Brain damage has caused Roomba the kitten to act more like a dog

The first thing the tiny stray saw when she opened her eyes was Aoife, a big Irish wolf- hound, who she now follows round, plays with and cuddles up to.

Roomba, named after the brand of automatic vacuum cleaners that move around and change direction when they hit a wall, was taken in by Dibden resident Annie Georgeson along with her two siblings.

The trio were found huddled in a ditch near Southampton Common when they were just three or four days old after their mum was run over and killed by a car.

Annie says Roomba, who has sight problems and who vets say is brain damaged, quickly became firm friends with her two wolfhounds.

Annie Georgeson, who is looking after Roomba temporarily

Ms Georgeson said: “She does all sorts of funny things like she will crawl in between the wolfhounds and you will just see a bit of cat poking out.”

She said Roomba also rolls over with the dogs when they do and that she loves being with them.

There have been difficulties along the way, including a fall down the stairs because of her brain problems, but otherwise the little cat has thrived.

Sarah Mills, manager at All Animal Rescue, which first took the trio in, said of Roomba: “In every way she should have died but she’s thought: ‘I will beat this’.

“She’s a little trooper and she was so far behind but she has fought tooth and nail – she’s a superstar and she loves dogs.

“The first thing that they saw when they opened their eyes was two Irish wolfhounds so I think she thinks she’s a dog. She loves being around them and likes to be cleaned by them.

“She’s the most amazing little girl and a lot of places might have put her to sleep.”

Roomba is looking for a permanent home and loves dogs but is scared of children, which is attributed to her vision problems, and she would need a quiet and calm home to live in.

Anyone who feels they can offer Roomba the ideal home should call All Animal Rescue on 023 8089 3188 or visit allanimalrescue.com.