A little girl, a cat, and the most heartwarming photos you’ll ever see!

It’s not just specially trained service dogs that can change lives.

If you have a pet, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Their natural instincts of loyalty and devotion mean a lot to you.

But to some, it can mean more than anything else in the world.

Like five-year-old Iris Grace, a little girl in the UK.

You may have seen some of Iris’s paintings. They are absolutely amazing. And many are saying her talent is right up there with old masters like Monet.

What many don’t know about Iris, is that she’s autistic. At five, she’s just starting to say words. And so to help her communicate better, her mother started painting with her.

Iris immediately took to painting, especially using colors to “connect” to the world around her.

But Iris has a “helper,” someone who stays by her every minute of the day. Someone who helps Iris take a bath, dress, play, do her paintings and even go outside.

It’s a cat named Thula.

Thula isn’t an “official” therapy pet, but when she came into Iris’s life, she knew immediately what her job was.

Iris’s mom had the idea of a therapy companion for her daughter for a while before she found Thula.

At first she tried horse therapy. But the little girl wasn’t interested in horses.

Next came dogs. But it seemed that a puppy was to hyperactive for her.

Then, last year the family was asked to “cat sit” over Christmas, and Iris “connected immediately” with the kitty the family was watching.

It was then her mom knew what Iris needed.

And that’s when they found Thula, a gentle and beautiful Maine Coon who is now Iris’s best friend and companion.
For the most heartwarming photos you’ll see this Christmas, click here to see Iris and her helper-cat Thula.

Sources:

“Heartwarming friendship of a 5-year-old girl with autism and her therapy cat” boredpanda.com