Motherhood is without a doubt one of the most beautiful experiences that a person can have or witness in this life. Not to mention that babies are incredibly cute and provoke so much love within us all. Every mother knows that she would do anything to keep her baby safe.

But let’s be honest. Being a mother isn’t always the easiest thing. In fact, it’s arguably one of the most challenging experiences that a human can have. Raising a small, adorable, and helpless human being is far from simple, and some days mothers need that extra recognition and positive support for simply doing the bare minimum.

But being a mom isn’t exclusive to human beings, and animal mamas feel a whole range of emotions too. Here are 12 animals who know exactly what it means to be a mother.

1. When you realize that life as you know it is over

Alright, so you might have prepared as much as you possibly could. You read the baby books, threw a baby shower, took your prenatal vitamins… but then it happened. You became a mother, and suddenly you realized that your whole world as you knew it, had changed.

2. Oh no, they found me!

Every mom knows what it’s like to want to sneak away for *just* five minutes to breathe and decompress. This mama thought it’d be sly to hide in the kitchen sink, but her babies were able to find her rather quickly.

3. “Please give me my baby back!”

Mama instincts. They are strong and powerful. But so is the cuteness of a new baby. Naturally, everyone wants to pet and play with the cute little kittens, but mama cat’s making sure that her babies don’t suddenly disappear by placing a protective paw on her babies, as if to say “nope, these are mine.”

4. The proud mama

Oh yes. You know the feeling. When your baby is born into the world, you, like every mother (and parent, really) is convinced that it is the most beautiful thing that you have ever laid eyes on. Your baby is your prized possession. Sure, you might be exhausted and wearing the same outfit for the same day in a row, but you, like this golden retriever mama, are proud of the baby that you birthed into the world.

5. We look alike!

This mama cat looks so surprised, scared, and in love with her newborn kitten, all at the same time. Many mothers know this feeling as the feeling that comes when you first bring life into the world.

6. After all that, almost all of them look like their dad

Some mothers have experienced what it’s like to carry babies around in their tummies for 9 months, just to have them be born and look more like dad! This mama cat seems to be assessing if any of the kittens other than the one to her left will start to look more like her over time.

7. First kiss

I think it’s safe to say that most mothers can’t wait for the moment they can first kiss their babies!

8. Documenting growth

Isn’t it crazy how quickly they grow up?!

9. When the kids are old enough to annoy you…

This one speaks for itself!

10. Camera shy

This is like the equivalent of hiding under mom’s skirt!

11. First words

One of the most magical moments of motherhood is when we hear our babies speak their first words… or in this case, their first bark!

12. First meal

Having a baby is hard, but have you ever tried breastfeeding?!

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Source: Animal Channel, Reddit