Abandoned Shih Tzu puppy adopted by Siamese cat

Animal News

Hope the poorly puppy rejected by its mother has found a new family in a litter of Siamese cats. One-week old Shih Tzu Hope has been adopted by new mum Coco, who has allowed the newborn to feed and sleep with her own kittens. Hope was born on the same day as Coco’s kittens and owner Paula Ball, from Huyton in Merseyside, said she was delighted she had been welcomed into the litter. The pup was named Hope after surviving a complicated birth.

Paula said: “My partner’s dog Diamond gave birth to two puppies but unfortunately one was stillborn and she rejected the other. My cat gave birth to three kittens on the same day and although we thought it was a long shot we decided to see if Coco would take to the little pup and she did straight away. We named the puppy Hope because she managed to survive in the birth channel for five hours and despite being rejected she is thriving under Coco’s care.

“She is the same size as the kittens at the moment and gets fed and washed just like them.” Lizzie Goldstraw from White Cross Vets in West Derby, Liverpool, where Diamond the dog and Coco are treated, said: “We are delighted that Hope has been adopted in this way and she will no doubt feel warm and safe with her new family. Its quite unusual for a cat to take a puppy on as its own but it helped that they were born on the same day and that Paula acted so quickly to introduce the puppy.”

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Hope will need physiotherapy work to strengthen her legs but vets are confident that she will develop normally. Lizzie said: “Paula is a dedicated owner who is working hard every day to help Hope develop normally and we are confident she will have a very long and happy life with her adopted mum.” Paula plans to start weaning Hope in the next four to six weeks before she gets too big for Coco to feed. She said: “It’s a real miracle and very heart-warming to see them all snuggled up together. Hope has been through a lot but she is a real survivor.”