The summer affects animals and humans in much the same way. Especially for some, not only is the heat uncomfortable but also potentially dangerous. But there is one difference…animals are often a little smarter and more creative than people when it comes to staying hydrated and cool.
These 62 photos are proof of that. They show funny ways that critters beat the heat. Perhaps we could all take a cue from them.
Although pigs don’t have thick fur, they still get hot. This sweet guy needed to cool off. So, he decided to use a tub of water as a perfect place to nap. The fit might be a little snug but it worked.
We had no idea that chickens’ legs go on forever. This girl doesn’t care who sees her in all her glory. She’s more interested in relaxing in a nice, cool place. Perhaps when she’s done, she should contact the Rockettes.
…as she should be. After all, she’s been the family’s loyal pet for the past 14 years. So, if she wants every fan in the house, by golly, that’s what she’ll get.
4. “What are you looking at”
By the look on this pup’s face, that seems to be the question he’s asking the person behind the camera. “Hey, it’s hot outside and this pool is the ideal size. Deal with it.”
Focusing solely on his needs, this raccoon confiscated the birdbath. You have to admit, he’s downright adorable. Hopefully, he leaves a little water for his feathered friends.
Sorry kids, but if you’re wanting ice cream, you’ll have to come back another day. This cat is busy trying to stay cool. That’s a pretty smart idea and we don’t think anyone should disturb her.
These ex-racing Greyhounds are enjoying their retirement days to the fullest. Let’s hope the owner wasn’t planning on using the air mattresses because we’ll bet these pups won’t give them back. And who can blame them?
Who said anything about dogs looking pretty while staying cool? For this pooch, it’s not about appearances. At least his legs are cool…the rest of his body, not so much.
At first glance, it’s hard to tell what this kitty is holding onto. But as its owner explained, her cat discovered an ice pack, which came in handy during a particularly hot day. This is both funny and precious.
This Pug’s mom and dad bought him a pool for his personal use. And you can tell that he’s very appreciative. There’s a good chance they’ll have a hard time getting him out of it for the remainder of the summer.
11. Has anyone seen the dog?
If you own a Siberian Husky that goes missing during summer, you might want to check your refrigerator before you start passing out fliers. You have to give this pup credit. She fits perfectly and it’s super cool…literally.
Nope, it’s just a hedgehog relaxing on the beach with his favorite stuffed friend. His name is Mr. Pokee and when he gets too hot, he takes a quick dip in the water and then goes right back to sunbathing. Hopefully, he’s wearing proper sunscreen.
After seeing the kitty with an ice pack, this cat’s owner decided to try the same thing to keep her furry friend cool. At first, she looks confused. But once she discovers how good it feels, she’s never letting go of it.
14. Time for a bigger pool
Initially, this pool was used by one swan, making it a perfect size. But as more and more came around, it became a little overcrowded. We don’t know about you, but we think it’s time for this person to invest in something a little bigger.
This gorgeous Pitbull is ready to go. Floaties on the front legs…check. Inner tube around the body…check. Sunglasses…check. Yep, he’s got everything he needs except a ride considering he doesn’t drive.
16. What’s wrong with that?
For a huge Golden Retriever with a thick coat of fur, staying cool is always a challenge. Often, that means finding the nearest body of water, even if it’s in the middle of the street. While he feels better, we question his choice of location.
17. Dedication at its best
If you’ve ever used the train system in a large city then you know that even on cooler days, the inside temperature is rather warm. So, in the summer, it’s hot. Thanks to this dedicated owner and a portable fan, his pup stays cool.
18. Forgot about migration
This individual is really good to their dog. They even got him a pool for the summertime. The only problem…they forgot all about the duck migration. It looks like their pup will have to share.
Do you get the feeling this elephant is showing off a little bit? Not only is he flaunting the fact that he has an entire waterfall and river to keep him cool but he’s also having the time of his life. If this doesn’t make you smile, nothing will.
