Why do people go gaga over cute animals, especially the baby ones? Even huge, tattoo covered, macho males can turn into big softies when confronted with a fluffy kitten.

A crowd had gathered outside the front entrance of my local health food store one afternoon. I could hear a chorus of 'oohs' and 'aahs' and 'oh how cute', as I approached.

I saw several cages stacked on top of each other and inside them were eight or nine playful little kittens and a couple of equally adorable adult cats. There was even a mother cat with three babies! I quickly joined in the 'oohing' and aahing'.

They were with an animal rescue group who hoped to find them good homes. It seemed to be working. One young girl was holding a little white kitten while her mother filled out a form, and a man was on a cell phone discussing one of the cats, presumably with his wife.

I stood there for ages admiring those little critters. Strange men (as in men who are strangers to me!) approached the cages and told me stories about their own cats and their little antics and how they would love to take them all home. They seemed genuinely happy when they spoke.

By the time I'd finished shopping the cats and crowd were still outside and I stopped to watch the kittens playing once more. A lady started chatting with me and we swapped pet stories for a while. We had to drag ourselves away eventually, before our frozen purchases melted.

Animals definitely bring humans together and remind us to pause and enjoy the moment. They also initiate many conversations which otherwise may never have taken place.

FYI - single males – it's a great way to meet women! Most of us love men who are kind to animals. Get a puppy or any dog and walk it in the park and you can cancel your subscription to Matchmaker.com. Girls will flock your way just to pet the dog, but it doesn't matter - you can start a conversation without being accused of stalking or being a pervert. And if you do save a furry friend from imminent danger expect heroic status for several months. You may even be featured on the news.

I watch Animal Planet occasionally and my favorite shows are the ones where people (often men) save vulnerable and helpless animals. It's a breath of fresh air knowing men are concerned about animals just as much, or even more so, than women. I remember one particular incident when a fireman (or some uniform clad male) administered CPR to a kitten. What a hero!

So, back to my question, why do we go all gooey over animals? I was walking to the mail box today and I think I got my answer. I spotted a groundhog eating grass by the side of a building. It's not an unusual sight where I live, but then a baby groundhog suddenly appeared – it was a tiny little ball of fur! The delight I felt on seeing that beautiful creature was beyond description. It wasn't just the fact that it was so damn cute; there was definitely something else at work. I stood and watched them both for a while. It was peaceful and serene. Magical if you like.

I think baby animals merely offer a moment of purity to the observer. On the worst of days seeing a puppy can cheer you up, if only temporarily. It's the playfulness, the innocence; a little creature enjoying being alive, and enjoying the beauty of the now. And they don't judge you either. Nor do they talk behind your back.

We could learn a lot from these little guys.

Alison Hill is a featured writer for Xomba.com. Read the rest of her work here .