They have both survived near-death experiences, which perhaps explains why Kenzie McNeil and her pet cat Baby Boy are best friends forever.
The pair cuddle together and sleep together and the toddler even cleans her Burmese companion’s teeth.
Now the touching tale has led to the three-year-old’s furry friend being shortlisted as a finalist in Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards.
Baby Boy is one of three felines in the outstanding rescue cat category, honouring pets which have been adopted from animal welfare organisations.
He was offered a second chance by Peterhead resident Jacqueline McNeil from her local Cats Protection branch seven years ago when he was just nine-months-old.
He had been rescued from a kitten farm with 56 other pedigree cats in poor condition and was so malnourished vets feared he would not pull through.
Mrs McNeil, 30, adopted him on the “off-chance he might make it” and persevered even when he was so wary that she had to feed him under her bed.
He started to come out of his shell properly when her daughter was born in March 2011 with serious complications, including Strep-B-induced pneumonia and meningitis.
Little Kenzie was so sick that her parents were told she might not live beyond 24 hours – but like Baby Boy she has flourished.
She spent a week on life support in the neonatal intensive care unit at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, needed two blood transfusions, oxygen and was tube fed for 10 days, but is now a happy, healthy toddler, who adores her fluffy pal.
Mrs McNeil said: “Baby Boy and Kenzie have experienced some suffering in their lives and perhaps it’s this that draws them together.
“They’re both my brave little survivors and I couldn’t be more proud of them.
“They’ve come on together and are best of friends. I think he thinks he’s her child.”
If Baby Boy wins in his category at the awards in London next month, he will be in with a chance of winning National Cat of the Year.