Abandoned puppy and kitten handed into rescue centre at the same time now think that they are SISTERS

• Buttons, who was rejected by her mother as the runt of litter, was paired up with Kitty at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home
• Staff at the home hope to re-home the duo, who eat, sleep and play together, to the same place

An orphaned puppy and abandoned kitten who were put together at a rescue centre have become so close - they think they are sisters.

Kitty the cat was brought into Battersea Cats and Dogs Home by a kind-hearted member of the public who found her alone in a garden when she was just one day old.

To keep her company she was put together with Buttons the Jack Russell, who was born at the centre but rejected by her mother as the runt of the litter.

Adorable: Buttons the abandoned puppy and Kitty the rescued kitten are so close they think they are sisters and live at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home

Come here you: Buttons was rejected by her mother as she was the runt of the litter

Room for me? Buttons vies for her share of the food as Kitty digs right in

They have since become inseparable - and even cry when Kitty is moved to the cattery to spend some time with other cats.

Battersea Veterinary Nurse Sascha Taylor says the pair eat, sleep and play together.

She said: 'Normally we’d hand rear puppies and kittens separately but we thought we could try putting them together as they are both so young.

'Luckily it’s paid off as they adore being with each other and do everything together - it’s really very sweet.'

Buttons’ mum Poppy was given to the centre in Old Windsor, Berks., because her elderly owners could not cope when they discovered she was pregnant with eight puppies.

Heartwarming: The 'siblings' indulge in a bit of rough and tumble at the rescue home

Inseparable: Staff at the home decided to try rearing the pair together and they have since become great companions

Tiny: The two rescued pets fit snugly into the palm of a member of staff's hands

Rescued: Kitty, who was rescued by a member of the public, has a wrestle with Buttons

But she was the runt of the litter and staff have had to hand-rear her after being rejected by her mother and was at risk of being killed by her seven brothers and sisters.

Kitty and Buttons were put together when they were about two weeks old and treat each other like siblings.

Staff at the animal home are hoping someone has enough room to adopt the loveable pair, who are now both around four weeks old. 

Nurse Sascha added: 'Hand-rearing them is hard work - I have to feed them every two hours, even throughout the night - but it’s totally worth it.

'We’re not sure if they’ll be re-homed together, though it would be great if they did.'

Get off! The rescue home hope to re-home the adorable pair together

Move over: Kitty is wide awake as Buttons tries to sleep off all that playing

Gnawing: Kitty appears to have spotted something as Buttons nibbles on a corner of a cushion

Say cheese: Buttons stares at the camera as Kitty tucks into her dinner