In Big Major Cay, which is located roughly 60 miles from Nassau, wild pigs spend their days on the beach and swimming in the ocean. They’re super friendly and as you can see, incredibly cute. These two swam up to a boat just to say hi.
It took a little while but this cat finally found the coolest place in the house. There, she sprawled out and was finally able to get some shut-eye. She’s so comfortable that her owner might need to bring her dinner in bed.
This dog is simply beautiful and obviously, quite relaxed in her pool. Few things are more adorable than this…unless it’s a photo of two pups in a pool.
If you’re going to let your dog in the swimming pool, safety has to be your priority. This owner got it right. The pup has a floatie and goggles. Our only question — does he go down the slide?
Oh, my gosh. This French Bulldog has it all. A sink filled with cool water, an adorable outfit, and a carrot for a snack. The best part is all the funny noises he makes while chowing down.
Just five feet out the front door and this dog got his point across quite clearly. It’s too hot for a walk. Instead, he’d rather relax on the cool, green grass. Nothing is going to change his mind.
Okay, so we know that dogs, cats, birds, and even pigs look for ways to stay cool in the summer but apparently, so do Alpacas. With a herd that size, the owner probably spends a lot of time and money keeping it filled with water.
First, this bear is a family pet. Second, he loves to swim. But he does more than that. After climbing up the stairs, he carefully positions himself and then does a fantastic dive. Well, sort of.
This sweet Guinea pig didn’t want just an ordinary place to keep cool. No, she also wanted something beautiful. After all, she is a princess in her owner’s eyes. So, only fresh flowers would do.
Okay, so this mountain dog got some help from his owner but the photo was too cute not to share. These pups are bred to live and work in the mountains where temperatures are cool and snow is common. So, when you live in the valley, you bring the elements of the mountain to the dog.
30. Something doesn’t seem right
You have to give this poor thing credit. At least it tried to cool off on a hot summer day. But that pool just isn’t going to cut it. That doesn’t seem quite fair.
This super cute frog has it made. He found a comfy lily pad in the middle of a pond to take a nap. If he gets too hot, he can jump in the water and then return to his natural bed. This should be a postcard.
Now, that’s the right way to stay cool on a hot day. The look on their faces says it all…they won the big prize. Do you guys know there are other flavors besides vanilla? Just asking.
So, what do bodega cats in New York do to stay cool on a blistering hot day? They head straight to the frozen foods section, of course. This guy is no dummy.
At first glance, this Blue Jay appears to be sick, injured, or simply tired from flying all day. But nope, he’s just taking a break, trying to cool down. While that’s not a bad idea, he’d do much better in the shade.
35. Keeping the inside cool
This hippo has no problem keeping the outside of his body cool thanks to the surrounding water. But with a whole watermelon, he’ll be cool on the inside, too. By the way, did you notice he already had a watermelon in his mouth? That’s amazing.
When you have a Husky with piercing blue eyes like this one, who cares that he jumped in the pool and got everyone and everything wet? With looks like that, he can do just about anything he wants and get away with it…including using the family pool.
Not only does this kangaroo stay cool by taking dips in the ocean but she also looks cool. Seriously, just look at that pose. This girl could be on the next cover of Sports Illustrated.
38. Speaking of looking cool
Just check out these Siberian Huskies. They’re styling to the max wearing sunglasses and swimsuits. We’re guessing there must be some male Huskies nearby that they’re hoping to impress. And they will.
Although we don’t know the name of it, the beer strongly resembles a live cat. Oh, wait a minute, that is a live cat. Whoever wants a bottle of the real stuff better love kitties because he’s guarding the space with his life.
40. “Don’t even think about it”
You know that’s what this pup is thinking. He’s perfectly fine just where he is. When he’s ready to get out of the pool, he’ll let you know. You can plan on it sometime around supper.
