Animals: They are like us. Our pets can be so intelligent that they often appear recognizable as humans.
But some animals not only behave like humans, they also look a bit like them. Some animals have strangely human-like faces, a phenomenon that is both beautiful and slightly unsettling.
Last year, a Russian animal rescue service in Catsvill County was in the news thanks to a Maine Coon named Valkyrie who went viral after the Internet was fascinated by her surprisingly human face:
Now that same shelter is going viral again thanks to a litter of kittens with the same distinct features.
The grey Maine Coons have human-like faces, expressive eyes, and sort of grumpy expressions, but they’re still adorable:
And they are intelligent like humans: the Maine Coon breed is known for its high intelligence.
These cats are bred by Tatiana Rastorgueva, who knows that her cats have a very distinctive look:
“I’m pretty used to seeing people’s surprised reactions when they see my kittens,” she told the Daily Mail last year.
“Sometimes they say they look human, and sometimes they say they look like werewolves.”
They look a bit like people dressed in elaborate cat costumes – perhaps the cast of that new Cats movie…
The kittens got their distinctive appearance through generations of breeding design: “I would say they took their best parts from their parents,” Tatiana said.
If she’s selective about their look, she’s just as selective about who gets to take them home:
“I am very choosy and fussy when I am looking for the new owners for all my kittens,” she said. “I am waiting for the best owners – loving and caring.”
Some might find their appearance a little unsettling, but we still think these kittens are adorable.