A TORTOISE and cat have developed an incredible bond - and they eat, sleep and play together.

Animal lover Hannah Deakin, 31, from Chepstow has had tortoise Marley for 15 years - but introduced a moggie to the clan five years ago.

She didn't expect her cat, Obi, six, to interact much with Marley - and for the first year they were wary of one another.

But they began to bond eventually - and now the pair are the best of friends.

Hannah Deakin with Marley the tortoise. A woman's pet tortoise and pet cat developed an incredible bond - and they eat, sleep and play together. Animal lover Hannah Deakin, 31, has had tortoise Marley for 15 years - but introduced a moggie to the clan five years ago. She didn't expect cat Obi, six, to interact much with Marley - and for the first year they were wary of one another. But they began to bond eventually - and now the pair are the best of friends.
Hannah Deakin with Marley the tortoise. (Hannah Deakin / SWNS)

Hannah couldn't believe it when the pair began to bond and she says the unlikely duo eat together, play together and even nap together under Marley's heat lamp.

Hannah, who works in a dog kennels, said: "Marley used to be shy, but as the years went on, he got used to Obi being around him.

Hannah Deakin, 31, with Obi the cat, 6. A woman's pet tortoise and pet cat developed an incredible bond - and they eat, sleep and play together. Animal lover Hannah Deakin, 31, has had tortoise Marley for 15 years - but introduced a moggie to the clan five years ago. She didn't expect cat Obi, six, to interact much with Marley - and for the first year they were wary of one another. But they began to bond eventually - and now the pair are the best of friends.
Hannah Deakin, 31, with Obi the cat, 6. (Hannah Deakin / SWNS)

"I had no clue how they would get on before I brought Obi home but they eventually hit it off - and now they adore each other.

"In summer they started chasing each other around the garden, and they've done that for four summers now.

"When it gets cooler Obi goes into Marley's enclosure and sits under his heat lamp lamp with him.

"They eat together too - Marley wanted to eat with Obi so badly that he started eating out of the cat bowl.

"He wasn't supposed to do that - so we moved his bowl to be next to Obi's and now they eat together."

Hannah says the pair naturally became close.

Obi the cat, 6, with Marley the tortoise, 15. A woman's pet tortoise and pet cat developed an incredible bond - and they eat, sleep and play together. Animal lover Hannah Deakin, 31, has had tortoise Marley for 15 years - but introduced a moggie to the clan five years ago. She didn't expect cat Obi, six, to interact much with Marley - and for the first year they were wary of one another. But they began to bond eventually - and now the pair are the best of friends.
Obi the cat, 6, with Marley the tortoise, (Hannah Deakin / SWNS)

She said: "Marley fixates on Obi and loves to chase him around, and Obi is so gentle with Marley and is happy to be chased."

When Marley goes into the attic for his hibernation period over winter, Obi is alone.

But Hannah said the moggie sits and watches the hatch until the day Marley comes back out.

"He sits there howling because he knows Marley is up there," she said.

"They're so happy when they're together - they're just the best of friends."