This adorable pup is so thrilled to have a pool he can’t stop smiling. Even better, he gets to enjoy it with his buddies. This is the greatest pool party in history.
Considering that most cats will do everything in their power to avoid water, this is pretty amazing. Wherever this kitty lives, it must’ve been excruciatingly hot. Then again, this could just be a weird cat that happens to love swimming pools.
Sure, this kitty’s owner lured him to the pool with a bunch of colorful balls. But what do you want to bet that the minute he gets wet, he’ll love it? Okay, probably not but it will help cool him down.
Come on, you boys need to play nice. There’s plenty of water for both of you. Why not play a game of Marco Polo instead of trying to drown each other.
Squirrels are much smarter than humans give them credit for. That’s why companies invent birdfeeders that these adorable creatures can’t master. But when it comes to staying cool on a hot summer day, this little fellow put his brainpower to work.
Although this photo was taken indoors, it must still be uncomfortably warm. Why else would this cat go to such extremes? The people who work there might feel a little jealous that he came up with an amazing way to stay cool…something they can’t do because everyone would stare at them.
This precious Pug hasn’t yet got the hang of the whole water thing. So, her owner is making a low introduction. One tiny paw at a time.
48. Isn’t this what it’s for?
This adorable puppy got a little confused. In all fairness, it was a hot day, it’s a bowl, and it contains water. If it makes him happy, we’d just let him stay there as long as he wants.
With a cool breeze blowing directly on this cat’s face, she’s quickly drifting off to the unknown. Looking at her face, we think she’s having a really nice dream…something that has to do with the beach and of course, finding her Prince Charming.
Would you look at that? Rather than this being a funny photo, it’s incredibly sweet. Instead of hogging the pool for herself, this mom sacrificed her comfort for the sake of her two babies. The only bad thing, they barely fit.
Hey, even raccoons get hot during the summer. We don’t know if the homeowner put the pool out specifically for this little guy or he’s simply borrowing one belonging to the family dog but either way, he discovered his favorite place.
This dog was probably laughing when his owner told him to “sit and stay.” Like, did they really think he was going to move after feeling the cool water on his body? As for the “come” command, he’ll probably fail.
53. He can stay as long as he wants
When a moose wants to use your child’s kiddie pool to rest and cool down, you don’t argue. If this homeowner is wise, they’ll let this massive beast stay there as long as he wants.
You’d think that three Corgi’s cuddled together under a blanket would make them hotter. But not if it’s slightly wet. These sweet pups look like they’re thoroughly enjoying this cooling method.
Unlike the kitty, this French Bulldog is down with a pool filled with balls. Not only does he get to stay cool and hydrated but he also has all the toys he could ever want all in one place. What a deal.
56. Desperate times call for desperate measures
When you’re thirsty, even a drop of water helps. That’s what this cockatoo discovered. So, using his talons, he carefully lifted the glass container for a nice sip. This is so amazing.
Instead of looking scared, it seems as though this little baby is loving every minute of her shower. On a hot summer day, that has to feel so good.
58. He looks very pleased
If that’s not a great smile, we don’t know what is. There are plenty of horses that love visiting the beach. They have ample room to play around and the water feels incredible. Clearly, this guy’s having a blast.
Why would this raccoon sleep in her bed to stay cool when there’s a sink right next to it? Her name is Pumpkin and this is how she survives the heat. She’s definitely a smart little girl.
60. Like mother like daughter
This sweet cat is showing her little one the right way to cool off. First, you find a soft, comfy bed. Then, you sprawl out on your back. Finally, you go to sleep. That kitten’s a fast learner.
Although this raccoon often swims in the family pool, sometimes, he gets tired. When that happens, he hops on his canine’s back and the two of them do a little pool surfing. The owner says they’re inseparable.
62. Feeling a little privileged?
While the chickens stay outside in the heat, this cat likes to lay near the window so they can see her. Honestly, we don’t think her decision has anything to do with the nearby air conditioning vent.
