Vintage Pics Of People And Their Pets
It’s often hard to relate to the people shown in old photos. After all, everything from their mannerisms to their style of dress in these sepia-toned snapshots is clearly from a different era.
However, if there’s one thing that immediately brings the past to life, it’s seeing the love that people have always had for the pets in their life. Even though these pets, and many of these people, are long gone, it’s immediately apparent that they had great affection for their animal friends.
Tenderly Cradling Her Cat
This photo, which dates back to the 1920s, shows a Kentucky woman as she holds her cat.
While the photo is a tad blurry, it’s still impressive to see that she was able to hold the cat still for long enough to take the pic.
An Elegant Duo
This photo comes from a glass negative collection and has been lovingly restored to bring the colors to life.
It shows a man who’s dressed to the nines, posing with his faithful dog in a photographer’s studio. It was taken in Maine, sometime in the early 1900s.
Staring Down The Camera
This photo — actually a daguerrotype — of a woman in the early 1850s shows her neutral expression, along with a cat who wants to leave.
This is likely because photographs took a long time to process back then, which made candid moments all but impossible to properly capture.
A Dog Fit For A Show
The human love for dogs is matched by the human desire to show dogs off, and this is the essence of the modern dog show.
This 1978 photo shows a 24-year-old woman with her show dog, Blue, at the Colorado Springs Kennel Club.
Bows For All
Photography used to be considerably more involved than it is today, so people would generally get dressed up in their finery if they knew they were going to be photographed.
As this 1910 photo demonstrates, it wasn’t just humans who would wear fancy bows and other adornments for posed pics.
A Baby And His Best Friend
Dogs can be incredibly patient animals, with an intuitive understanding that babies and toddlers are to be protected — and, sometimes, endured.
A 1930s photo shows a loyal family dog as it deals with a baby’s snuggles. While the dog probably isn’t having a great time, it’s tolerating the interaction.
Going For The Nuzzle
Cats love nuzzling corners and edges — not just to mark it with their scent, but because it feels good to do so.
This 1954 photo of a cat enjoying a leisurely day in the sun has a hand-written annotation on the back: “Look at their teeth!”
Taking A Quick Sip
Cats are notorious for sneaking sips of their humans’ drinking water, but this photo shows that the phenomenon isn’t new, nor is it limited to cats.
Of course, this photo shows a smaller dog taking a sanctioned sip of water out of the cup as its adoring human looks on.
A Soldier’s Loyal Companion
Animal lovers know that pets can provide immeasurable comfort during difficult times, and nowhere is this more true than in the depths of warfare.
This Marine, exhausted from the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, is taking a quick nap as a dog he met along the way watches over him.
Some Dapper Chaps
This 1880s photo appears to show two English gentlemen with their dog, but this well-dressed trio is actually Swedish.
It’s hard to tell if the dog had custom-made finery or was simply wearing clothes intended for a small human, but either way, the effect is perfect.
Stylish Woman, Stylish Cat
In a photo that should evoke a sense of nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the 1960s or early 1970s, this woman can be seen holding her cat in her fashionable kitchen.
From the turquoise oven to the wood panelling to her dress, practically everything here is dated — except for her black cat, which sports a truly timeless look.
Ladies, Dresses, Cats
If there are cats in the house, they’ll tend to gravitate to wherever the most action can be found.
These young women seem to be getting ready for a night out, based on their stylish 1970s dresses — but before they go, there’s always time for a quick snuggle with the resident cats.
The Best Stick At The Beach
This 1970s photo shows a beloved dog is taking part in a timeless dog activity: Finding and carrying around sticks.
The person who posted this said, “Ike didn’t need a leash. He was so friendly he would walk up to any dog to say hello.”
An Old-School Blep
While this 1890s photo is no doubt old, it’s still worlds ahead of the daguerrotypes that were seen in the 1850s.
Because photos like this took less time to develop, they’re able to capture candid moments like this dog showing his tongue.
Classic Cat Hijinks
Is the phenomenon of cats climbing on, knocking over, and otherwise destroying Christmas trees a new thing?
