Cat adopts Rottweiler pup

2007-02-15 21:30

Meriden - Who says cats and dogs don't get along?

Workers at Meriden Humane Society are marvelling at a short-haired mother cat that has adopted a six-day-old Rottweiler puppy that was rejected by its mother.

The tiny pup, named Charlie by volunteers, nurses alongside a jumble of black and gray kittens recently born to Satin, who was taken to the shelter by an owner unable to care for her.

Charlie's mother was found by the side of the road in Meriden a couple of months ago.

She gave birth to two puppies, but one was stillborn. As sometimes happens with a stillborn in the litter, the mother refused to accept Charlie.

Volunteers bottle-fed him every two hours, but the effort was exhausting for them and not enough for the puppy, said volunteer Chris Chorney.

Kittens have warmed to puppy brother

Research indicated that a suitable substitute could be Satin, who had given birth to four kittens that have quickly warmed to Charlie.

"The kittens scrum up with him and the kittens treat him like one of their own," said Chorney.

"There's a certain social benefit of small animals being with each other."

But, the cosy arrangement between Charlie, Satin and the kittens is likely to change as the pup grows.

Full-grown male Rottweilers usually weigh about 45kg.

- AP