September 02 2004 at 02:58PM

Phnom Penh – The Cambodian owner of a dog, which he claimed had miraculously given birth to a kitten, confirmed that the kitten had died four days after it was born.

He denied reports published in some local news-papers and sourced to his neighbours that its canine mother had contributed to the death by biting the strange offspring.

Owner Te Huot said the kitten died last Saturday of natural causes after he fed it a bowl of cow’s milk, but that visitors and worshippers were still welcome since he had embalmed the creature and it was now on display in a jar of alcohol, taking pride of place atop a specially constructed shrine.

“I soaked it in a jar of alcohol because I am afraid otherwise it will smell. I burn incense and candles to the kitten every day. Please continue to visit,” he said.

He said the kitten’s alleged mother, a 10-year-old bitch called Knou, was devastated by the “miracle kitten’s” death.

“Knou did not eat food for two days. She looked very sad,” Te Huot said, denying the dog had lived up to the ancient tradition of animosity between the two species and had attempted to eat her young charge.

Te Huot said the kitten had attracted throngs of visitors and had earned around 100 000 riel (R166) in donations from curious worshippers. – Sapa-DPA