Ever heard of a dog nursing kittens? It happens.
“Bella, Baci and Asha are one happy family, if not an interesting study of opposites.
“Bella is a white American Eskimo dog. Baci and Asha are black kittens, about 4 weeks old. At first sight, the dog adopted the two cats as her own.”
now that’s just as sweet as can be. doggie adopted un-weaned baby kitties and started nursing them; three days later she was producing milk.
Awwwwww!!!
At the local SPCA, they gave a dog that had just lost her pups some orphaned kittens to nurse, and it worked out great for all concerned. But for a dog to spontaneously adopt lost kittens… it just mends my heart.
I’m glad they offered the biological explanation; it was the first thing I thought of. Atta dog!
OMG, if you Google “dog nurses kittens,” it just doesn’t stop.
so sweet and wonderful, and a well-researched article too. good to understand the biology, and also, such a good doggie!
*sigh* i always love the happy animal stories.
Well, Tigger appreciates the good vibes, she says.
good animal vibes abound. here’s hoping you have a happy animal story to tell us after tomorrow…
I think most female animals take care of motherless creatures of their own kind, it seems to be mostly humans, apes and dogs who take care of another type of animal.
I’ve heard about a kitten who grew up in a place for homeless dogs, it behaved like a dog, it was even chasing other cats.
We once found an abandoned puppy in a snowdrift that was still so young her eyes weren’t opened yet. The cat living with the people across the street from our house had just birthed a litter of kittens, and took the puppy in as her own. When we finally got her home, she acted just like a cat, trying to climb the curtains, etc. That was awesome; I honestly haven’t thought about her in years, so this was a great reminder, and I’m glad to see that this wasn’t an isolated incident regarding the whole mothering aspect.
yikes!
That’s too adorable for words.
I’ve seen it live and in person … my father-in-law’s Westie nursed a 3-week-old-kitten for about 2 months before there was weaning (I don’t know how the weaning took place, thus the passive construction). It was actually really interesting; the kitten would nurse, nap, nurse, freak out, then repeat the entire process.
There’s absolutely nothing that will melt the heart faster than a good pet picture/story.
Thank God humans have this innate sense of love and compassion. We must *learn* to suppress those same feelings for other humans. And isn’t that just sad?
Suddenly I’m the other Shelley. But I’m all fverklepmt about the doggie and kitties. *schniff*
i like the new improved handle, Shelley.
Supposidly humans can do this, too. I won’t get into it too much, but like moms that adopt…but I guess there’s some hormone injecting or something involoved.
Nothing like nursing. Best thing in the world. Sniff.
actually, back in the days (17th or 18th century), rich noblewomen often had ‘nursemaids’ to nurse their babies, so it would not ruin their figure (back then they would bind their breasts to flatten them out). mammals will continue to lactate as long as there is suckling.
once you get the lactating started, well, it just goes on and on, supply based on demand.
What a precious story!!! I’m all mushy!
I lactate when I see kittens too..
This is a joke..
I bind my breasts.
This is also a joke.
My breasts look like they are bound already.
This is not a joke…