Conker, Pickle and Pumpkins, three two-week-old kittens abandoned by their mother in a stairwell, have made an unlikely new mother – Peppa the Pug.

The tiny trio and Peppa, who was also found as a stray, became inseparable at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home after meeting earlier this month.

As soon as Peppa set eyes on the tiny kittens, she decided they were her responsibility.

The new family now spend their time snuggled together at the home of a Battersea canine behaviourist and training advisor.

Peppa was brought into Battersea in April. Staff at the charity feared she had been used for backstreet breeding, and her body showed the signs of bearing multiple litters and had mastitis – an infection in her mammary glands.

But her luck changed when she was adopted by canine behaviourist and training advisor at the Home, Louise Taylor, who fostered her whilst she recovered from her surgery.

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Louise is now fostering Conker, Pickle and Pumpkin, who require round-the-clock bottle-feeding.

Now, the kittens spend their time snuggled close to protective Peppa in her basket, who washes them, and mothers them like they are her own.

Ms Taylor said: “We knew Peppa had been a mother before and she’s a natural.

“She won’t let Conker, Pickle and Pumpkin out of her sight and is constantly washing them and making sure they’re all clean.

“It’s been lovely to see the four of them together, especially knowing these three kittens had such an unlucky start in life.”

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All three kittens have new homes lined up for when they are old enough to be adopted.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has plenty of other dogs and cats looking for their forever home. For more information, visit www.battersea.org.uk