Beagle is surrogate mum to two kittens and even breastfeeds them

Beagle is surrogate mum to two kittens and even breastfeeds them
Three peas in a pod (Picture: Simon Jacobs/ Caters News)
Beagles are known for their loyalty and kind nature, with their friendliness also being a common trait.

This particular pup, however, has gone above and beyond in her friendliness, and has become a surrogate mum to two kittens.

Daisy, who is one year old and lives in Staplehurst in Kent with owner Jane Whitton, bonded with the kittens immediately when they were brought home. Although Jane, 36, had initially planned to just get one kitten, she decided on two when the farmer who originally owned Fletcher and Dexter couldn’t rehome them both.
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.
Beagle is surrogate mum to two kittens and even breastfeeds them
Jane was originally only going to get one kitten (Picture: Simon Jacobs/ Caters News)

‘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.’

That snap decision had now resulted in Daisy falling in love with the kittens, and she even started producing milk and breastfeeding them.

Use a plastic pitcher to store and dispense dog food. It takes less time and keeps the food fresher. I use the MUJI rice storage dispenser, which comes with a handy measuring cup.

‘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,’ said Jane.
PIC FROM Simon Jacobs/Caters News - (PICTURED: Staplehurst, UK. Dexter (ginger) and Fletcher the kittens)- A dog and a pair of kittens have formed an unlikely bond after the faithful pooch became a mum to the kittens - and has even started NURSING her feline children.Daisy, a one-year-old Beagle, has become best of friends with nine-week-old kittens Fletcher and Dexter - so much so that the trio sleep in the same bed together and are guarded by the faithful pooch.The bond between them is so strong that owner Jane Whitton, 36, says that Daisy has even started nursing the two kittens and is producing her own milk for them.SEE CATERS COPY
There have been stories before of dogs nursing kittens (Picture: Simon Jacobs/ Caters News)

‘If our other dog runs at them she’ll get them into the middle. They’ll sleep with her and 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 calls Daisy the cats’ ‘protector’ and ‘surrogate mum’ due to the maternal bond she has with them.

It’s unclear why Daisy began lactating when Fletcher and Dexter came into her life, but it’s perfectly safe for dogs to breastfeed cats. It may be that the boys simply weren’t ready to be weaned yet, with the Beagle taking on the responsibility as she saw fit.

‘I think it’s the beginning of a lifelong friendship,’ says Jane.

‘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.’

We’re sure they’ll be play-fighting for the food bowl in no time.

You should never physically punish your pet. It brings the animal pain and fear, and it gains you nothing. It’s a lose-lose situation. Please don’t do it.

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