Racoons get a bad rap. Stereotyped as bandits like the Hamburglar, they are considered rabid or frightening garbage-dwellers, though often they are just as cute and relatable as any household pet. Small furry mammals activate a certain part of us that wants to be kind, nurturing and welcoming. It's almost as if there's a common mammalian empathy that we don't share with reptiles, but can impart to little critters like the raccoon, with its bushy banded tail and propensity for human junk food. This raccoon, however, activated the empathy of the Zion Public Works and Animal Control, in the city of Chicago. The poor guy got so full that he trapped himself in a sewer grate, too fat to squeeze out. [Insert Pennywise the clown joke here] You can see the full Facebook rescue video here: [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/josh.behling.12/videos/406012246482248/]] Aw, well it's good that he got out. What do you think of this? Do you judge raccoons, or do you love 'em like the furry cat-rodent-dog-hyena hybrids they are?

If there's one thing the internet loves more than pets, its pets that are that little bit different. Yup, if you want your furry friend to stand out from the crowd on social media, then the most important thing to bear in mind is this: does it have something unique? Does it look like no other animal? Is it one you'd recognise, like Grumpy Cat, while scrolling through your newsfeed?

If you want proof of this axiom then look no further than Nori: a dog who has worked social media users up to a frenzy with his unique appearance: namely, the fact that he almost looks like he has the face of a human being!

Check out this adorable footage of Nori below:

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Nori is an Aussiepoo mix who always likes to smile for the camera. His owners, Kevin Hurless and Tiffany Ngo, live with the crossbreed in the city of Seattle in Washington, and first noticed that Nori had the makings of a canine influencer after Kevin tweeted a picture of him, which ended up getting a lot of attention from other social media users.

Kevin even claims that, when he and Tiffany would walk him, strangers would often stop them in the street and comment on Nori's bizarre appearance. Although they say that this phenomenon has gotten less frequent as Nori has aged, they still hear fairly often about how human his face and eyes look.

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The couple owns a Shorkie (a Yorkshire terrier and Shih-tzu cross) called Boba, who looks a lot more normal. The two animals are best friends, and Nori seems to like the attention he gets from the general public (even if he isn't necessarily aware of social media). 

So there you have it: if you have a unique look, then don't be ashamed of it. Take a leaf out of Nori's book and embrace it! It could make you a viral superstar...

An adorable cat by the name of Lucy has gained a huge following on social media after a rare condition means she looks like a bat.

When owner Zilla Bergamini first saw Lucy in a video of from her friend - a cat breeder - she instantly became smitten with the unique-looking Sphynx cat.

Speaking to Meow AF, Zilla recalled how it was "love at first sight". However, her friend sadly informed her that the kitten was sick and not up for sale.

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Zilla's friend revealed that Lucy was taken to a veterinarian and later diagnosed with hydrocephalus - a condition characterized by a build-up of fluid in the brain.

The vet revealed that some vets may be willing to operate on the cat, but that he believed it wouldn't be worth it. Undeterred, Zilla offered to adopt the special needs kitten, and the two finally met.

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While waiting for Lucy to arrive, Zilla was sure to research all about hydrocephalus and all the possible outcomes that could come with her time with Lucy. Zilla researched the best veterinarian neurological center in the country, and even set up a fund to cover any surgery or medication.

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On March 15, 2019 - when Lucy was just two months old - she arrived at her new home in Haifa, Israel. Despite being over the moon to finally have Lucy living with her, Zilla recalls feeling nervous because Lucy's "future was uncertain".

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Sadly, Zilla's first few days with Lucy were filled with worry, as the kitten cried constantly in her new home. Zilla also realized that Lucy hadn’t emptied her bowels once.

Taking Lucy back to the vet that had been treating her since she was born, Zilla was informed that Lucy will need to take eye drops for the rest of her life. Although, the vet could not find a medical explanation about Lucy's bowel movements, and suggested that the kitten was probably just "hiding it".

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But after seeking treatment from another Vet, Lucy was unable to stop emptying her bowels. Zilla recalls how she "practically leaked poop 24/7 for more than two weeks straight". Lucy was being put to bed every night in a tiny diaper and spent most of her time being held by Zilla.

