VETS say thousands of animals could be suffering stress in viral funny and cute pet videos.

Research by Vets4Pets found thousands of pets may be experiencing unnecessary irritation in footage on social media writes James Bagley.

In recent years there has been a huge increase of videos of this type which get millions of views and shares.

After watching 100 random videos researchers found cats were affected the worst, 34 percent of clips showed the felines displaying signs of anxiety.

Dr Huw Stacey, vet and director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, said: “There are obviously many videos out there which just show pets having fun with their owners, but it’s key that owners are able to spot when their pet is actually stressed and not just being cute or humorous.”

Vets4Pets want to help educate owners on pet behaviour, language and how to spot signs of unhappiness through its 2019 Vet Report.

This video shows cats reacting in a way vets believe may show anxiety.

Funny Cats Scared of Cucumbers - Cat vs Cucumber Compilation. Published by Animalia/You Tube

Twisted ears mean the cat is aggressive and if the tail starts waving, lashing side to side or puffing up, it can be a strong sign a cat is either upset or agitated.

The report explored pet behaviours such as the craze where owners would film their cats with cucumbers, which often leads to the cats leaping high into the air.

This craze was popular on social media and has a top compilation with 37 million views on Youtube.

Dr Stacey said: “Cats aren’t trained to do tricks and play the same that dogs are, So many of the videos found online depict a cat’s ‘over the top’ reaction to a situation that has scared them, as these reactions can be often be seen humorous.”

Other trends include dog’s ‘grinning’ or ‘smiling’ as well as rabbits playing dead in a “trance” when frightened.

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If owners are unsure on their pet’s body language, or displaying unusual behaviour, then Vets4Pets recommend that they go and speak to the local vet and qualified behaviourists for advice.