[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-21244346

A cat who became a "baby-sitter" to newborn animals at a Cambridgeshire zoo has become a "global star" after his death was reported online, staff said.

Linton Zoo manager Kim Simmons posted photos of Arnie the cat looking after some of the animals online after he died on 9 January.

"We had hundreds of messages but it went crazy when MSN ran it in America," she said.

"His story seems to have touched, and been shared by, so many."

She added: "His most special job... was as the baby-sitter of abandoned newborn animals brought into the house for hand-rearing.

"Arnie baby-sat all four of our adult lions when they were cubs and some of their offspring too."

She said the zoo did not like to hand-rear animals unless absolutely necessary, but added: "Arnie did the job wonderfully for us.

"He would climb into their baskets and snuggle up. There is nothing quite like a real, warm beating heart next to a young animal."

The zoo's Facebook tribute, posted a few day's after Arnie's death, read: "On the morning of Wednesday 9th January, after completing his staff greetings and doing his usual morning rounds to see his zoo friends, purring all the way, Arnie, our ginger tom returned home for a spot of breakfast and then snuggled up on his bed and went to sleep.

"There he passed away peacefully."

RIP, Arnie .....