Eat your heart out, lassie (PIcture: AFP/Getty)

It’s usually loyal dogs, or bush kangaroos, who save people’s lives by calling for help in their hour of need – but a Russian cat has shown that her kind can do just as well.

Masha, a long-haired tabby, found an abandoned baby on the street in below-zero conditions in western Russia.

Thinking quickly, the resourceful moggy climbed into his box to warm him up, then called for help.

Local resident Irina Lavrova, 68, had gone to throw out some rubbish when she heard Masha the moggy mewing loudly near the apartment block bins in the city of Obninsk.


Going over to see if the cat was in difficulty, the stunned pensioner could not believe her eyes when she saw the baby boy lying amongst the trash in a box with Masha next to him.



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Masha climbed into the box and mewed for help (Picture CEN)

She said: ‘Masha is a communal cat who everyone takes turns in looking after.

‘You can imagine my shock when I saw her lying in a box next to a baby.

‘Clearly her mothering instincts had taken over and she wanted to protect the child.

‘He was well-dressed with a little hat and whoever left him here had even left a few nappies and some baby food.’

The three-month-old toddler was taken to hospital where he was given a check up and declared fit and healthy.

A hospital spokesman said: ‘The baby had only been outside for a few hours and, thanks to Masha and the child’s clothing, he was not damaged by the experience.’

Now local residents have hailed Masha as a proper hero.

Masha has been hailed a hero for saving the abandoned baby (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Irina said: ‘Everyone in the block is very proud of her and we have all spoilt her rotten by giving her her favourite food.’

A police spokesman said they were looking into the case and would try and find the baby’s mother.