Officers found a stray nursing the most bizarre baby, and the Internet fell in love

When animal control officer Michelle Smith answered a routine call in Anderson, South Carolina, she was not expecting to make a shocking (but adorable) discovery.

There were complaints of a stray dog in the area, so Officer Smith searched through the woods high and low for quite a while, intent on finding the dog.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

When she stumbled upon the pup in question in a deep ravine, she noticed the dog wasn’t alone. In fact, the pup appeared to be a mother — and was nursing a very tiny, helpless kitten.

She was completely taken by surprise, but knew she couldn’t separate this unusual family. So, she picked them both up and put them in her car for transport.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

It’s unclear how the dog discovered the kitten or why her motherly instincts were so strong, but she stayed close to the kitten through the entire process.

The kitten cuddled, slept, and actually nursed, all while the dog kept one eye open, keeping an eye on her human rescuer.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

When the animals were brought back to the Anderson County P.A.W.S. rescue, the staff attempted to separate them in order to give them both a bath and medical attention. The brave little mother, however, would not have any of it.

Eventually, they gave up and allowed the two to stay together and let the pup bathe the kitten herself.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

After examining the dog, the vets determined that it didn’t seem like she had puppies before…but was still able to produce milk for the lost kitten.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

Her motherly instincts were so strong, her mind convinced her body to begin producing milk and let the kitten feed — something no one at the shelter had ever seen before.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

Given the good condition the dog was in, shelter staff assumed that she belonged to a nearby family. So, they waited 14 days to see if anyone would come in and claim her.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

After those two weeks passed, it was clear that the unlikely duo were strays and needed a forever home.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

So, they put them up for adoption — together. Given how bonded they were as mother and child, it would be cruel to separate them. A very special family would just have to be ready to adopt a loving pup and her feline baby.

Source: Anderson County PAWS / Facebook

The shelter named the dog Goldie and the kitten Kate after celebrity mother-daughter duo Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson. It didn’t take long for adoption applications to pour in from across the country — and as quickly as they were discovered, these two were adopted!

It seems the entire Internet fell in love with the unusual pair.

Source: Goldie N Kate Doe / Facebook

Now, months later, the mother and daughter duo are still going strong! Kate has grown up into a beautiful cat — but still has time to harass her mother.

Source: Goldie N Kate Doe / Facebook

Goldie is loving life with her human and feline family. It seems that her motherly instincts apply to humans, too, as she is a very gentle and loving dog around children.

Source: Goldie N Kate Doe / Facebook

Kate, although she was raised by a dog, has become more cat-like in her adult life — adopting activities like napping on whatever surface she can find and making mischief around Christmas trees.

It’s no doubt that Goldie saved Kate’s life when she adopted her as her own in that deep ravine. It’s unclear how she was able to begin lactating for the abandoned kitten, but it’s a wonderful miracle we can all appreciate!

We hope these two keep having a happy, loving life together in their forever home!

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