dependent on us for grooming, such as Poodles or Shih Tzus,” the expert noted, adding that some other domesticated species, like chickens, for example, would probably do okay without us.
#6 Parisian Woman With Her Cat In Her Cannabis Garden, 1910
Image credits: AgentBlue62
#7 Eartha Kitt With Her Cat Jinx In Her Dressing Room, 1953
Image credits: reddit.com
#8 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
Since most animals were domesticated a long time ago, they’ve been by people’s sides for hundreds—in some cases, thousands—of years. But the way we interact with them has changed immensely during that time.
Take the last hundred years, for instance; you can find pictures from the 1920s on this list that show the loving relationship between a pet and its human. But since then, animals have seemingly become even more treasured, and are now usually considered family members rather than just pets.
“Perhaps the biggest change is that these days almost everyone thinks of their pets as family members,” Zazie Todd told Bored Panda. “Along with that, pet dogs and cats are more likely to spend time indoors with us, whereas in the past they would often be allowed to roam. A hundred years ago, cats were prized for their abilities to catch vermin, but these days we don’t have much need for that, so they are more likely to be pets and no longer have a job.”
#9 Freddie Mercury And His Unenthused Cat Tiffany, 1988
Image credits: redalmondnails
#10 Little Boy About To Receive A Dog For His Birthday (1955)
Image credits: anewhigh
#11 This Little Girl At A Pet Show At Venice Beach, California, 1937
Image credits: PNCL
“In addition to that, we’ve learned a lot more about pets during this time,” the animal behavior expert continued, pointing out what else changed in human-pet relationships over the last century. “We know that they are sentient beings and that they are very intelligent. Instead of expecting pets to do as we tell them, these days good pet guardians know that their pet has needs that we need to meet for good welfare (such as a need for exercise and enrichment).”
#12 My Hippie Mother Holding Someone’s Pet Raccoon Some Time In The Late 60s
Image credits: matthewsteez
#13 Bob Ross With His Pet Squirrels, 1991
Image credits: eatsleeprepeat101_
#14 A Man With His Dog , 1920s
Image credits: EzzyyPeezy
Another expert of animal behavior, Alice Chau-Ginguene, who is currently on tour with SeedTalks presenting The Psychology of Cats, seconded the idea that people-pet relationships have changed quite noticeably over time.
“Over the last hundred years, people’s relationship with pets, particularly cats, has evolved significantly. The Second World War marked a turning point, introducing commercial cat food, advances in veterinary medicine that enabled routine neutering, and the invention of cat litter, allowing cats to live indoors full-time.
“These innovations transformed cats from outdoor hunters and companions into fully integrated indoor pets. However, this rapid shift, occurring in just 80 years, has outpaced their natural evolution, contributing to some behavioral challenges as cats adapt to modern urban lifestyles,” the expert added.
#15 “The More I Learn About People, The More I Like My Dog.” – Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Image credits: m0m0tamatar
#16 Mark Twain (1900s) “If Man Could Be Crossed With The Cat, It Would Improve Man, But It Would Deteriorate The Cat”
Image credits: eaglemaxie
#17 Yuri Knorozov, The Linguist Who Deciphered The Maya Script, 1953. He Listed His Cat Asya As A Co-Author On His Work But The Editors Always Removed Her. He Always Used This Photo With Asya As His Author Photo And Got Pissed Whenever Editors Cropped Her Out
Image credits: Scaulbylausis
Expanding on the pets’ needs that people should be attentive to, Zazie Todd emphasized that pets have important welfare needs that don’t just include food and water and good health, but also opportunities to engage in species-typical behaviors. “For example, they need exercise and enrichment. For dogs, that might include regular walks, whereas for cats, it could be daily play with a wand toy.
“It’s a good idea for pet guardians to learn as much as they can about their pet’s behavior,” the expert added. “The more you understand what your pet needs, the more you can do to make them happy.”
