They’re funny, clumsy, playful and amusing – our friends in the animal kingdom often manage to make us smile. Looking to capture this “aww” effect in a new stamp set, Swiss Post sent out a call last summer for original pictures of animals. It was met by a flood of the sweetest images, with around 7,600 photos of native domestic or wild animals sent in.

From a cute squirrel and a spirited foal to a frisky young goat kid – no easy task for the internal jury charged with making a shortlist of the 20 best snapshots. In the public vote that followed, it was the curious kitten, the exuberant puppy, the sweet little cygnets and the bright-eyed fox cub who worked their charm on most people. Just so cuddly!