AUSTRALIA – RATS! In the old game of cat and mouse, Josh the chocolate Burmese never seems to win.
He’s all pause but no claws — especially when it comes these a few rascally rodents.
The unlikely friendship is due to Josh’s laid-back personality. Picture: Rob Leeson
Josh seems to be a real pussycat with his new friends, rats Mickey and Minnie, letting them literally walk all over him.
The very unlikely friendship is due in large part to the fat cat’s laid-back personality.
Josh lets Minnie and Mickey walk all over him. Picture: Rob Leeson
“He can’t be bothered eating them, he’s too lazy,” stated their owner, Susan Pintos.
Josh smelled a rat when he first met them over at the Animals 2 U mobile farm, based in Bendigo, shadowing and sniffing all of them before giving them the nod.
The ratty duo love snuggling into Josh’s fur. Picture: Rob Leeson
Even when they’ve been naughty he lets them snuggle into his fur and have a cat nap.
“The rats love his warmth, he gives them a lick every now and then,” Ms Pintos explained.
“They enjoy each other’s company.
“When they sit on his head he’s so relaxed, it’s like a head massage.”
Josh, Mickey and Minnie are pin ups for world peace. Picture: Rob Leeson
Visitors were absolutely amazed at just how well the menagerie of animals at the farm get along, from pigs to geese, ducks, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, alpacas and goats.
Ms Pintos went on to explain they tell people: “If the dog can tolerate the cat, and the cat can tolerate the rat, surely we can all tolerate each other!”
Josh and the rats are a popular feature of Animals 2 U. Picture: Rob Leeson
“It’s our world peace message,” she stated.
“Kids really love them, and it breaks up the stereotype that people have about rats,” she concluded.
