A tomcat in a village in Russia's central region of Voronezh is acting as a mother to a litter of kittens he found in the street.

It was a great surprise for the Olomsky family when their tomcat came home from his usual spring walk – with a kitten. Mishka's owners decided to shelter the animal for a night.

But Mishka did not stop there. Next morning three more kittens appeared at their door.

“It was so unexpected! He was sitting close to them, mewing, as if he was trying to say 'these are my kittens, I've found them',” said the cat’s owner.

Now the two families, the Olomskys and Mishka's live together in one house. He takes care of the kittens like a proper she-cat.

Where  Mishka's maternal feelings could have come from is unclear. Scientists say male animals behave in this way only on rare occasions.

“Most likely the kittens' mother died and the father started having some maternal feeling towards them because genetically, the tomcat is their father,” said zoologist Andrey Golubtsov.

But the Olomskys disagree. They say the kittens' mother lives next to them and is neglecting her duties because she is just too busy with herself.

The family has now decided to keep two of the kittens and give others to their friends.

As for Mishka, he is crazy about his new family and strays no more.