Linton Zoo Mourns Loss Of Famous Feline Babysitter

Arnie and Safina

Earlier this month, Linton Zoo in the UK said goodbye to a special feline friend who touched the lives of many creatures, great and small. Arnie, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, showed up at the zoo as a stray in 2000, and made a place for himself with his bold personality (he was described as a "real life Garfield"), while racking up an impressive array of credentials, including welcoming committee, pest controller, and lifter of spirits.

Arnie's "most special job of all", however, was as a babysitter to abandoned newborn animals brought inside for hand rearing. He was especially fond of lion cubs, and looked after all four of the zoo's now adult lions, and some of their babies, too.

The ginger kitty, who came to Linton as a young adult, had been suffering from arthritis and other age related health problems for the past year. Fittingly, he passed away doing what he loved best, and went peacefully in his sleep, after one final walk around the zoo to say goodbye.

According to a tribute on the zoo's Facebook page, Arnie will be remembered as, "A cat with an outstanding personality, (he was) was without a doubt a most extraordinary cat who had an extraordinary life. He will be missed by not only the people who knew and loved him, but by his many animal friends around the zoo, too."









Via Facebook (Linton Zoo) / ZooBorns