Cup O' Cute: 9 Adorable Photos of Tiny Animals in Teacups

Although so-called "teacup breeds" have become more popular recently, there really is no such thing! In dogs, "teacup" refers to the size of the puppy, and usually means that it will be smaller than standard for a toy breed (most standard toy breeds are 4 to 7 pounds). Tiny dogs can have multiple health problems, says Barktopia, and owners who are interested in small breeds should do a lot of research before buying a teeny-tiny pup.

Some breeds, like Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, are just very small dogs by nature. They're pretty much always going to fit into a teacup, at least as puppies. Larger breeds have to either be cross-bred with smaller breeds, or inbred (eek! - leads to all kinds of problems!) to produce smaller animals. Incredibly, people are currently trying to breed "teacup" labs and huskies.

Another major concern with these tiny pets is that the adorable-ness leads people to adopt pets without really thinking. Last fall, Huffington Post reported that animal shelters were finding themselves overrun with "handbag" and "teacup" dogs.

If you are looking for a tiny pup, start your adoption search with your local pet shelter. And remember, as you look at these adorable cups o' cuteness, that each animal is a real animal, not a toy, and needs real love!

Here are 9 adorable photos tiny animals in teacups!

- By Joslyn Gray

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