#18 Cats Drinking Fresh Milk On The Farm, 1954
Image credits: Polymathyx
#19 A Dog Holds Onto A Little Boy As He Tries To Retrieve A Ball In A River With His Golf Club. 1920s
Image credits: paternalpadfoot
#20 Enormously Happy Little Girl With Enormous Dog, 1950s
Image credits: ShadowNozeKnows
According to Alice Chau-Ginguene, cats experience the world very differently than we do, so it’s important to cater to their natural behavioral needs. Some of the ways to do that are “a) providing safe hiding spots, vertical spaces, and areas where they can observe comfortably, b) keeping resources like food and litter trays separate to reduce stress, especially in multi-cat households, c) engaging their hunting instincts with interactive play, puzzle feeders, and activities like nose work, d) avoiding strong scents or air fresheners that might overwhelm their sensitive noses, e) training them, including clicker or cooperative care, which can build trust, ease vet visits, and enrich their lives.
“Recent studies show that cats prefer human interactions over food and toys. This must mean something,” the expert added. “This must mean they enjoy this friendship as much as we do.”
#21 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#22 My Great Great Grandfather And Dog Both With Hats Early 1930s, Maine
Image credits: xavyre
#23 A Former Teacher Of Mine Drinking A Pint With His Pet Fox, Gemima. Circa 1980
Image credits: FrivolousJoe
#24 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#25 1940s Kentucky Man Posing With His Sunglass Wearing Cat
Image credits: kellymcswelly
#26 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#27 My Abuelo (Grandpa) And His Pet Oncilla – Cochabamba, Bolivia 1970-1980 (Photo Not Dated)
Image credits: EarlyIndependent8085
#28 Young Lady With Her Cat, 1910
Image credits: reddit.com
#29 A Lady And Her Cat Times Square 1956
Image credits: Xstatman13
#30 My Grandfather Cruising His Dog Mutt – 1959 Saskatchewan
Image credits: grat12
#31 Old School Pictures Of Kids With Their Dogs 1900’s
Image credits: dp1967
#32 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#33 My Mom And Her Cat, Late 1930’s
Image credits: Wienerwrld
#34 My Grandpa Would Have Been 99 This Month- Here Is A Picture Of Him With Corky, The First Dog Him And My Grandma Got After They Were Married- 1945
Image credits: charlotteamom
#35 Young Carrie Fisher With Her Pet Bird Benny Karl, Circa 1964
Image credits: eaglemaxie
#36 My Grandfather And His Pet Crow, Late 50s/Early 60s
Image credits: reddit.com
#37 Kurt Cobain Playing With His Cat, 90s
Image credits: EnigmaticDaze
#38 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#39 People Have Been Taking Silly Pictures Of Their Pets Since At Least 1875
Image credits: Topjaws
#40 Woman With Big Cat Pet Having A Cup Of Tea In Paris, 1932
Image credits: birrakilmister
#41 Michael Jackson With His Pet Rat In The Early 1970’s. Regardless What You Think About Him, At This Moment In Time He Was Just A Kid
Image credits: Just_Entertainment47
#42 Teenage Cat Stevens And The Dog That Inspired His First Hit – Circa 1966 – 1967
Image credits: WurlizterEPiano
#43 Vintage Photo Of A Family With Their Dog, 1910
Image credits: WorldHub995
#44 Mademoiselle Fifi On Arrival To London. Fifi Was The First Ever Cat To Fly In A Plane. She Accompanied Her Owner, American Aviator John Moisant (Pictured On Second Picture With Fifi), On The First Crossing Of The English Channel By Passenger Plane. London, England, 1910
Image credits: reddit.com
#45 Burt Ward And Some Of His Pet Cats – 1960s
Image credits: oh_boisterous
#46 My Grandma Holding A Siamese Cat In The 70’s
Image credits: msbbc671
#47 1920’s Cat Lady
Image credits: DenMother8
#48 Woman Taking Her Pet Lobster For A Walk, 1940s
Image credits: paulwebster901
#49 Tony Hawk With His Cat Zorro In His Room, 1985. Swiped From His Instagram
Image credits: boxinggoose
#50 My Great Great Granpa With His Dog In 1896
Image credits: pete716
#51 While Stationed In England During Wwii, My Grandpa Had A Pet Crow
