By Tammy Hughes


Playful: The fox cub has formed an incredible bond with three kittens who kept him warm as he came out of a coma

Everyone has heard of the fox and the hound but it's not every day you see these cunning creatures hanging out with cats.

But for this injured fox cub an unlikely friendship with three kindly kittens may well have saved his life as they kept him warm during his recovery at Kent Wildlife Rescue centre.

The fox had been found with severe head injuries by side of a dual carriageway in Sidcup, Kent, after he was hit by a speeding car on April 11.

Friends: The kittens and the fox cub became inseparable after they were housed in the same cage

Spotted by a caring member of the public he was taken to the animal charity, given an intravenous drip and put in an induced coma for four days to avoid being killed by seizures.

While still unconscious, the fox was put into the same enclosure as three orphaned kittens which were found in a box at the bottom of a log pile near Leeds Castle, Kent.


Recovery: The cub has now regained his sight and his health and will shortly be released back into the wild

Feline fine: The kittens are playful and in good health and are currently waiting to be re-homed

Miraculously the cats immediately began to groom the animal and snuggled up to him as he slowly came out of the coma.

The cub, which was not expected to survive the ordeal, astonishingly began to regain his sight and health after just five days.

The cub, which was not expected to survive the ordeal, astonishingly began to regain his sight and health after just five days.Now the fox has made a full recovery and formed an incredible bond with the feline friends, who helped save his life.

Lorraine St John, 40, who runs the rescue centre, said: 'The biggest killer you get at animal shelters is not the injuries or illness but stress.


'The cats needed something to snuggle up to': Centre manager Lorraine St John was touched by the friendship

'It is so important to create comfort for the animals as it really makes the difference to their survival.

'That is what happened in this case - we put the three kittens with the fox and they became best friends.

'It was very sweet, the cats needed something to snuggle up to and they loved his fur.

'One of them used to lick him all the time as he slowly came out of his coma.

'Once awake the four of them became best friends and the kittens acted like a guiding light to the fox as he regained his sight.'

The cub has since been sent to Fox Protect in Tunbridge Wells to complete his rehabilitation before he can be released back into the wild.

The three Kittens are still waiting to be re-homed.

Lorraine, who runs Kent Wildlife Rescue on her own, added: 'It was amazing to see the four of them together it was like they were all part of the same species.

'I think they all helped save each other's lives.'


source:dailymail