Molly nurses her kittens just as she does her puppies. Photo Courtesy of Max Oden/Dothan Eagle
When new momma Kitty Kitty was accidentally hit by her owner when he returned home, Elbert Bristow of Columbia, Alabama had to decide what to do with her six-week-old kittens. Molly, his two-year-old American Bulldog mix had also just given birth six weeks ago, so he decided to see if she would allow the four orphaned kittens to nurse. The dog did and now she is busier than ever. "I've had dogs all my life. I've trained bird dogs and coon dogs," Bristow told the Dothan Eagle, "but this is the first time I've ever had a dog take a litter of kittens."
The kittens, one orange, one white, one grey and white, and one with Siamese-type markings follow their new "mom" around just like she is a mother cat. She lies down to let them nurse several times a day and then returns to her puppies on another part of the property.
Bristow is surprised that Molly took to the kittens as her own because she had shown a great dislike for cats. He says that the kittens are doing well and that Molly is a natural surrogate mom for the kittens.