Why do we find our pets so cute? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer | Helen Pilcher

Known for bold raids on urban bins, raccoons are becoming more domesticated – so how they look will gradually changeI have kept many pets over the years. Some, like my current canine companion, have been both adoring and adorable, but others have been less successful. I’m thinking of the hamster who scarfed down her babies, the cockerel who karate-kicked the kids and our current cat, who is so aloof that she says “meh” instead of “miaow”.So it was with interes