Abandoned pair 'adore being with each other'

An orphaned kitten and puppy that are being hand-reared together at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have struck up an unlikely friendship.

The cute pair, which are now both four weeks old, sleep together, play together and feed together.

Buttons the Jack Russell puppy was born at the home, after his heavily pregnant mother was abandoned, and, as runt of the litter, was then rejected by his mother.

Kitty the kitten was rescued by a member of the public, who brought her in at just one week old, after finding her alone in a garden.

Staff caring for the baby animals say they hope the two will be rehomed together.

Buttons and Kitty, who are being raised at Battersea's Old Windsor branch in London, are being fed every two hours, including throughout the night, and the pair are even said to cry when separated.

Battersea veterinary nurse, Sascha Taylor, said: "Normally we'd hand rear puppies and kittens separately but we thought we could try putting them together as they are both so young.

"Luckily, it's paid off as they adore being with each other and do everything together - it's really sweet."