A one-year-old Beagle had a strong motherly instinct that made her “adopt” two kittens and even began nursing them.
Daisy has formed an unlikely bond with nine-week-old kittens Dexter and Fletcher and they all sleep in the same bed as the adoptive mom guards them. Owner Jane Whitton, 36, says the bond is so strong that Daisy even started producing milk to nurse the kittens.
Watch the adorable video below.
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Video credit: Rumble
Jane, from Staplehurst, Kent, said: “Daisy is basically like their mom.
“They’re best friends, they spend all of their time together.
“If any other dog goes near the kittens Daisy gets really protective and will get between them.
“She’s their protector and surrogate mom.”
Jane had initially planned on getting only one kitten but couldn’t resist getting the other one.
She said: “The farmer where the kittens come from didn’t want to keep them but wanted to find homes for them with people he knew.
“We were originally just going to get Dexter who’s ginger.
“But when we went to get him we could see this little black kitten at the back all on his own.
“My heart melted. We thought ‘sod it’ and decided to get him too.”
As soon as the kittens arrived home, Daisy couldn’t get enough of them as well.
She said: “We told the kids and Daisy to be gentle with them as they’re so tiny but she’s just instantly taken to protecting them.
“If our other dog runs at them she’ll get them into the middle.
“They’ll sleep with her and she’ll sniff them over to make sure they’re OK.
“Recently she’s even started producing her own milk and nursing them which is pretty extraordinary.”
Jane says the bond between Daisy and the kittens can only get stronger.
She said: “It’s lovely to see, it’s very sweet. They’re best friends, we’re saying that as they grow up they’ll see her as her mom and friend.
“They’ll run around the living room playing hide and seek with her under the sofas.
“I think it’s the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
“I like to think that while at the moment it’s quite a maternal love.
“I hope that as they get bigger it will always remain a close friendship and they’ll continue to play and sleep and have fun together.”
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