There's just no substitute for a mother's love, as this caring cat proves by playing surrogate mum to an adorable litter of orphaned hedgehogs.
Sonya, the ginger cat from central Russia, only had one kitten of her own meaning there was plenty of milk to spare, so she readily adopted the four baby hedgehogs into the family.
She treats them, exactly as if they were her own, allowing them to suckle to their hearts content and then snuggle up to sleep in her fur when they're full.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Feeding time: Sonya the caring mother cat has become the surrogate mother to four orphaned baby hedgehogs
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Purrfect substitute: One of the tiny baby hedgehogs snuggles up with its new mother
It is common practice for abandoned animal babies to be placed with surrogate mother's of the same species to avoid re-abandonment at a later date - but sometime a mother of the same species just isn't available.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]You're a funny looking moggy: Caring mother cat Sonya keeps a close eye on one of her four adopted hedgehogs
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]One of the tiny baby hedgehogs keeps close to its surrogate mother
As the milk from mammals is very similar, it is a better option than bottle feeding. The youngsters are provided with all what they need, and suckling means they are less likely to be rejected in later life.
One of the weirdest cases of animal adoption is that of Sai Mai The Tiger from Thailand's Sriracha Tiger Zoo who adopted and a group of orphaned piglets.
And perhaps one of the most heartwarming is that of Owen the baby Hippopotamus who was rescued after being swept into the Indian ocean in the 2005 tsunami and adopted a giant male Aldabran tortoise as his 'mother'.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Don't hog all the milk you guys: Three of the orphaned critters latch on to their new mother for a hearty feed
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Haven't forgotten you! Caring Sonya nuzzles up to her own mini me while her adopted brood drink their fill
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Sonya treats the hedgehogs exactly as if they were her own, allowing them to suckle to the hearts content and the snuggle up in her fur when they're full
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Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:22 am