As this 1950s photo shows us, cats have been messing with Christmas trees for about as long as Christmas trees have been a fixture in homes during the holiday season.
A Strange Trend
Poodles are still popular today, but in the midcentury years, this breed — particularly smaller poodles — was one of the most popular types of dog in the United States.
This photo demonstrates not just the popularity of poodles, but also the short-lived trend of dying their fur in lurid colors.
Performing For The Camera
Nowadays, we all have hundreds of photos on our phones, simply because it’s so easy to take photos and see instant results.
In the 1960s, when film still needed to be developed, people were more careful with the photos they took — but this pic shows that the appeal of a playful cat has always been worth a snapshot.
All Set To Go
Dogs tend to love camping, as it combines their love of the great outdoors with quality time spent with their human.
This photo was taken in July of 1969 and shows a boy grinning ear to ear as he gets set to go camping in Southern California with his pup.
A Backyard Photoshoot
It’s always an interesting juxtaposition to see someone who’s clearly from a different era taking part in something that’s familiar today.
This young man’s fashions place him firmly in the late 1960s, but what truly brings the photo to life is the loving way in which he cradles his cat.
The Homestead Dog
Even in the late 19th and early 20th century, many parts of the United States could still be classified as the frontier, with families living rough on humble homesteads.
At the time, a family dog would probably fill important roles beyond simply being a pet — but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t offer companionship.
A Happy Man With His Cat
This 1900s photo demonstrates the timeless appeal of a friendly cat. We have no info on who this man was, but he seems quite pleased to be spending time with his friend.
Judging by the fact that his hat has been removed and placed next to the cat, it’s easy to imagine the tabby curling up inside the hat after this pic was snapped.
Cheyenne Couple With Their Pup
This photo, from 1898 or so, shows a Cheyenne couple, Inez and John Bull, with their scruffy dog.
A fascinating aspect of vintage dog photos is the likelihood that many of the breeds and subgroups seen in these old pics no longer exist today.
A Lazy, Cozy Day
Anyone who’s ever had a lap cat knows that when it’s time for them to settle their furry mass on your lap, it can be tough to motivate yourself to get back up.
This 1944 photo shows an older woman with her loyal, happy companion. When a cat is on your lap and a book is in your hands, it’s all you really need.
A True Menagerie
The appeal of pets is self-evident, and a love of animals often starts from a young age.
This little girl, photographed in Cleveland in the early 1900s, can be seen here with her two friends: A happily panting dog and a cat who’s been placed in a toy buggy.
Proud Of His Pup
The fashion, and even the man’s pose, place this photo firmly in the late 1920s. From his body language, it’s clear that he’s pleased with his dog.
This photo was posted by the man’s son, who explained that this beloved dog was named Thunder.
A Girl And Her Dog
For a variety of reasons, many old photos feature stiff poses and neutral facial expressions, but every so often a glimpse of real human emotion shines through.
While this is a posed photo, taken in a photographer’s studio, there’s real warmth — not just in the girl’s smile, but also in the dog’s expression.
A Saint Bernard In Its Element
Saint Bernards are legendary for their ability to withstand tough conditions and lug around heavy loads.
While this 1930s or 1940s photo doesn’t show a stranded mountaineer being saved by a Saint Bernard, the snowy setting and sled still place the pup firmly in its element.
A Different Kind Of Pet
Cats and dogs are easily the most widespread pets worldwide, but that doesn’t mean that humans can’t befriend other creatures.
This pic, posted by the man’s son, shows a guy with his pet crow in the 1960s. Crows are intelligent birds and can form complex relationships with humans.
Prim And Proper
Back in the day, people might only be photographed a couple of times in their entire lives, so they’d make sure to prepare accordingly before going to a photographer’s studio.
This woman has worn her fine clothes to the photoshoot, but has also made sure to bring along something else that’s deeply important to her: Two cats and a dog.
Cats And Axes
Unfortunately we don’t have any context for this photo, which appears to have been taken around the turn of the 20th century.
Still, a picture paints a thousand words, and this photo tells a tale of a man with an axe, and a lady with two cats.
