The wonder of mother nature: A dog acts on her maternal instincts and nurses a stray kitten as if it was her own puppy

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 00:42 EST, 25 September 2012 | UPDATED: 09:20 EST, 25 September 2012

Cats and dogs aren't traditionally known for being the best of buddies, but something maternal just clicked in Mittens, a 4-year-old Pekingese, when she encountered a stray gray kitten called Bootsie.

Mittens’ owner Pat Weber says she was shocked when her small dog began caring for the abandoned kitten, then started producing milk and nursing the fuzzy baby back to health.

The kitten was just days old when Pat's grandson found it in the family's barn in early September in Jordan, about 40 miles southwest of Minneapolis.

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Looking after baby: Mittens the dog has become a surrogate mother to a stray gray kitten called Bootsie

Feeding time: Mittens hadn't had a litter for two years, but allowed Bootsie to suckle and began producing milk three days later

Miracle: Pat Weber says she was shocked when her small dog began caring for the abandoned kitten

The two-inch-long kitten was 'ice cold' and the family wasn't sure if it was alive.

Pat felt it move, so she wrapped the kitten in a warm towel and kept it in the house. Then the cat began meowing and her four-year-old Pekingese perked up.

Mittens began licking the kitten, who nuzzled in and began suckling.

Mittens hadn’t had a litter for two years, but allowed the kitten to suckle and three days later began producing milk. She's been nursing Bootsie ever since.

The Weber family call it a little miracle and are very happy with the latest addition to their family.

Lucky to be alive: When Bootsie was rescued, the Weber's feared he might be dead

Getting along famously: Baby Bootsie has brought out the maternal instinct in Mittens the Pekingese

This is one cat and dog that get on famously: But will Bootsie the kitten grow up thinking that he is a dog?

VIDEO: Dog takes up motherly duties for abandoned kitten