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It may have been unpleasant for both of them, but Lucy and Zilla formed a special bond in this difficult period - and the kitten remained happy and even started to respond to her name.

After Lucy's pooipng was under control, Zilla took the cat to see a specialist. She discovered Lucy’s hydrocephalus had caused her skull to grow in an unusual shape, which caused her eyelids to irritate her corneas. Amazingly, Lucy's eyes were saved and now she doesn't require eye drops.

Now, Lucy - although under a watchful eye - is enjoying her life in spite of her condition. Zilla says she loves watching the sea and the birds from the windows of their home.

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She also loves being taken on walks in her stroller.

Zilla explains that many families who have cats with hydrocephalus turn to euthanasia due to the belief that the cat will need expensive brain surgeries. However, Lucy is living proof this isn’t always the case, explaining: "Every little thing could be a big problem for her because she is more delicate than a 'normal' cat, but it isn’t always a death sentence."

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And now Lucy is even a social media star, amassing more than 22,000 followers on Instagram, with many of her biggest fans likening the cat to a bat (hence the handle LUCYTHEBATCAT).

If you'd like to follow Lucy's story, go give her a follow on Instagram.

There's no doubt that the internet loves a cat. Think about all the famous felines who have managed to become viral superstars over the years. The lolcats started off the trend over a decade ago, and then we had Grumpy Cat who was perennially unimpressed with life, and many, many others.

But now there's a new cat on the scene, whose weird looks and occasional inability to close his mouth have made him a celebrity on Instagram. Meet Ikiru: an adorable shorthair cat whose facial expression is permanently goofy.

While you're at it, take a look at this video of Munchie, the adorable dwarf cat: 

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According to a report by British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail, Ikiru likes in the county of Yorkshire in England, along with his owners Emma and Rich. Emma and Rich fell in love with his unusual appearance and decided that they just had to share it with the world.

With that in mind, they launched an official Instagram account to promote him, and now it boasts almost 60,000 followers. Scroll down to check out some of their posts below.

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Per The Mail, Emma and Rich have confirmed that Ikiru can close his mouth, but that he sometimes forgets to, leading to his tongue drooping out. According to an article featured on Pet MD, the reason why some cats tongues stick out is due to something called the ''Flehmen Response''. It’s part of a social behavior in many animals and is used to pick up chemical signals.

The Flehmen Response occurs when a cat picks up an interesting scent, and using their tongue, the cat will collect the scent with their tongue and flick it up into a special region of the olfactory sinuses called the ''vomeronasal organ.''

A German Shepherd with a condition which has left him still looking like a puppy is taking social media by storm.

The two-year-old pooch has pituitary dwarfism, otherwise known as growth hormone deficiency, which leads to a much slower growth rate and an unusually small size in the affected individual.

Here's a look at the lovable canine in action:

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Ranger, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, had contracted a parasite called giardia and his owners initially believed that it was that which accounted for his small size.

Even after he had recovered from the infection, he evidently was not growing at the rate of an ordinary dog of his breed. So his owners took him to the vet who informed them of the growth condition, a condition which German Shepherds are predisposed to.

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Some of the side effects of the growth hormone deficiency include fur loss and flaky skin caused by hypothyroidism.

And the owners were urged to have Ranger's thyroid levels checked as many dogs with the condition have lower than average thyroid levels. Sure enough, the vet informed them that he was indeed low and that this could go on to cause fur loss and a loss of appetite.

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Following treatment, however, Ranger has made a full recovery from any fur and skin-related symptoms. He was put on Levothyroxine and benefitted greatly from a specialised soap. He is now a happy and healthy canine with an impressive Instagram following of 67,000 and counting.

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Unsurprisingly, with each new post, the gorgeous little dog is flooded with gushing comments.

"He’s pretty much a gift to my eyeballs," one follower wrote. "He makes Instagram a better place with his cute self."

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"I have 3 Maine coon kitties and 2 weigh more than him," added another. "He's really adorable."

"So you’re telling me you have a forever puppy? I want one," a third added.

Check out the rest of Ranger's Instagram page here.