By Daily Mail Reporter


Stand-up guy: Timon the meerkat with his new best friend Poppy


To Poppy the terrier, Timon the meerkat is much more than a mere cat.

The playful pair, who live with owners John Bent and wife Sally in Dronfield, Derbyshire, are almost inseparable.

They forged their unlikely friendship after Timon, four, was savaged by other meerkats in the Bents’ outdoor menagerie.

So happy together: Poppy and Timon cuddle on the couch


And while the household also includes a cat, Timon immediately made a bond with six-year-old Poppy, a chihuahua-maltese terrier.

The pair now play together, bathe together and are even taken for walks together.

Mr Bent, 62, who also keeps skunks and racoons outside, said: ‘They are inseparable. They pinch each other’s food but never get angry.’

Mrs Bent, 52, added: ‘Meerkats stick very much to their own kind but Timon is loveable and cheeky.’

The cheeky mammal, which is actually a member of the mongoose - not cat - families, is mostly happy indoors.

Cute couple: The pair, who bonded after Timon was attacked by other meerkats, in the bath together

Inseperable: The pair with owner Sally at their house in Dronfield, Derbyshire


But he still has satisfy his urge to dig, which he does in a special pen in the back garden, shared with a ferret called Stumpy.

‘We wouldn’t like to put him out there on his own,’ said Mrs Bent. ‘He’s very loveable and cheeky and just loves company.’

The couple take their animals to schools and hospices to introduce children to their pets and show them how to care for animals.

Of Poppy and Timon, Mrs Bentsaid: ‘It’s like two children who are very comfortable with each other.

Walkies! Timon is even taken out on a leash with Poppy by owner John Bent

Howling with laughter: The dog and meerkat sound out their different calling cries


‘They play-fight and are very at ease in each others’ company.

‘As soon as Timon came into the house he went over to Poppy they bonded instantly.

‘Poppy has a special spot on the settee and she allowed Timon to share it with her. It’s where they fall asleep in the afternoon.’

Tiny trio: The 'Three Meerkateers' adventure into the big, wide world after surprise birth

These three cute baby meerkats have made their first foray into their pen after spending three weeks living underground.

The pups - nicknamed 'The Three Meerkateers' by keepers - have been reared in their burrow for the first few weeks of their lives.

Wonderful surprise: Keepers only realised this adorable trio had been born when they heard a 'laughing noise' coming from under the ground

And just days after their first tentative steps in public, the playful youngsters are already demonstrating their inquisitive streaks by exploring every nook and cranny of their pen.

Keepers say the sociable animals have already built up a 'strong family unit' with two-year-old parents Rogan and Gibby taking it in turns to keep an eye on them.

Elliott Hamilton, head keeper at Woodlands Family Theme Park, near Totnes, Devon, said the first they knew of the pups was a 'laughing noise' coming from the ground two weeks ago.

He said: 'We had no idea they were set to give birth and it was a wonderful surprise.
'The noises they make are very funny, they sound like they are laughing.

'It wasn't until mum and dad brought the pups out that we saw that there were three beautiful babies.'

Being too young to sex, the 10cm tall pups have not been named - but given the collective moniker 'The Three Meerkateers'.


The 'Three Meerkateers' have already built a strong bond with their parents


source:dailymail