Image credits: treeselfdeerself
#52 Edwardian Dog (And His Human). Ca. 1900-1905
Image credits: reddit.com
#53 Clint Eastwood And His Cat In 1960
Image credits: mechrec
#54 Famous Irish Explorer Tom Crean And Sled Dog Pups (Circa 1890)
Image credits: fionnishuman
#55 Grandfather And His Dog After Serving In Ww2 (1945)
Image credits: PaperHandz
#56 Walking The ‘Dog’ In San Francisco Around 1975
Image credits: notbob1959
#57 Harold Tesch & His Alaskan Malamute War Dog “Tippy” During The Battle Of Guam – 1944
Image credits: Pasargad
#58 Young Kenyan Woman Holds Her Pet Deer In Mombassa, March 1909
Image credits: TheMagicDrake
#59 Julie Andrews And Her Pet Dachshund Melody, Circa 1954
Image credits: MorriePoppins
#60 My Grandma And Her Irish Wolfhound From 1974
Image credits: -Rin
#61 1951: My Grandmother With Her First Of Many Great Danes. Suzie Was A Wedding Gift From My Grandfather’s Aunt
Image credits: southsidious
#62 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#63 A Young Boy And His Dog From 1889
Image credits: WorldHub995
#64 Brigitte Bardot At Home With Her Dog Guapa, 1950s
Image credits: reddit.com
#65 A 14 Year Old Bryan Cranston With His Dog, 1970
Image credits: reddit.com
#66 No Dog Biscuits Today, 1939
Image credits: PraneethKarnena
#67 My Father And His Dog, Rex. About 1948
Image credits: TeeHack
#68 My Mom With Her Pet Raccoon, 1970s
Image credits: Yoda2000675
#69 My Uncle With His Pet Deer And Cat In The Early 80’s
Image credits: coldsun22
#70 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#71 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#72 My Granddad (Right) And His Identical Twin Brother, Dressed Up And Showing Off Their Pet Monkeys, Circa 1932. The Monkeys Were Ordered From A Comic Book Ad And Arrived Via Mail In A Cardboard Box
Image credits: wowbobwow
#73 My Great-Grandpa Doing Mountain Man Stuff With His Pet Bear Cub. (1910)
Image credits: reddit.com
#74 My Grandfather Felix, Age 16 With His Pet Crow In Charlottesville, Virginia 1937. That Year He Would Lie About His Age To Join The Service And Later Be Part Of The Allied Invasion At Normandy, France On June 6th, 1944
Image credits: Akadragonfly
#75 My Grandpa And His Dog, Early 1940’s
Image credits: CompetitiveSal
#76 A Girl And Her Curious Dog, Soviet Riga, 1974
Image credits: friskyfrog
#77 Young Man And His Dog (Early 1900s)
Image credits: BufordTeeJustice
#78 The Coolest Dog In Town! Photo By Lee Friedlander, Hollywood, 1970
Image credits: greg_neh
#79 Frida Kahlo And Pet Deer, Granizo – 1940s
Image credits: reddit.com
#80 Vintage Cat Lady 1910s
Image credits: WhisperLatina
#81 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#82 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#83 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#84 Tippi Hedren With Her Pet Tiger, 1982
Image credits: T423
#85 My Grandpa And His Pet Chimp, World War II 1943, North Africa
Image credits: Pacers31Colts18
#86 Little Boy With His Pet Monkey. Ca, 1968
Image credits: reddit.com
#87 A Girl And Her Dog 1932
Image credits: SURPRISE_KITTIES
#88 Dog Chariot, C. 1930s
Image credits: benjaneson
#89 Gentleman Pose For Photos With Their Beloved Pups, Circa 1880-1900
Image credits: bellerose93
#90 Queen Victoria & Her Dog- Late 1880s
Image credits: reddit.com
#91 Actress Tippi Hedren And Family At Home With Their 400-Pound Pet Lion, Neil (1971)
Image credits: soldierofcinema
#92 My Great Aunt, A Sunshine Springs Waterski Star, Christmas Shopping Down Main Street With Her Pet Ocelot In The 1950s In Florida
Image credits: Janke47
#93 My Grandmother With Her Pet Lion, 1961
Image credits: Madoka_the_Goddess
#94 Ann Margret Her Pet Turtle 1960s
Image credits: reddit.com
#95 My Great Uncle Had Pet Monkeys, And My Grandma Made The Clothes (1950s)
Image credits: RileyyKaiyote
#96 Salvador Dali Walking His Pet Anteater, Paris 1969
Image credits: LittleMissCinema
#97 My Grandpa In The 50’s With His Pet Coyote
Image credits: reddit.com