Who says cats and dogs can't get along? An Iowa shelter dog dubbed Lilly Lou has been nursing nine kittens from three different litters back to health after they all lost their mothers. Initially, the shelter workers gave Lilly three kittens – called "pittens," or puppy kittens by shelter staffers – to help watch over while others were being bottle fed. But, to their surprise, Lilly Lou started acting as a loving mother to the kittens, herding them together if they started wandering off. Soon, Lilly began feeding and grooming them, so workers gave her more kittens to care for, since their chances of survival were better with Lilly taking them as her own.

"She does everything momma cat would do," said Angie Beard, a worker at the Des Moines County Humane Society. "She's excellent." With Lilly Lou having recently given birth to her own set of pups, it seems she was perfect for the job! Lilly Lou will keep the kittens under her care for another three weeks until they are healthy and ready to be adopted.

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