What makes an animal cute? Big doting eyes, round cheeks, a tiny little nose? Or is it that sweet meow or peep, or perhaps the human-like expressions that sometimes appear on their faces?
The truth is, it’s not necessarily that scientific; sometimes an animal is just adorable because it's, well, adorable.
What is certain is that Britain is home to some of the cutest animals in the world, from tiny birds and big-eyed sea creatures to fluffy rodents and floppy-eared bats. Here is our pick of the top 10 cutest animals that live in the UK.
10 cutest animals
European hedgehog
With small, rotund bodies, tiny faces and rounded snouts, European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are surely one of the cutest animals on the planet. Your best chance of seeing one of these spiny little creatures is on a summer night, as they are nocturnal and hibernate from November to March. Hedgehogs like to hang out beneath garden sheds, near compost heaps, hedges or even just an untidy bit of your garden — so be careful when moving or disturbing these spaces, especially during winter when they will be sleeping. Cute fact: a baby hedgehog is called a hoglet.
Red squirrel
Did you know, a red squirrel’s (Sciurus vulgaris) tail is so bushy that it uses it as a snuggly blanket when it's resting? The long, fluffy tail is also used for balance, communication, and to slow them down when jumping. Unlike the more common grey squirrel, reds have chestnut coats and tufted ears (particularly pronounced in winter). Look out for these delightful little mammals in autumn when they are foraging for nuts and seeds for the winter ahead. Three-quarters of the UK population reside in Scotland, but there are also small concentrations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
European rabbit
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are one of the UK's most easily identified and most loved small mammals. While a common sight in the countryside, it is always a delight to spot a rabbit hopping through the grass, pausing to twitch its nose and tilt its long ears. Rabbits live in family groups in meadows, grasslands and woodlands. They create large networks of burrows underground called warrens where they raise their young – needless to say, baby rabbits, known as kittens or kits, are even more adorable than their parents.
Atlantic puffin
Plump jowls, a bright red and yellow deltoid beak, and a bashful, kohl-eyed expression – few birds are more characterful than the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica). In flight, their tangerine feet swing like windsocks beneath a stout white belly; they're even cuter on land, as they stumble and waddle along clifftops with a walk akin to that of a human toddler. But appearances can be deceptive, for these ocean birds are proficient in almost everything they do. They can fly at speeds of up to 80mph, dive 60m below the surface of the sea, and dig impressive burrows on wind-beaten islands in which they raise their young. Oh, and the name of their chicks? Pufflings – how adorable!
Long-tailed tit
Any one of Britain's seven tit species could have made it into our top 10 cutest animals list – we've picked the delightful long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus). This pretty little bird, which would be the nation’s smallest were it not for its ubiquitous tail, forages in flocks of up to 20, and is found in woodlands and, increasingly, gardens. Its pink, black and white plumage and high-pitched peeping merely add to its attractiveness.
Pine marten
The pine marten (Martes martes) has a long, thin body, round ears and cappuccino-coloured fur. It is a member of the Mustelidae family, along with stoats, weasels, badgers, otters, mink and many more. The name comes from the mammal’s choice of habitat, as it lives among mainly coniferous woodland such as pine forests. Pine martens are notoriously difficult to spot – they are mostly nocturnal but can be seen in the early and late hours of the day, especially in summer when they are most active.
Harbour seal
There are two native seal species in Britain: the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the smaller harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Harbour seals, also known as common seals, have big, dark eyes and whiskered faces, and love lounging on beaches and rocks. They have more rounded faces than grey seals, giving them an extra cute appearance. There are at least 33,400 harbour seals in UK waters, and they can be seen all around our islands, so keep an eye out for these loveable sea dwellers on your next coastal walk.
Hazel dormouse
Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) are tiny, golden-brown rodents that are known for their impressive ability to sleep for a very, very long time (they hibernate for a large part of the year). Their small size and delicate features make them one of the cutest mammals in the UK. Ever heard a dormouse snoring? The quiet, high-pitched whistle will melt your heart.
Eurasian wren
An adult Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) weighs roughly the same as a £1 coin – cute! But what the wren lacks in size it makes up for with its voice and industriousness; a rattling warble of clear, shrill notes gives way to the loud ‘tic-tic-tic’ of its alarm call if you venture too close. This charming, tiny reddish-brown bird – a common garden bird in Britain – has a short, stumpy upright tail. Even its nest is adorable, an often elaborate, dome-shaped construction made from leaves, grass, moss and feathers.
Brown long-eared bat
This woodland bat has the longest ears of any bat species – a whopping 28mm. In fact, its ears are so large that it can tuck them out of sight behind its wings when resting – now that's pretty cute. Brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus) form small, quiet colonies of about 20 animals. They have a wingspan of 25cm and body length of 45mm. Fun fact, this bat's huge ears are so sensitive they can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf.
More about wildlife in Britain
- What's the tallest tree in the UK? The towering record breaker that's still growing
- Meet the highly venomous weever fish, which lurks just below the low water mark
- Britain's lost beasts: when did the moose, wolf and bear go extinct in UK?
- Rewilding wolves: what can Sweden teach us about living with big predators?
