A kind-hearted cat becomes the adoptive mother of 8 baby hedgehogs who have lost their parents!
Last year, eight baby hedgehogs, or piglets, were found orphaned after a horrific lawn mowing accident claimed the life of their mother. They were still blind and struggling to survive. At the Sadgorod Zoo in Vladivostok, Russia, they found a new adoptive mother: a very motherly black and white cat named Musya.
For the first two days that the piglets, and yes, that’s what baby hedgehogs are called, the zoo staff tried unsuccessfully to get them to eat. The piglets refused to eat bottles, syringes and saucers. Eventually, the staff decided to try a more affectionate and motherly approach.
A cat is not expected to become attached to such small, spiny animals that it would prefer to hunt most of the time. They are also spiny, which could make grooming them a little risky if she ever goes against the grain. Musya had recently welcomed a litter of kittens and still had milk to share with the piglets. The warm body and fresh food did the trick and the little ones started to feast.
Musya didn’t seem to mind that this new batch of ‘kittens’ wasn’t quite right and she wasn’t afraid to give them a hard time if they needed it. It was not a permanent arrangement. Musya fed and cuddled the babies for just a week, until they were ready to be weaned and placed on a normal hedgehog omnivorous diet ranging from insects to melons.
When cuddling my little girl, I often thought about how nice, warm and protected it would be to feel a kitten snuggle against her belly. Apparently the piglets feel the same as me!
Sources: Meowingtons, meow of love, Wikipedia
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