Rearing children poses many challenges, as any mom or dad will know. However, it seems that parenting problems are not exclusive to humans, as these stressed-out animal mothers prove.

Images: via Pinterest / Anton Belovodchenko via Bored Panda

Being a parent is undeniably one of the hardest jobs a person can take on. Raising children requires huge levels of patience and unconditional love. As a result, it’s not always easy. However, we humans aren’t alone in our parental struggles. In fact, many of the problems we face are shared by the moms and dads of the animal kingdom, as these snapshots prove.

1. Keeping little ones entertained can be a headache

Children have boundless energy, and it seems that animal youngsters are no different. While this cheetah mom tries to enjoy some much-needed relaxation time, her baby thinks it’s a good idea to use her as a living climbing frame, before finally choosing her head as a suitable resting place.

2. You’re always on carpool duties

Having kids is sometimes akin to running your own taxicab service, and this poor swan knows that more than most. She was snapped gliding around a pond with all six of her signets riding on her back. Apparently, the fluffy babies climbed on board after growing tired of swimming, so their mom ferried them back to their nest.

3. Little monkeys can be hard to control

Many parents complain that they need eyes in the back of their heads to keep their little ones safe. However, this momma monkey has come up with a better idea to control her baby. She simply holds on to her offspring’s tail like a leash, preventing him for running wild.

4. Feeding times are never ending

This is the face of a dog that has just realized that nursing is basically her life now. The exhausted mom can barely keep her eyes open as her enormous litter of puppies wrestle over her milk. Even if they get out of hand, you can tell that this mom has no energy to intervene.

5. Motherhood can be overwhelming

For many first-time moms, having a baby is a life-changing event. So we can only imagine this kitty’s shock upon welcoming four hungry kittens. Breastfeeding, it appears, seems to be a particularly overwhelming task, and in this picture her face says it all.

6. This hippo is totally over her babies’ squawking

Introducing children into your family basically means signing away your right to a quiet life. Whether your curious little ones are constantly asking questions or squabbling with their siblings, their voices fill the air. And judging by this hippo mom’s demeanor, she’s over her babies’ screeching.

7. This cat’s kittens all want a piece of her

As many mothers will know, it’s difficult to give all you children the same amount of attention. That becomes even harder when they all need you at the same time. But as this cat has discovered, sometimes it’s easier to all let them have a piece of you, no matter how draining that is.

Image: Anton Belovodchenko via Bored Panda

8. Parenting is sometimes a drag

Getting your child from A to B can often require a small amount of force. And it appears that this polar bear has given up on her cub’s ability to use his own paws altogether. As a result, she has resorted to dragging her little one around by the ear, and it doesn’t seem bothered him in the slightest.

Image: Wolfgang von Vietinghoff via HeroViral

9. Alone time is a thing of the past

Now that you’re no longer a twosome, enjoying special time with your partner is practically impossible. For these critters, even a quick smooch in private is too much to ask, as their little one squeezes in the middle of them, as if demanding their attention returns to them.

10. Only finding time to eat when your baby’s asleep

Becoming a mom or dad basically means your baby takes priority over everything, including eating. This pangolin appears to be using her time wisely though, sneaking in a quick snack while her baby gets some rest on her back.

11. This cub is way too cool to walk with his parents

There comes a time in all parents’ lives when they go from being their children’s whole world to a slightly embarrassing inconvenience. In this picture it appears that the cub has reached his teenage years early, as he refuses to walk anywhere near his mom and dad.

12. This fox cub will do anything for his mom’s attention

It’s a fact of life that babies need their moms. However, there’s a fine line between filling your maternal duties and being at your children’s beck and call. Unfortunately for this fox, it appears she’s part of the latter group, as her little cub bites on her tail for attention.

13. Babies don’t make the best hunting companions

In the wild, many animals rely on their hunting skills to survive. To catch prey, predators must be fast, nimble and, perhaps most importantly, stealthy – something that’s pretty much impossible when you have your whole brood in tow, as this fearsome reptile discovered.

14. Multiple babies means multiple worries

Luckily for us humans, it’s quite uncommon to have more than two babies at any one time. But the same cannot be said for our four-legged friends. This husky, for example, has her paws full with six boisterous pups. However, the biggest dog litter on record consisted of a staggering 24 babies.

15. Even cheetahs have to discipline their young

Having to put your child into line is one of the hardest but most important parts of parenthood, and thanks to this photograph, it appears that it’s not exclusive to the human race. The adult cheetah in this snap seems to be giving their little one a telling off, and judging by the cub’s face, he’s not enjoying it.

16. Little ones can squeeze into all kinds of places

Thanks to their small frames and curious minds, kids can find themselves in all kinds of odd places. It seems this kitten decided to venture onto his human’s blinds to explore, only to somehow become caught between them – much to his momma’s disdain.

17. This foal has found a new hiding place

Kids seem to love playing hide-and-seek, and the same may be true of our animal neighbors. In this adorable image, it appears that a little foal has found a new hideaway in the tail of one of his parents. Unfortunately for him though, horse hair doesn’t give the best coverage.

18. Sometimes polar bears have to shout too

In the eyes of a child, every opportunity is a new adventure to be had, no matter how dangerous it is. As a result, it’s mom and dad’s job to keep fearless youngsters safe. Consequently, when this polar bear cub dove from an ice cliff into the frigid sea, his mom had something to say about it.

19. Nap times are no longer sacred

With the midnight feeds, early morning wake-up calls and round-the-clock caregiving, never has sleep been in more demand than those first weeks of parenthood. But for this bulldog, catching some much-needed shut-eye is easier said than done, especially if his ear-tugging little mite has anything to do with it.

20. This tiger’s had it with her wriggly cub

Sometimes parenting can be a struggle – quite literally. But it seems like this tiger has had enough of wrestling with her wriggly cub. As a result, she’s resorted to pinning her baby down to assert her authority.