What Are The Cleanest Animals In The World?

We all know that animals can be messy. From their droppings to their fur, they leave behind a lot of mess. But there are some animals that are much cleaner than others. In this article, we’ll take a look at the cleanest animals in the world and find out why they’re so neat.

These animals have evolved over time to develop certain habits and traits that help them stay clean or prevent them from becoming too dirty. Coping with all the grime and dirt in the world is no easy feat, but these animals have figured out how to do it.

1. Cats

It’s safe to say that most cats are pretty clean animals. They spend a lot of time grooming themselves and they do this by licking their fur. This helps remove any dirt or debris that might be stuck in their fur. If you own a cat, you’ve probably noticed that they’re always licking themselves.

Cats have unique tongues with tiny barbs that make it easy to brush their fur. Not only does this remove dirt and debris from their coat, but the bristles also help stimulate sebaceous gland production in their skin, making their fur appear shiny and clean.

2. Hamsters

Hamsters are another type of animal that is known for being clean. Like cats, they spend a lot of time grooming themselves. Hamsters often groom themselves by pulling, scratching, and then combing over their fur to distribute any oils they might have on their hair.

It’s adorable when they start cleaning themselves, sifting through the dirt and grime behind their ears and on their cheeks. There’s no need to shampoo or bathe your small rodents with any other pet products. Because they can clean themselves effectively and nearly effortlessly, hamsters are an excellent choice for those who want a pet that requires little maintenance.

3. Rattlesnakes

Ooh, a snake. I bet you didn’t expect to see this one on the list! Rattlesnakes are actually pretty clean animals. They stay clean by shedding their skin. This process helps remove any dirt, parasites, or other debris that might be stuck to their old skin.

Shedding also helps prevent infection and keeps the snake’s body in good condition. A new rattle segment is added to its skin every time it sheds, which happens up to 4 times per year. As more segments are added, they are able to create noise by bumping into one other; a noise that is known to send chills down our spines.

4. Rabbits

Rabbits are another type of mammal that is known for being clean. Like cats and hamsters, they spend a lot of time grooming themselves. Rabbits will begin by licking their paws and utilizing them as tiny brushes to remove any dirt that has gotten trapped in their fur. They can get filthy yet can still clean themselves using this technique.

Furthermore, they keep their fur looking fresh because as they groom themselves, they also get rid of any sheds. They do it on a daily basis, almost always.

5. Pigs

This might come as a surprise to some, but pigs are actually clean animals. The dirty stereotype surrounding pigs only happened because humans were keeping them in cramped spaces on farms. It was, in fact, the humans’ responsibility that the pigs became filthy.

In the wild, they never sleep or live in their own feces. They also have a natural aversion to getting dirty and will only lie down in clean areas. When given the chance, pigs will bathe regularly in water or mud to stay cool and “clean”.

6. Polar Bears

Do you ever wonder why polar bears are always so clean and white despite having a bloody diet? It’s because they have very thick fur that protects them from the cold weather and the fur must be clean and unobstructed in order for it to provide insulation.

If their fur gets matted, it loses its insulating properties so they clean it often. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that polar bears are one of the cleanest animals in the world.

7. Ants

Not only do ants clean themselves, but they also keep their homes spick and span. To clean themselves, ants use their front legs and secrete an oily liquid from their mouths. Ants have also been observed removing their dead from their spaces. This also decreases the likelihood of the disease spreading from deceased ants to living ants.

Organized and methodical, these insects will do whatever it takes to keep their colony safe.

8. Dolphins

Though it may seem self-explanatory, staying clean is essential for those who live in the water. However, it’s worth noting that the seas aren’t always the cleanest environment; thus, it is somewhat of a triumph for these aquatic mammals to follow their own distinctively developed cleaning methods.

Some researchers believe that dolphins breach or jump out of the water for a variety of reasons. Breaching may also be used as a way for them to remove any germs or parasites that they acquired while in the water. Judging by how often they breach, it seems to be working!

9. Tigers

Tigers are huge carnivores that groom themselves similarly to house cats and like to keep their appearance clean.  They also avoid bringing food into their dens and frequently hide their leftovers for other creatures, concealing the food with leaves or branches.

Mother tigers will even clean their babies by licking them. This helps remove any blood or mucus that might be present, which also eliminates the risk of infection.

10. Naked Mole Rats

You might think that animals that don’t have fur wouldn’t need to worry about being clean, but that’s not the case for naked mole rats. These creatures are known to be some of the cleanest animals, and they groom themselves just as much as any other animal on this list.

Because they have less hair on their bodies, they’re not as likely to get dirty when crawling through tunnels. Deep within their tunnels, naked mole rats observe cleanliness by designating a “room” they use to defecate. Once the room becomes full, they will close off that area and build a new one. Now that’s a commitment to cleanliness!

There you have it! These are some of the cleanest animals in the world. Now that you know which animals are among the cleanest.