This Cat And Her Realistic Wool Kittens Are Adorably Inseparable

By Amy Pilkington, Diply

Most of the cats I had growing up weren't really that into toys. Like, sure, they would chase feathers on strings or bat around crinkly balls, but they didn't cuddle or protect anything.

The one exception was a cat named Rosie, who adopted a ball of wool from my mother's stash and proceeded to carry it everywhere she went.

A viral kitty named Maru has also chosen something made of wool to obsess over: felted kittens.

It may surprise you to know that only Maru in the center of this photo is a real, living cat. The kittens on either side are simply very realistic wool toys.

This isn't the first time Maru has gone viral, since she previously made headlines for her adorable fashion.

We can quibble about whether or not people should treat their pets like dress-up dolls, but in Maru's case, her skirts, collars, and hats serve a medical purpose.

Maru's skin is unusually delicate and the thin fabric layers help prevent her from licking or scratching herself raw.

Perhaps it was due to that early brush with fame that an artisan was inspired to make a mini, felted version of her.

It was sent as a gift and Maru fell in love. A while later, another gift arrived, this time featuring Maru with her eyes closed.

Now they're a trio and Maru always has one or both of her "kittens" with her in photos.

Who knows, maybe there's another mini-Maru on the way and they'll become a quartet!

See more at: Diply