Cavendish
A mute seven year-old boy has formed a purr-fect friendship with his pet cat – who is helping him speak for the first time.
Lorcan Dillon and Jessi-cat have become inseparable over the past two years and the little boy has started saying: 'I love you' for the first time.
Lorcan suffers from an anxiety condition that leaves him virtually unable to communicate or express his feelings.
But when mum Jayne brought Jessi-cat, a cream Birman, into their family home in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester, Lorcan quickly developed an amazing bond with her.
His mum Jayne Dillon, 44, told The Sun: "The bond between Lorcan and Jessi-Cat is so touching as he's able to show physical affection to her which he doesn't like doing with people - even me.
"She's such a delightful, responsive cat and he hugs and kisses her all the time.
"It is a way for him to express his emotions that otherwise he wouldn't be able to do. "Jessi-Cat has made a huge difference to Lorcan's life.
"We've had her for a couple of years and in the last year alone he seems to be making excellent progress at school.
"In the past two weeks he's started communicating with people he doesn't know very well and even reads to one of the teachers now - something he's never done before."
What a heart-warming story.