Seem-pals! The terrier who is best friends with a meerkat

Seem-pals! The terrier who is best friends with a meerkat

Mangalore Today News Network

To Poppy the terrier, Timon the meerkat is much more than a mere cat.

The playful pair, who live with owners John Bent and wife Sally in Dronfield, Derbyshire, are almost inseparable.

They forged their unlikely friendship after Timon, four, was savaged by other meerkats in the Bents’ outdoor menagerie.

So happy together: Poppy and Timon cuddle on the couch

And while the household also includes a cat, Timon immediately made a bond with six-year-old Poppy, a chihuahua-maltese terrier.

The pair now play together, bathe together and are even taken for walks together.

Mr Bent, 62, who also keeps skunks and racoons outside, said: ‘They are inseparable. They pinch each other’s food but never get angry.’

Mrs Bent, 52, added: ‘Meerkats stick very much to their own kind but Timon is loveable and cheeky.’

The cheeky mammal, which is actually a member of the mongoose - not cat - families, is mostly happy indoors.

 

Inseperable: The pair with owner Sally at their house in Dronfield, Derbyshire

But he still has satisfy his urge to dig, which he does in a special pen in the back garden, shared with a ferret called Stumpy.

‘We wouldn’t like to put him out there on his own,’ said Mrs Bent. ‘He’s very loveable and cheeky and just loves company.’

The couple take their animals to schools and hospices to introduce children to their pets and show them how to care for animals.

Of Poppy and Timon, Mrs Bentsaid: ‘It’s like two children who are very comfortable with each other.

 

Howling with laughter: The dog and meerkat sound out their different calling cries

‘They play-fight and are very at ease in each others’ company.

‘As soon as Timon came into the house he went over to Poppy they bonded instantly.

‘Poppy has a special spot on the settee and she allowed Timon to share it with her. It’s where they fall asleep in the afternoon.’