Steve the Cat began his life as an average indoor house pet. After becoming acquainted with a flock of lambs from the farm where he lives, he developed a rather unusual identity crisis.
Steve is convinced that he is a member of the flock – in fact, the leader of the flock – and the lambs think so, too!
It all began when Steve’s human, Amanda Whitlock, decided that the young sheep needed to be brought indoors for protection from the harsh New Zealand Winter.
Apparently Steve and his woolly roommates bonded during those cold, dreary months. When Spring arrived, the lambs were put back out to pasture – and Steve went with them!
Amanda told the NZ Herald:
“He’d just sort of get used to them and spend time with them inside and then the lambs move outside and we started noticing Steve wasn’t inside any more and we’re like ‘where’s Steve?’”
Steve and his band of lambs have become quite the local and internet celebrities thanks to the adorable group photo snapped by Amanda and printed on the front page of the Wanganui Chronicle. The story has been picked up and shared across the web dozens of times since.
“I was in the kitchen and I just happened to look out the window and saw them all sitting where they normally sit by the door under a bit of shelter and Steve was with them. I grabbed the camera and snuck around outside and got a couple of photos with them.”
Like a true leader, Steve is sure to supervise feeding times to ensure that his flock’s needs are adequately met.
Who says you need a Shepherd Dog to tend your sheep? Steve the Shepherd Cat seems to be doing a fine job!
Featured Image via Instagram/Amanda_Whitlock