Animals That Actually Laugh

Laughter is not just a human trait. Chimpanzees, dogs, and even rats make distinct sounds that function like laughter when they play, wrestle, or are tickled by researchers.

When you tickle a rat, it produces a high-frequency chirp that is essentially a laugh. These animals use these vocalizations to signal playfulness and strengthen social bonds within their groups. Researchers have discovered that animals even seek out these tickling interactions once they realize they are fun. It turns out that humor and social bonding through joy have deep evolutionary roots across the animal kingdom.