Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email The duo came to be after kitten Kumbali, at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia, wasnu2019t thriving in her motheru2019s care. Mama cat had a litter of three and faulty nipples that werenu2019t releasing enough milk to go around. So zookeepers had to take over.After successfully bottle feeding they gave Kumbhali kitten a dog companion. Image source- The Tatva instagram.Itu2019s worked beautifully for Kumbali and Kago, who fast became like brothers, seemingly unaware of the typical dog-chases-cat relationship. The combination works because the chosen dogs, usually rescue mutts but sometimes pure labradors or shepherds, are a calming influence and are tolerant of kitty playu2014including tooth and claw.Dogs are also great teachers, offering up social cues the cheetahs need to thrive and would normally get from their mother and siblings.A dominant dog is very helpful because the African animals are quite shy instinctively, and you can’t breed that out of them, explains Janet Rose-Hinostroza, animal training supervisor at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.With less than 7,000 cheetahs left in the wild, zoo officials hope stories like this will remind animals lovers about just how special these creatures are.Comment down your view regarding the same. Cheetah dogs zoo
