[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 .....

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Omah

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



RIP, Arnie .....

Aw, that's bitter sweet

[Omah]

http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co....iral_1_1831710

The cat who acted as foster father to lion cubs was a hit at the zoo from the day he arrived in 2000.

“He was a stray who made an immediate impression on all of us. Arnie had the most wonderful character, he quickly settled in with our two other zoo cats and was definitely here to stay,” said Kim.

“We believed he was a young adult at the time of his arrival. Over the last year or so, Arnie had developed arthritis in his back legs along with other age related problems.”

Arnie – named after Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger - became an attraction in his own right: welcoming visitors and offering unique guided tours to the chosen few; acting as zoo pest controller; and “the role of cheering up anyone feeling unwell, fed up or depressed”.

However his most eye-catching job was as babysitter to abandoned, new born animals brought into the Simmons’ home for hand rearing.

Some cat .....

[Omah]

http://now.msn.com/linton-zoo-cat-passes-away